Page 140 of You + Me – Against the World

Vadim pushes my buttons. And tugs at my heart.

***

In the days that follow, Vadim keeps watching me, directing little jabs at me, challenging me, just like he did at the very beginning. As if the only way he can win back my trust is with that same charm offensive—the rebellious, cocky boy I fell for first time around. But I resist.

I still don’t know if I should believe him. The photo of him with Cheyenne still makes my stomach turn every time I look at it. But at the same time, the conspiracy theory is starting to wriggle its way into my consciousness. We’ve been through so much that nothing would surprise me anymore.

Am I just the good, sweet girl who fell in love with the bad boy? Or is Vadim Arcadi really the love of my life, and the world is determined to stand between us? How can I know? How can I be sure?

“Alma!”

I’m studying for the last exam of the year when I hear my mother calling me. When I join her in her room, I find her in my father’s arms. Two hastily packed suitcases sit on the carpet. Seeing me, she reaches out a hand and beckons me over.

“What’s going on? You’re scaring me…”

“It’s your grandmother, sweetheart. She isn’t doing well.”

“We’re leaving for France today. Perhaps it’s a false alarm, but we’d rather go anyway, so we can be with her,” my father adds softly.

“I want to come too!”

“You still have an exam to take, Alma. You can join us when you’re finished.”

“You’re just saying that so I don’t feel guilty.”

I feel the tears welling up.

“Your father is right,” Mom sniffles, rubbing my back. “You and Basile need to stay here until classes are over. You’re old enough. And besides, Georgia will be here. We’re taking Lily. It’s okay if she misses school.”

“We’re counting on you to behave like responsible adults in our absence, understood?”

I ignore my father’s usual lecture.

“Tell Grandma that I’m thinking of her. And that I’ll call her. No, that I love her!”

***

That evening, my parents call us from Paris to let us know that my grandmother’s health has improved slightly. I can breathe again.

“She’s still as old and wrinkled as ever, but she’s back for another round!” Lily bellows on the other end of the line.

They decide to stay in France for a few days.

I text Clémentine, out of habit.

[Clem, Grandma is hanging in there!]

[Little old ladies rock!]

[Pool and movie night at my place?]

[I’m coming. You got popcorn?]

[We’ll order whatever you want.]

[Korean! And pizza!

And Krispy Kreme donuts, obvs…