Page 54 of Elusion

“Now,” he continues, “she’s informed me you’re only considering schools out of state—Georgetown, Michigan, Northwestern.”

Yes, she wants me anywhere that distances me from my fake girlfriend, Jess. If I didn’t think her attempts were so damn amusing, I would find them exhausting.

“With my GPA, summer internships, and outstanding recommendations from prestigious men such as yourself, I would hate to limit myself,” I say, getting more comfortable in the leather chair. “You attended the University of Pennsylvania if I’m not mistaken.”

“They offer a fantastic program,” he says, his eyes lighting up. “My wife and I are still very involved alumni.”

“Not a school to be discounted from the considerations then.”

He tips his glass toward me. “Indeed.”

By the time I walk out of the country club, I’ve secured myself work for the summer at his law firm and guaranteed myself an excellent recommendation, regardless of where I choose to attend. I tug, loosening my tie as I start my Jeep. Three missed calls from Carol are already waiting for me. Her voice comes over the speaker as I pull out of the parking lot.

“How did everything go with Stanley?”

“He was quite offended by my antiestablishment tendencies, which led me to spit on his Italian loafers.”

She sighs. “Jordan…”

I merge onto the highway to head home. “He will be singing my praises from the rooftops, Mother. I let him know of my intentions to attend a local school since it seems to have slipped your mind.”

She stays silent on the other end, carefully choosing her words to keep me from further rebellion. “As long as you keep your mind open to future possibilities.”

“Of course I will.” I pause long enough for her guard to lower before I add, “I can’t forget the possibility of knocking up Jess and marrying her to make sure she understands I will always choose her over my career.”

“Ha-ha, very funny,” she says. I don’t answer, letting her jump to conclusions. “Jordan?” The panic in her voice is undeniable.

“We’ll talk later. Bye, Mom—I mean, Grandma.”

I end the call and smile at the thought of her face pinching. She really makes it too easy.

Once I return to the house, I spread out my notes in the living room to study for my final midterm. Dr. Miller scheduled our exam on a Friday morning, winning himself zero admirers, but I don’t mind. Two hours of diving into the philosophical beliefs of existentialism sounds like a welcome escape.

Benji knocks the notebook out of my hands and plants himself on the coffee table in front of me. We aren’t talking at the moment. Technically, I’m not speaking to him, which pisses him off, so he stopped talking to me. All over a comment he made a few days ago while we were working on a new song.

“You still mad?”

I pick up my notebook, ignoring him.

He gives an exasperated groan and unfolds a paper from his wallet. “Certain of the unsure in a meaningless void. Frantic beauty hides beyond her serene blue eyes. She left as mine and never returned. A scab not yet a scar in a messy, wounded life.”

“You just carry those around with you now?” I ask, annoyed he grabbed my lyrics out of the trash.

“Come on, man. I’m sorry, but you need to let this go. You wrote shitty lyrics about a broken heart, and I called you out on it. I would expect for you to do the same thing for me.”

He’s right because he’s Benji, and the guy has the most irritating habit of always being right about everything. Also, it takes more energy to stay mad at him than I care to commit to any longer, so I relent.

“Whatever. If I tell you we’re good, will you throw them away?”

“Tell me you love me.”

“I love you,” I say dryly.

“Tell me like you mean it.”

Jesus.I plaster on a grin and talk through clenched teeth. “I love you, Benjamin.”

He taps my cheek, triumphant. “I love you too, Jordy.”

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