Page 148 of The Bet
“What is it?” she asked. Maybe, the reason he wasn't saying anything was because something was in the way.
Maybe it was a question of her having to read between the lines.
“Nothing,” he replied. “How was your day?”
The evening was over too soon, and before she knew it, they were driving back. But, instead of taking her back to his place, as she had been looking forward to, Xavier announced that he had a day of meetings planned, and that he needed to get an early night.
They were parked outside her apartment by 11.
So much for wearing the new crotchless panties she'd been hoping to surprise him with.
“Is that all you wanted to talk about, the weekend at the Hamptons?” she asked, because she had this odd feeling it couldn’t have only been that.
“Yes, and no.”
Yes and no?Now they were getting somewhere.
“Ever feel like a fake?” he asked, turning to face her. This time he had parked under a street light, and they could better make out one another's faces.
“No, never. Why? Do you?”
“Sometimes.”
“Is there something you want to tell me?” she asked, taking his hand.
“It’s always so freaky, the way you can read my mind.”
“Something you feel uncomfortable about?” she ventured a guess.
“Yeah.”
“Something you need to get off your chest?”
“Yeah.”
“So why can't you just come out and say it? We're close enough now that I could tell you anything, and I'd hope you would feel the same way.”
“I feel I can tell you anything,” he said, clearing his throat.
She sat, stroking the palm of his hand, resting the back of it on her thigh, waiting for him to tell her.
“Is it Tobias?” she asked, when he still hadn't said anything.
“Huh?” He seemed distracted. “That's part of it.”
“Are you still worried about the Hennessy contract?”
“I wouldn't say I was worried. I'm still thinking about it.”
He had a lot on his mind, she understood. After all, she was always preoccupied with her studies, and the other little jobs. He had the weight of his businesses, the disagreement with Tobias, and the new contract to juggle. She especially sensed that the friction between him and his brother might be a big part of it.
She pressed down on his palm. “Family and work can be the worst combinations,” she said, trying to second guess him.
“Have you thought any more about when you could go away? I mean, if you still want to come to The Hamptons.”
“Maybe around the end of February,” she replied. She’d go sooner, if she could, but college was full on.
“End of Feb,” he said.
