Page 50 of The Name Drop

But this summer, I’ve come to find that my type has nothing to do with class or status or bank account. It’s more someone who can be equally strong and soft, who speaks her mind, who cares for others, who has integrity.

No, I’m definitely not describing anyone in particular...

I’m still glowing in the wake of Jessica’s compliment when Jason comes over and gently elbows her. “Does that mean we might actually be able to get off work at a reasonable hour?” he asks. “Whattaya say, maybe we should all go out tonight? Not to jinx it, but maybe an early celebration?”

My body tenses like it always does when I watch the easy interaction between them. It’s hard seeing something you want but won’t have. The fun moments of first getting to know someone...flirting. My first date will likely be with someone of my father’s choosing, sitting down at my home’s formal dining room, our entire families present, being served a five-course meal and showing off our extravagant wealth. It will be a performance, a show. I’m just glad that I’ve been able to avoid it so far, but I’ve seenThe Heirs. I know how this works.

“I think it’s a great idea for us to cut out on time today,” Jessica says. “You’ve all been working so hard, and we’re in good shape for the last final days. I wish I could join you all tonight. But I, um, actually have plans.” My stomach sinks at the thought of her having plans that don’t include me. I know it’s none of my business. But still.

“You’re no fun,” Jason teases her. “One day I will get you to come out with us and let loose outside of work.”

“It’s a deal,” Jessica says.

“So, what are you up to tonight?” I ask in an incredibly casual way that makes me seem perfectly normal and not at all like I’m about to burst into flames at any moment.

“Hee-Jin was able to get tickets toHamilton. It’s my dream to see that show.” Jessica’s eyes dance with delight.

My disappointment must show on my face because Jessica looks surprised. “She didn’t tell you?”

“No, she didn’t. But that’s cool. It’s really cool of her to do that.” It’s so entirely not cool. Because my sister should be takingmeto seeHamilton. Rude.

“She said we’re all going together, the three of us. She got us all tickets. I thought you knew.”

Okay, I’m a selfish dick.

“Really, are you serious?” My voice shoots up an octave. I look around to make sure no one is paying attention to me. As I suspected, everyone’s heads are down working. I lower my voice. “I haven’t seen her today and,” I pull out my phone, “I’ve been too busy to even check my messages.” There’s a text from my sister.

Hamilton tonight 7pm. And yes, you have to dress up.

My sister may know I’m dying to seeHamilton, but what she doesn’t know is that I’d do just about anything to spend some more time with Jessica.

I send a thumbs-up emoji back to her.

The phone suddenly rings and my sister is talking before I can even say hello.

“There’s a new outfit waiting for you at the brownstone. You’re not wearing those off-the-rack T-shirts tonight,” she says.

“Look, I appreciate it, I do. But I’m living with nine other interns and everyone has the same kind of clothes and they’re all perfectly fine and happy. Why does it even have to matter?” I ask.

“What does it matter? I’m sorry, but what have you done with my fashionista brother who can’t be seen without an oversized logo on his clothing? It’s the theater, Elijah. You’re presenting yourself out in society. Look, just come by the house to get ready with us and we’ll all leave for the show together, okay? I’ve asked Mrs. Choi to make us something small to eat beforehand and we have a reservation for dinner after.”

And with that she hangs up. Not even a goodbye. I look down at my phone and can’t help the smile. Hee-Jin has no time for chitchat while she’s at work, apparently. I’ll have to give her some shit about it later.

It’s gonna be fun spending time with both Jessica and my sister tonight.

“Elijah?” Jessica calls me over to where she’s standing behind Jason, the two of them peering down at his laptop.

“Yeah,” I say, walking over to them.

“Jason just told me that the library said they’d waive their fee for the venue rental. Is that true?” Jessica looks up at me, confusion drawing her eyebrows together. When she asks it aloud like that, it sounds outrageous. An in-demand public venue letting us use it for free? Unheard of.

My entire body goes cold and my heart starts pounding. This is where I get caught for paying for the library with my credit card and I get the budget lecture from Jessica again and likely get kicked out of theHamiltoninvitation tonight, maybe kicked off the hackathon project altogether. I didn’t think telling Jason a little untruth as to why we didn’t have to request a check for the library would come back to bite me in the ass. But I’ve already dug the hole with my Black Amex and a lie. Not even a good one at that.

All summer, I’ve watched Jessica and the other interns come up with ways around obstacles, and trust me, there have been a lot. No one wants to make things easy on people they don’t take seriously. But this group has never given up. We’ve been persistent and solution oriented. At the time, I thought dropping my dad’s name, along with putting a mere ten thousand dollars on my credit card, was an easy fix to a problem. I know now that it didn’t fix anything. In fact, if the truth comes out, it might make things worse.

“Uh, yeah, well, they felt bad for being such assholes to us that time when we stopped by. So they, um, agreed to let us have the venue for free. So, yeah, uh, I told Jason we wouldn’t need to request a check.” I kick myself mentally for stumbling over my words.

If Jessica wanted a chance to find me incompetent and dishonest, this would be it. But we just had this conversation at the fabric store. It’s why I knew I couldn’t tell her then about what I’d done.

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