Page 27 of Queen’s Gambit

My father turned around, but I ignored them like whatever they were discussing was no more interesting than watching paint dry.

“Yulianna.”

I looked up from my nails. “Yes, Father?”

He gave me a small smile, and I thought for sure he was going to say something degrading like behave. Instead, he grabbed my shoulders and kissed my forehead.

“Have fun. I’ll see you at Christmas.”

My eyes filled with tears. “I love you.”

He nodded, but glanced around at those standing nearby and didn’t say it back.

“Same,” he said, instead.

Any other time that would’ve hurt, but not today. I stood there in shock that this was really happening as my father walked up the stairs and disappeared inside. Did I dare even look at Eddie? Was it all a dream that would disappear if I broke the spell?

My body shuddered as Eddie touched my lower back.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered under his breath, and I couldn’t stop the stupid smile from spreading across my face.

“I’ve missed you more.”

“That’s completely impossible.”

“Wow, you two are disgusting,” one of the boys I recognized said. Heat spread all over my body with embarrassment. Were we really that obvious?

“Hi, I’m Marcus Rossi, this jerk’s best friend.”

“Not sure you are still my best friend after that comment,” Eddie said. “Don’t mind him, Ana. Marcus can’t keep a girl longer than one night after they get a look at what he’s working with.”

“Ouch, you fucker,” Marcus snarled but smiled.

“Why? What is he working with?” All the guys looked at me and laughed.

“He means what’s in my pants,” Marcus said, pointing and my eyes followed his finger before I gasped and quickly looked away. All laughed again and I covered my mouth, but joined this time.

I’d never heard a conversation like this before. Everyone had always been so proper around me, but it felt good to not worry about what anyone thought.

“Ignore them. They always fight like an old married couple. I’m Lawrence Collier,” his other friend said, sticking out his hand for me to shake.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, smiling. He had the most piercing blue eyes I’d ever seen.

I looked at Eddie’s third friend, who was fiddling with the cuff of his shirt. I stepped up to him.

“Hi, I’m Yulianna,” I said.

He looked up and pushed the glasses back on his nose. “Are you talking to me?”

“Duh, Paul…who else would she be talking to?” Lawrence shook his head.

He shrugged. “No one talks to me other than you guys,” Paul said, and there was something so sad in the comment. One that I sadly understood to my core.

I held out my hand. “Well…I’m not like anyone else. I’m Yulianna Mikhailov, and you are?”

He shook my hand, the corner of his mouth turning up in a shy smile. “I’m Paul Henry.”

“Paul here wants to be Dean of Wayward one day,” Eddie said.