Page 89 of Bittersweet Revenge

Caleb looked at me with an eyebrow raised and an ‘I-told-you-so’ half grin. “You don’t say.”

“You know we’re only going for two days, right?” I asked her. “Why four suitcases?”

“Oh, there’s only two for clothes. One is for shoes, the other for accessories.” She shrugged. “It depends what I’m in the mood for.”

“Yeah,” Antoine huffed. Joining us in the car, he sat between Archie and Taylor. “Not sure why you need to think so hard for campus tours, but you know.”

Archie leaned forward on his seat, trying to look at Taylor. “Are you checking universities? Together?” he asked. He’d tried to sound merely curious, but the tension in his voice was hard to miss.

“Here we go,” Caleb grumbled just loud enough for me to hear before starting the car.

“Yeah,” Antoine replied. “Tonight after dinner at River Queen, we’ll have an early night because tomorrow we’re going to see Cornell, Columbia, and NYU.”

“NYU? Huh… I thought you were going to Ivy Leagues. I guess we can’t all do it,” Archie started and Taylor hissed.

Caleb put the music on to drown them out.

“Thank you!”

He nodded with a little grin. “Anytime. Talking about college, have you thought about it?”

“I - Yes. Before–” I shook my head. “I just didn't think it was an option anymore.”

“But it is. Archie and I, we can get you in seven of the eight Ivy Leagues...and I’m sure Oppenheimer can get you in the eighth.”

“Ah, cool. It’s just–”

“It’s just what?” he encouraged.

I shook my head. “Nothing. It’s nothing. I’ll think about it.” I looked away feeling stupid. What was I supposed to tell him? That I hope we would last the distance? That after we managed to resolve everything, we might have a future? Was he still set on freeing me from this life and in consequence, from him?

I looked at him. His profile was so serious while he drove. What if I didn’t want to be free of him?

He glanced at me again as if he could feel my eyes on him. “What? Esmeralda, what is it?”

I looked at the back. For once the three behind us were chatting instead of arguing.

“You promised. No secrets, remember?”

“What does it mean for us?”

He was silent for a long time, so long I thought he was not going to answer. “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I often fool myself, pretending I have all the answers, but I don’t, Esmeralda. I’ve been trying not to think about it, at least not yet. Let’s deal with the case at hand first, okay?”

“Yes, of course.” I nodded. He was right. One problem at a time was the way to go, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the uncertainty of the future.

Once we entered the city, all my worries vanished, at least for now. I couldn’t help but gape in awe at the tall buildings, the busy streets, the yellow cabs. It was just like in the movies.

When we stopped at a red light, I turned toward Caleb, then blushed as I saw he was detailing me with a small smile on my face.

“What?” I asked self-consciously.

“Nothing, it’s just… It’s quite lovely to discover the city for the first time through your eyes. What about going for a walk after check-in?”

“What about me?” Archie piped in, leaning in between the seats.

“Whataboutyou?” Caleb asked, tensing up as he resumed his drive.

“I know I'm the third...or fifth wheel on this trip, but still, she's my sister.”

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