Page 75 of You + Me – Against the World

“Dad, nobody gives a damn about what your dog thinks!”

“Perfect, have fun!”

His response makes absolutely no sense, but Abrams flashes us a forced smile and hurries off anyway.

“Do you always talk to each other like that, or is it just because I’m here?” I ask, getting straight to the point; it’s always better than letting an awkward silence linger.

“Most of the time, we prefer not to talk to each other at all.”

“I see.”

“He may seem nice, but he’s the exact opposite, trust me.”

“I believe you. He can’t be an easy father to have. I’ve got a tough dad too, in a different way.”

“Ah, finally, a student who hasn’t bought into his brilliant professor act.”

Caleb turns to look at me for the first time.

“He is brilliant, though. But he can also be condescending, tyrannical, cutting, and moody, and sometimes he goes too far with his stereotypes …”

“And that’s on a good day!”

I laugh. Caleb’s cynical comeback reminds me of his father.

“Does he often introduce you to his students?”

“Only when they’re girls and he doesn’t think they’re too dumb. He thinks he’ll somehow manage to set me up with one of them. But don’t worry, it’s not a requirement in order to get good grades. I’ve had the same girlfriend for three years, but my dad can’t stand her.”

“That sounds familiar. He’s not exactly a fan of my boyfriend either,” I say, surprising myself by opening up to him.

“You’re with Arcadi, right? He talks about him often.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, about him, about you, and about the guy who constantly stuffs his face during class. About a girl who’s always acting cute, even though she’s smarter than she gives herself credit for; an Asian student who is a bit shy but promising, and whose name he can never remember; and a funny redhead too, who doesn’t really seem to know what she’s doing there.”

“I know exactly who you mean. I can’t believe he tells you all this.”

I laugh to myself as I match the descriptions to my classmates.

“You guys are all he has, you know. He’s a lonely, miserable man who failed the audition for his role as father and husband, so you’re sort of his surrogate family. The problem is, even though he likes you, he thinks you all suck this year. But hey, you give him something to do with his days.”

27

Caleb and I slowly become friends as we spend time together on the weekends he visits his dad. After all, we have a few things in common: complicated fathers, relationships that aren’t exactly approved of, and a group of students we can easily make fun of. Between my private tutoring sessions with Abrams and the time I spend hanging out and petting Hitch, I learn more about my teacher through Caleb, and he learns more about his father through me. Mr. Abrams hasn’t done anything specific to bring us closer, but ever since his son started stopping by unannounced, I catch him smiling more often.

With all this going on, I have less time to spend with Clémentine—which she’s quick to point out—and with Vadim, who sometimes gives me a hard time about it, while swearing he isn’t jealous. But secretly, I love that he is. Since Caleb came into the picture, Vadim teases me more than ever, but he’s also more attentive, more tender during the brief moments we manage to steal together in one of our hiding places. And he has a harder time letting me go, giving me back my freedom.

Arcadi’s latest stroke of genius is to organize a peacemaking dinner with Felix that he hopes will help us all bond a little. He’s also invited Clémentine, so he can get to know my best friend better. I still don’t know what possessed me to accept.

On the way to Vadim’s place with Clem, I keep repeating to her that this is not a setup, much less a double date. She makes me promise for the hundredth time not to leave her alone with “that loser” while I make out with my boyfriend. On the landing, we come face to face with Felix, who has heard everything and starts to look my friend up and down with what is meant to be the hungry eyes of a successful ladies’ man.

“I’ll count to three, and then we run,” Clem hisses to me through gritted teeth.

“Come in!” Vadim calls out, opening the door. “You’re all on time, which is already an achievement.”

“After you, ladies.”