Page 65 of Five

This makes Tera’s face light up. “You’re paired with Frank?”

I nod, unable to see why this makes her happy. Frank isn’t a guy Tera would ever date. He’s very smart. Everyone at Princeton is smart, but Frank is like, genius-level smart. He’s not ugly. But he’s not handsome, either. Not like Five. He’s… OK. But mostly, he’s just… rich. And well bred. I think that’s what girls here at Princeton look for first in a man. Money. And the older it is, the more they like it.

“Stop it,” Tera says, slapping my shoulder. “Stop thinking about Five. And stop comparing Frank to him. Frank and Five are nothing alike. I’ve known Frank since we were kids. Practically grew up together in boarding school. His family is nice.”

“And pretentiously rich,” I say.

“So?” Tera says. “I’m pretentiously rich. And you never had a problem with that before you ditched me last minute to fly home to see some guy who doesn’t deserve you and, to be blunt, doesn’t want you.”

“Thanks a lot,” I say.

“And you’re not poor, Rory. Your blood might not be blue, but your parents have a lot of zeroes in their bank accounts. There’s no way you’d even get in to Palladium if that wasn’t the case.”

“Really?” I ask. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

“What?” Tera says, feigning innocence. “Like it’s a secret. Everyone knows Palladium only takes people with bright futures. And bright futures require lots and lots of family money. You’re one of us, Rory. This,” she says, waving her arms at my room, “proves it.”

“Maybe I don’t want to be one of you?”

Tera just stares at me. “What happened last summer? I mean, aside from Five walking out on you. I got that when you texted me that day to let me know you weren’t coming out to the Hamptons. But what happened after? Why did you stay home all summer? And never call?”

“I didn’t think you wanted to talk to me.”

“I was giving you space. But I expected you to get in touch when you sorted things out. And you never did. Why?”

“After all that stuff with Cliff?” I laugh. “He practically told me Five was dangerous. And you called and were almost begging me not to let Five hurt him!”

“I was overreacting,” she says. “I’m sorry. Cliff is… weird about stuff like this.”

I raise my eyebrows, wondering just how much Tera knows about what’s really happening. “Stuff like… what?” I ask.

“Never mind. Cliff is just unhappy about us being in Palladium House. He’s bitter and—”

“Wait,” I say, putting up a hand to stop her right there. “What do you mean unhappy? He told me he got accepted and he turned them down. So why would he be bitter about you getting in?”

“It’s stupid. He thinks they’re like Skull and Bones, or something.” She waves her hand in the air, like this is preposterous. “He’s always been that way. My father is like that too. Jesus, you should have heard him ranting this summer about how I should’ve joined the eating club Cliff was in. Talk about boring, right?”

She laughs.

I do not. “Listen, Tera, I might agree with Cliff about this place. Five told me—”

“Five told you.” Tera huffs. “Five didn’t tell you shit! He’s part of the Chinese mob, Rory! What kind of man joins the fucking mob?”

“My man,” I say And it comes out sad. And desperate. And…

“Are you clinically depressed, Rory? Do you need to seek help? What’s going on?”

“What?” I exclaim. It’s so fucking ridiculous. “No, Tera. I’m not clinically depressed. Why would you even say that?”

She shrugs. “You do admit, you’re having trouble letting go of the past. Five Aston is not your man anymore. He’s some stupid mobster you need to forget about.”

“I just need time,” I say. “You don’t understand, Tera. I spent my whole life counting on this man to be my prince. And nothing is working out the way I want it.”

“So change that, Rory,” Tera says. “Turn it around.”

“I don’t want to turn it around. I want him, OK? That’s it.” I watch her carefully as she processes this. One eye closes slightly, which is a sign of suspicion. So I add, “But he doesn’t want me. I get it. There’s nothing I can do to make him want me.”

Her shoulders relax. And then I get a smile. “There’s always a way, Rory. But… do you want to waste your A-game on a guy who doesn’t want to play? Give Frank a try. What could it hurt? You don’t have to do anything with him. Just be nice this evening. Try to have a good time. Just…” She sits down on the bed next to me and puts her arm around my shoulder in a hug. “Just be yourself again. I miss that girl. I’ve missed her all summer. And I want her back.”