Page 75 of The Heiress
“Hey, sorry about what happened with Addison.”
“Thanks,” she said, “but I’m sorry you got caught up in it. She shouldn’t have said those things about your mom.”
I shrugged. “It’s not your fault,” I said, “but she’s getting out of control.” I nudged Elisha. “I was thinking I should’ve let you pour that drink all over her!”
Elisha glared at me. “Yes! You shouldn’t have stopped me. Any punishment would have been so worth it.”
“I didn’t want to risk you getting kicked out of school,” I said, standing close enough that our arms touched—or our blazers.
“Hopefully someone will get back at her one day,” Beth said.
We all nodded, and there was an awkward silence where I wasn’t sure whether I should blurt out in front of everyone that I was here to ask Elisha to hang out.
But it was Mya who saved me—well, in a way. “Elisha, as bad as he is at chess, he didn’t come here to play with me.”
“And I doubt I’ll be back for more humiliation,” I quipped back.
“Are you going to ask her out in front of everyone?” Mya clipped with a smug smile.
It was crazy that a 13 year old girl could cause me to turn the shade of a tomato, but that’s what was happening, my face burning up, on fire.
But this time Elisha saved me. “Yes,” she said. “If you’re here to ask me out, yes.” She hooked her arm through mine and led me out. Only as we were at the doorway was I bold enough to turn around and stick my tongue out at Mya.
Mom was already home when Elisha and I arrived. I’d waited in my car while she got changed. She’d asked if we would be playing tennis and though it hadn’t been in the plans, I said maybe. I found it wildly attractive that she wanted to play. Well, I found her wildly attractive, period.
I parked my car in the driveway, knowing I’d take Elisha home later.
“Wait,” I said as I opened my car door to get out, moving swiftly around to open Elisha’s door for her. Though this boyfriend thing was new to me, it’s like I’d been waiting for it my whole life. Opening a car door, holding hands—I was made for doing all the sweet romantic things. Who knew? I’d thought my forte was hitting tennis balls as hard as I could, but I was already thinking about buying her chocolates and flowers.
Mom was sitting at the breakfast bar when Elisha and I came in. For a second, I thought she was having a setback, elbows on the counter, chin in her hands, eyes closed.
“Hey Mom.”
I immediately saw her gaze flit to our joined hands, not sure if her expression was one of approval or not.
But it seemed Mom was overwhelmed by a package she’d received.
“Oh, you got it?” Elisha said, all eyes directed to a black box.
“Yes, it’s a gift from your parents,” Mom said, her tone almost cross as she lifted the lid to show a pink handbag and perfume set. “But I can’t accept it, it’s just too much.”
“But you let me stay with you,” Elisha said defensively, like she was ready to turn it into an argument.
I picked up the attached card and read it. It was signed from Stephan and Mariana Millar.
“Yes, but this is much too...too expensive,” Mom said, almost trembling with emotion. “You gave the flowers, they were beautiful, they were enough. More than enough.”
I held up the bag and matching coin purse, soft, stylish, a designer label. “How much?” I asked naively, my thought that it might be a couple hundred dollars or so.
I got no reply. It’s like I’d gone invisible.
“It was a pleasure having you stay here,” Mom said. “I didn’t expect anything for it.”
“I know,” Elisha said, standing straighter. There was something different about her, a confidence, an authority. “But I want you to have it. It’s a gift.” She reached out and took Mom’s hand in hers. “Staying here, it was the first time I felt like I could be myself. Like, you didn’t even know me, and Phoenix probably warned you I was this horrible person, but you treated me...like a normal person.” Elisha spun around to flash me a grimace. “It’s okay, you were justified in telling her. Because Iwasa pretty horrible person. But you guys, both of you, you let me be me.”
She let go of Mom’s hand and turned to face me fully. “You know, I told you I was mad at my parents for sending me to Covington Prep and I was trying to make their life miserable for what they’d done, but being here made me realize I’d made it into this big issue and it wasn’t.” She stared into my eyes, her throat tightening before she whispered. “You made me see the real world, Phoenix.”
With Mom right there, I was suddenly nervous to reach out to Elisha, but I wanted her in my arms right now. I placed my hand on her shoulder, slowly creeping it further around her back. Elisha moved in closer of her own accord and I wrapped my arm around her. Having her head rest on my chest seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
