Page 27 of The Big Easy & Other Lies
I didn’t doubt it. Judge LeBlanc’s approach probably involved making it rain in the admissions office to remind them of how much they liked having extra cash on hand. Soon the field hockey team would get new equipment, or maybe a statue of Angelique would spring up somewhere to thank her father for his generous donation.
“Anyway, it’s fine,” he said. “I’ve got a project in mind. I’m waiting to find out who my advisor is.”
“What’s the project?” I asked, which was a dumb thing to ask for a girl who was avoiding friendships.
“Just a thing I’ve been working on.”
I stared at him. “Please, be more vague.”
“Call it payback for how you never spill info when I ask you questions,” he said, his smile fully back.
I liked that smile. A lot. He had a slightly crooked incisor that was somehow charming. If Bran knew that even Rhett’s tooth charmed me, I’d never hear the end of it. Breaking eye contact with him suddenly seemed über important, so I looked down at Livvie’s skirt and picked at a loose thread.
After a short pause, he ducked his head, trying to catch my eye again. “I’m kidding,” he said. “Guess my project, and I’ll tell you if you get it right.”
I squinted at him in pretend deep thought. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a drama kid, but you had aCool Hand Lukemonologue in your back pocket.”
He tilted his head. “Only other drama kids would even know that was fromCool Hand Luke.”
Or kids whose great-aunts were obsessed with the classic movie channels in between their lame reality TV marathons. But I wouldn’t be dragging Delphine into our conversation any time soon. Or ever.
“I’ve seen a lot of old movies,” I said. “That’s one of my favorites.” It was so good it made me ache. Watching Luke try again and again to break free from the warden resonated with me. Majorly. The first time I watched it with Delphine, her voice had dripped with disdain for the warden. “He’s the one should be shot,” she spat at the climactic scene. Even at age twelve, I marveled at the total hypocrisy of her outrage.
Rhett tilted his chair toward me. “I wonder if we love it for the same reasons.” His smile was gone, an intent look in its place.
But I wasn’t having that conversation. Angelique saved me from an answer, breezing through the door with Tara on her heels. She stopped short when she saw Rhett with me.
“Hey, Rhett.” She walked over to us and rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Hi,” he said. He didn’t acknowledge her hand, but he didn’t move away either.
“I heard Cam’s been taking care of you,” she said, her voice bright. She squeezed his shoulder. “I’m sorry I was so busy today. I’msureCam doesn’t mind helping you out, but you and I should plan on hanging out some more tomorrow. I’ll give you the lowdown on our teachers at home. Cam doesn’t take the honors track.”
All her honeyed words rolled off a forked tongue. What she really meant was, “I know you think getting my cousin’s attention is going to help you out, but don’t get comfortable.”
Rhett patted her hand. “I know you’re busy. Don’t worry about me.”
She smiled. “I can’t throw you to the gators. Your mom would tell my mom and then she’d look at me with those disappointed eyes she does, and I’ll lose my appetite and my dad will give me another lecture about needing meat on my bones, and I’ll have to eat a burger to make him happy. Do me a favor. Let me do my cousinly job and give you a thorough orientation to LaSalle.”
“Sounds great,” he said.
I couldn’t tell if he meant it. I waited to see what she would do next. I had no doubt she wouldn’t leave him with me if she could help it.
“You should go see Dr. Alcott. He’s waiting for you. Want me to show you his office?” she asked.
Dr. Alcott. The upper school music director. This must have something to do with his capstone project.
Rhett finally turned to stare at Angelique over his shoulder. “I know where it is. I promise.” When she stood there without moving, he sighed and pushed himself up. “If I go, will you stop hovering?”
She nodded. “You don’t want to make a bad first impression when it’s your capstone advisor.”
He scooped up his messenger bag and slung it across his chest, the tattered canvas looking cool instead of wrecked. That was the thing about having money. When you chose a beat up backpack over a brand new one, you came off as hip. If you were poor and chose the same thing, you came off as raggedy.
“I’ll catch you later, Cam.”
“Later,” I said, as he walked off.
Angelique glared at me once he was out the door. “Later nothing,” she said. “Don’t think my cousin is going to be your ticket to popularity. You’re so transparent.”
