Page 85 of Wanted You More

Her evasion of the conversation makes me want to press her on more, but I don’t want to be too obvious. “I’ll get on this when I get back to my dorm.”

She gives me a professional smile. “I look forward to having you in my class. If you’re as smart as your father, I know we’ll have great discussions.”

Dadissmart, but I don’t like how she acknowledges it. And if she expects me to be anything like him, it might be a bad idea to sign up for her class.

Standing when I know she isn’t going to give me anything else, I tuck the paper into my bag and turn to her. “It was nice meeting you. It’s nice knowing my dad has such welcoming coworkers here.”

Her eyebrows furrow slightly, but her smile doesn’t slip. “Well, we’re happy to have him here. He’s a valued part of the department.”

It’s a generic response, but I accept it and walk out before I push too hard and give myself away. If I want to know what she’s up to with my dad, I guess I’ll have to piece it together slowly.

***

Without a job,it makes Christmas shopping a lot more difficult. The only thing making the day any fun is spending time with Kennedy, who seems a lot more upbeat since our conversation about Lincoln.

I’ve been too afraid to ask for any updates, so for once, I butt out of it. “What are you thinking about getting for your mom?”

From what she’s told me, they’re close. It always makes me feel a twinge of jealousy whenever I see her smile soften anytime she talks about her, but I find ways to brush it off. When her parents call, they always include me and ask how I’m doing.

Kennedy searches the stores we’re walking by. “She isn’t big on material things. I thought about getting her one of those charm bracelets, like the one you’re always wearing.”

My eyes drop to my wrist. I tug the sleeve of my winter coat over the silver charms. “That could be a cute idea. She could add charms from all the places her and your dad go together.”

Her eye bobs side to side. “Maybe. I’m not sure I want her to lecture me on spending money on her. She’d be happy with a homemade card and a hug.”

That’s how my mom always was. She used to say it was the thought that made gifts special. She had a drawer full of cards, ornaments, and jewelry that Wolfe and I made when we were little. When we moved, Dad put all that stuff in a wooden chest that’s on top of his dresser.

“Who gave you your bracelet?” Kennedy asks innocently, still studying each store we pass by to see what’s on display. “You never take that thing off, so it must be really special to you.”

The piece of jewelry feels heavier than normal. I don’t know why, but I lie. “It was a birthday present from my dad.”

A sweet expression has her turning to me, then lifting my wrist to study it. “That’s so sweet! I totally signed up for one of his intro classes next semester. Lincoln was going to too, but he said it conflicted with a few other courses. Hey! Why don’t you take it with me? I mean, he’s your dad. I’m sure it’ll be an easy A for you.”

I didn’t know she was looking at my dad’s classes. “I’m already in five courses. I’d have to drop one to get into his, and I’m excited about some of the ones I got into.”

It might be weird to be in his class anyway because Dad would never hand me a grade simply because I’m his kid. He doesn’t believe in nepotism.

Kennedy makes a face. “Yeah, I guess that’d be kind of weird. I know someone said they took his class this term and liked him. They said he’s funny.”

Dad? Funny?It makes me think back at all the times Mom always laughed at something dumb he said. He used to consider himself the king of puns. It usually annoyed me, but sometimes I couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous his jokes were.

Kennedy grabs my arm to stop me. “Isn’t that…?” She points in front of us where Noah is leaving one of the mall’s expensive jewelry stores that you’d have to have a trust fund to afford anything in.

What is he doingthere?

I’m looking for a quick escape, starting to tug my roommate toward the nearest store, when she jerks me to a halt and tightens her grip on my arm. “He’s coming over!”

I hold my head up high as he approaches, his eyes going to me and then the girl beside me who’s smiling way too big. Elbowing her, I lean in and whisper, “Stop that. You look like the Cheshire cat right now. He’s going to know you know something.”

She whispers back, “Idoknow something. I know that you’re still in love with—”

Her yelp when I pull on her hair stops her from saying something he can hear as he stops in front of us.

“Are you all right?” Noah asks her, eyebrows raising at the noise I get from her.

Kennedy glares at me, rubbing the back of her hair before nodding at Noah. “Yeah. My hair must have gotten caught on something.”

He holds his hand out. “I’m Noah.”

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