Page 104 of Vicious Saint
So, I toss the fork on the table and reach for a cup of water instead, chugging it in hopes it’ll put out the fire.
“You know…” Vic presses his luck again. “I got a buddy over at BU.”
The abbreviation is like ice to my veins, freezing my hand midair. I glance at him with my heart at the edge of its cage.
“As in…?”
“As in…Bromwell University.”
I straighten in my seat, heart pounding for a whole different reason. “Are you serious?”
Bromwell is the of anything,everything, art and design. Impossible to impress, even more impossible to get in. A school I never would’ve considered throughout my years of public high school—and would only dream of attending during my past year at Riverside.
Anyone who is anyone in the industry has attended Bromwell…and this guy just dabbles with the mention of the university like it’s a piece of cake.
There’s got to be a punchline in here somewhere…
Something I don’t get to find out because the staff appears to refill our drinks, effectively putting a nix on the conversation.
“So, Hendrix.” Mom shimmies in her seat when they’re done. “Vic and I found a solution to your problem.”
“My problem?”
“About where you will stay.”
Not this shit again.
“I already told you where I’mstaying.”
Both Auntie and Theory shift uncomfortably but seem to know better than to chime in.
Can’t say the same for Vic.
“Unfortunately, Hendrix, you staying at a hotel is out of the question.”
And just like that, once again, my appetite for food is replaced with one for violence.
“No offense, Vic, but this is between my mom and me.”
“It absolutely isnot,” Mom all but hisses. “I already told you where you’d be staying, but Vic was nice enough to find an alternative that appeases everyone.”
“Just listen to him, Hendrix. You may actually like what he has to say,” Auntie whispers in my ear.
Vic takes my silence as permission to continue. “Turns out I have a last minute business trip this weekend in D.C., and we’ll be staying in one of our family homes with relatives. So even though your mother suggested you remain here—”
“Demanded,” I correct him and Mom interjects.
“I’m sorry, baby, okay? I was just having a rough morning.”
I forgave her hours ago, but I’m not stupid enough to let her know that.
“Regardless…” Vic proceeds. “It isn’t an option because almost everyone at this table will be joining me, and the staff will be away.”
“I amnot—”
“Which is why…I came up with another plan.”
“And what plan is that?”
