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I smile wide. “Nothing.”
“More?” Caleb asks, shaking his head.
Dammit. He heard me.
“You two have yet to get to know each other,” he says.
“Don’t hold your breath on that,” I quip quietly.
Dalton rolls his eyes while Lauren shoots me a stern look.
Caleb plows on. “Dalton is familiar with the real estate business not only for his career but also for his foundation.”
Lauren smiles at him. “What’s this foundation?”
Dalton clears his throat, shifting in his seat to look more directly at Caleb and Lauren, excluding me. “One of them is to help low-income or struggling people find affordable housing in the city.”
I refrain from smirking. Why would some rich guy have a heart for people with way less than what he’s had? He’s talking about people like they’re distant. Others. But he can’t realize I am one of these people. When my parents passed, I was lucky to have my scholarship for college and a state-funded financial assistance program for that building with the junky hinged door.
“That’s why we want to offer long-term housing instead of more vacation rentals,” Lauren says.
“You’re rubbing off on me,” Caleb jokes with Dalton. “It feels good to give back.”
Our plates arrive, and as we dig in, Lauren turns to me. “Aubrey, are you excited about this upcoming school year?”
Shit. I haven’t minded them talking about their plans and their futures, but mine is a tricky subject.
“You teach second grade, right?” Caleb asks me, then glances at Lauren.
I have no doubt she’s talked about me with him, but neither of them can know the truth about what I teach. In short: nothing, thanks to Jeremy. I haven’t figured out when would be a good time to tell Lauren about what her ex did, but it definitely isn’t now at this cozy restaurant after their promising plans.
“Meh.” I shrug, focusing on my food, but when I glance up, I find Dalton staring right at me. I furrow my brow, hating the way he seems to see straight through me as I dance away from answering Lauren.
“I, uh…” Crap. I have to say something. “I decided not to teach this year.”
Lauren coughs, choking on the bite she just swallowed as I shock her with that reply. Caleb pats her on the back as she sips water then clears her throat. “What? Why?”
Crap! This is the problem with lies. They keep spiraling and growing. “My contract ended.” It’s almost the truth. Jeremy got it ended for me, but hey, semantics.
Dalton still watches me closely, and having his attention like this unnerves me. The topic of my career does even more, and I’m eager to change the subject.
“So!” I smile brightly. “What’s there to do around here, anyway?”
“I imagine in the winter, we’ll go skiing,” Caleb answers, taking the bait unknowingly in this change of subjects.
I exhale in relief that we’re done talking about me. It’s a good break for me to avoid thinking about what I’d like to do next, never mind telling Lauren that I need something else to do and plan on.
The rest of the dinner passes companionably. Even though Dalton is still quiet, he pops into the conversation here and there. I get hopeful on the drive back that maybe he’s more tired than I am. Or, being the jerk he is, he’s antisocial. That would make it easier for me to avoid him altogether.
When we return to the Goldfinch, though, Caleb and Lauren leave us to go around to the cottage they’re living in behind the large house.
Dalton’s been so quiet, I figure I’m in the clear, so I’m surprised and peeved when he tells me to wait up before entering the house.
“Why aren’t you teaching this year?” he asks as he approaches.
Crickets chirp and the trees rustle under the breeze, but all my focus is on the way this man strides closer. Casual, yet not. Like a predator.
An enemy.
