frame is cheaper, though,” I say, hooking Poppy’s elbow and guiding her away from the gorgeous ivory headboard she’s latched onto in the more expensive section of the furniture store—the side she obviously prefers.
“But it’s a four-poster!” she argues. “It’s on sale!” She pouts all the way back to the inexpensive metal headboard I’d picked out earlier.
Poppy insisted on coming with me to shop for stuff for her place—which just became our place. But she seems to be having trouble with my budget, which led to arguments and then offers to buy me the things I couldn’t afford before I put my foot down.
The cost of freedom from my father might have started out reasonable—all it took was a large chunk of the inheritance Mom left me, and a visit to the campus housing office—but I’m struggling with how much things snowballed from there.
At Valmont, all freshmen are required to live on campus or at home. For the Valmont elites however, it works differently. Poppy and Ava managed to negotiate residence in one of the on-campus duplexes reserved for students with families. This was technically a violation of University policy, but since Poppy and Ava were guaranteed to renovate the apartment at no expense to the school, and since they agreed not to host any parties, no one could come up with a reason why they shouldn’t be allowed. Also, I suspect some money passed hands quietly between University officials and their parents.
I slept on their couch for a week after my brother’s wedding, never going home when my father and brother were likely to be around, and never for more than a few minutes. In the end, I realized I needed to make it official. If I want my life to be my own, I have to get away from Windfall.
Poppy and Ava were excited when I asked if I could move into the small room, most likely meant to be an office they’re actually using as a glorified walk-in closet. I’d only had to agree to two things. Ava wanted me to guarantee that if the shit hit the fan with my father, Sterling wouldn’t end up living with us, too. Poppy jumped in as soon as she said it, letting me know it was still fine for him to come over. Her only demand was that she be allowed to help me decorate. At the time, I thought Poppy’s half would be easier than navigating visits from Sterling.
Now, I’m not so sure.
When Poppy and I arrived at the home store, I had plugged the absolute limit of my budget into the calculator app on my phone. Without that precaution, Poppy would have spent the entire sum in the first 60 seconds.
“There’s not space for a four-poster in my room,” I say, “but you can get it if you like it.”
“And then you can take the one I’m using now?” she says, trying on the idea.
That is so not what I meant. “Poppy, that’s sweet, but—”
“But what?” She lifts one end of the metal, full-size bed frame on display, and it creaks loudly. “This won’t withstand a man like Sterling.”
“It’s not about that,” I say, sighing. Why can’t she understand what it is I want out of today?
“It’s just that everyone in the complex is going to hear this every time you two...you know...”
“Have sex?” I offer.
She flushes. “Honestly, I know you don’t want to take your dad’s money, but I don’t mind helping out. It’s not a big deal.”
“It is though,” I say. “I’m at the point I’d rather have something crappy that’s entirely my own.”
Her expression says I’m speaking Greek. “If you say so. Can I at least get you some really nice bedding? Consider it a housewarming present!”
“Fine.”
Some battles can’t be won.
We make our way to the linens section, and Poppy actually licks her lips when she sees the store’s main bedding display, an old Hollywood combination of lace, champagne satin, and silver chiffon. “This is freaking fantas—”
“Poppy, it’s more than the four poster!” I stop her as soon as I see the price tag.
“Hush, you said I could get the bedding.” She’s already plopping sheets and throw pillows into a cart. Piled there in its romantic, neutral hues, it looks like the remnants of a bridal party.
“I want Sterling to feel comfortable. I’m not sure satin will help him forget what happened at the wedding.” It’s true. In the week since the wedding, Sterling has bounced back and forth between something like the pre-wedding