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“Happier than I’ve ever been, if I’m being honest.” He’s been on guard with me this entire time, I know him well enough to pick that out, but when he talks about Roxanne, it’s like he can’t help but melt a little. It almost makes me feel guilty for hating them together so much.Almost.
“You know I just worry…” I sigh. “I know as the oldest sibling you’re supposed to be the worried one, but I can’t help it. On paper, there is so much that can go wrong, and I don’t want to see you hurt. You’d want the same for me, right? If I ended up with someone you didn’t approve of.”
To my astonishment, my brother just chuckles at the idea. “We all know you’ll end up with the perfect nobleman handpicked by Mom and Dad, marry him, and then slowly ruin his life while never allowing him to leave. So I probably won’t have to worry about that.”
I huff, offended, but my brother only laughs. I check the time, realizing that I don’t have long until my next class, and exhale slowly, tilting my head back and looking toward the sky. I didn’t cover nearly as much in this talk as I wanted to, but it’s a good start, and he doesn’t seem like he’s ready to chase me away anytime soon. Leaving our interaction here is fine.
“I’ve got to go,” I tell him, sounding like an apology. “I’d like to talk again soon, though, if you have time for me.”
His face softens, and he nods. “Of course. If you’re willing to be amiable, I am too.”
We both do a sort of shuffle, not knowing whether to just walk away or hug first, but when I turn to go and head to class, Andries stops me. “Elise?”
“Yes?”
“I…” He seems hesitant, running a hand on his hair as he ponders whether to continue or not. His behavior gives me pause, and I frown observing him. “Roxanne and I are having an engagement party on May twenty-first, and, um, I’d love it if you attended.”
What! They have already a date for the party?
Shocked, it takes me a moment to respond. “Um, maybe, I think I can do that. Where are you hosting it, exactly?”
“At the O’Brian’s,” he answers, screening my face to pick up my reaction.
My shock is quick to turn to fury, but I keep it pushed down inside of me, not wanting Andries to see how much that little bit of information is affecting me. “Oh, really? Okay, um, well, just let me check my schedule.”
Andries apparently doesn’t pick up on my overly cheery tone, simply raising a hand to bid goodbye as I pivot and start stomping to class. I have to pace my breathing, clenching and unclenching my fists as I go.
How dare Dan do this!?
After we had just spoken all about my brother and his ill-fated engagement. He must have left me behind and agreed to throw the party within less than twelve hours!
I can barely pay attention during class, sitting behind my open laptop screen and not absorbing any of the lesson. Tapping my fingers on the desk, I count the minutes until I’m free and confront Dan about his betrayal.
Once I’m finally released, I find the quietest corner I can and make the phone call, one of my feet tapping an angry staccato against the marble floor. He answers, sounding annoyed and rushed.
“Elise, I’m a little busy right now, can I call you later?”
“Come to campus,” I snap right away. “We need to talk.”
Dan releases a frustrated groan. “I can’t do that. I’m at my parents’ place anyway, and like I said, I’m busy.”
“I don’t really care how busy you think you are, this is more important than—”
“Bye, Elise!” he interrupts, and then the line goes dead.
Fuck!I growl in frustration, feeling my blood pressure rising. The fact that he had the audacity to hang up on me only adds to how angry I already was, and now I’m positive there’s no way I can wait until Dan’s schedule opens up enough to give me a few minutes of his precious time.
He did say he was at his family’s house, and I just happen to know where that is. Surely, it’s out of line to barge into the O’Brian’s without being invited, but Dan had already decided that there wasn’t going to be any honor between him and me.
Before I can change my mind and err on the side of civility, I book the Uber, letting out a long breath once I do.
No one hangs up on Elise Van den Bosch. Ever.
Tucked away behind the city’s canals, lies one of the most beautiful grand houses downtown—the one of Jake and Caroline O’Brian. My brother used to come here often after his fencing classes, and eventually, started to invite me over too.
I step out of the car and into the open air, gazing up at the tall historic façade that stands just a few steps from me. It’s undoubtedly a lovely home, intricately detailed with pale gray stone, but it’s the secret gardens in the backyard that are the real crowning jewel.
Without time for second guesses, I walk up to the front doors and press the bell for a long moment. Enough that when I stop, there’s already someone on the other side opening it for me.
