Page 3 of David

“What are you talking about?” I ask, unable to suppress my irritation.

She blocks my view with her back before turning around and sliding into her seat. She holds an apple, a fruit knife, and a small plate.

Sighing, she looks down and starts peeling the apple.

“I knew it was about the money,” she says, and I tense up.

“How many times do I have to tell you I don’t care about their money?”

A knowing smile tilts her lips, making me choke on frustration.

She thinks it’s about this complicated take on life.

They’re rich. I’m poor, and I just figured out I’d never have what they have.

Things are simpler than that.

I’m only a student. A student like her, Thea Porter, my cousin, yes, but still. I’m only a student. And I’m not even twenty–five.

I’m young. I know nothing. And in this case, I feel like I don’t belong.

What’s so hard to understand?

Thea's life has changed since she divorced Nolan.

Despite what Terry says, she is not ‘only’ my cousin from California. She no longer needs us. She has kids and a man who makes her happy.

She’s busy decorating her house, taking care of the kids, and loving him, Ed Preston.

She’s in college like me, yes, and we see each other on campus, but our schedules are different despite both studying archeology.

Our lives are no longer about getting a degree, experimenting, doing stupid things that cost nothing, and looking for someone to settle down.

She’s done all that in one fell swoop and hasn’t even planned for it. No one can foresee the kind of story that she has.

She wasn’t even looking for a new husband after divorcing Nolan. And I’m sure she didn’t wish for someone like Ed Preston.

But things happened, and he fell in love with her.

Everyone in town knew who he was. Women lost their breath every time he glanced their way.

Thea and Ed were meant to be together, and no one could be jealous of them.

“I know it makes you think about your life,” she says evenly, enjoying her apple.

My eyebrows flick up.

“My life? What’s wrong with my life?”

“Nothing,” she mumbles around her food. “That’s the problem. There’s nothing wrong with your life, yet somehow things feel wrong to you.”

“I don’t understand.”

Her eyes stay connected with mine for a long second.

“You lost your people, Liz.”

“What people? What are you talking about? I didn’t lose anyone.”

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