Bookish and the Beast - Ashley Poston Page 0,43
want to think about Vance. I don’t want to think about how long he’d known I was the girl from the ball, because then I’ll just think about why he didn’t say anything earlier, and isn’t the answer obvious? Because he didn’t like that it was me. That’s the only reason I can think of.
I hike my bookbag onto my shoulder and push my crutches under my arms again. “Let’s get to class before we’re late—again.”
* * *
—
A PART OF ME DOESN’T WANT TO GO into the castle-house today. Not even to see the books. And because I can’t drive—well, more like my dad refused to let me—he picks me up, having taken a late lunch, and drops me off at the estate. And I can’t tell him that I don’t want to go today because then I’d have to admit that I lied to him about how I broke my ankle, and he’s already rooting for me to quit—I think he still has his checkbook in his suit pocket to whip out at any moment—and as I keep saying:
I am stubborn as hell. It’s part of my charm.
He glances up the driveway as I open the door and toss my crutches out. “You know, Elias will probably let you off today if you want to just go home.”
“I’ll be fine, Dad.”
“But—”
“I’m fine,” I repeat, pushing myself out of his car. I grab my bookbag and close the door behind me. Dad doesn’t linger for very long, because he’s on a rather tight lunch break, but he does give me one last look—to make sure that I’m certain—before he drives off.
As I crutch my way up the driveway, I glance up to see if there’s any movement in Vance’s window, praying that he took Sansa out for a very long walk, and there’s nothing. Maybe he’s out exploring the town—for once.
I head into the kitchen, where Mr. Rodriguez is checking on something in the oven. “Whatever you’re cooking smells incredible,” I tell him as I dump my bookbag on the island barstool.
“It’s a secret tamale recipe passed down from my abuela,” he replies, wiping his hands on a towel that he then throws over his shoulder. He’s wearing a pale pink button-down today and gray chinos. “I made enough, if you want to stay for dinner.”
“My dad’s expecting me home. We’re having Chinese tonight.”
Mr. Rodriguez perks. “Oh? He cooks?”
I laugh. “I wish! I’m picking up Chinese from the place down the street, is what I meant. Their egg rolls are to die for.”
“Ooh, I’ve been meaning to try that place!”
“Highly recommend.” And then—though I don’t know why—I add, “Maybe we can all do dinner one night and order out.”
The moment those words leave my mouth, I think I should regret them, but I…don’t? Dad needs some friends, and Mr. Rodriguez looks about my dad’s age, but I really can’t tell with any man over twenty-five. They all look old to me, and it doesn’t help that he’s always smiling and whistling, and a part of me can’t believe that he hasn’t quit working for the likes of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named yet. He’s like a bubbly Hufflepuff.
Then again, I heard Slytherins and Hufflepuffs go together like peas in a pod.
Mr. Rodriguez grins. “I think that’s a great idea. We should plan that.”
“I’ll let him know.” My watch beeps. Four o’clock. “I should probably get to work.”
“Have fun!—Oh!” he adds as I turn toward the library. “The bathroom downstairs is out for the day. We’re having a plumber coming in to fix it but he hasn’t shown up yet,” Mr. Rodriguez says, wiping his hands on his KISS ME, I’M NOXIAN apron. “You can use Vance’s upstairs if you don’t mind the stairs? I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” he adds, eyeing my crutches.
“I’ll be fine,” I scoff in reply, because I can hold my pee with the best of them, and there’s no way I’m ever going back upstairs. My curiosity is sated, after all.
After what happened last night, I half expected Vance to order Mr. Rodriguez to fire me the second I walked in the door, but Mr. Rodriguez doesn’t seem to be doing that, so either Vance doesn’t hate me, or he has no power over me.
I like the second option even better than the first, really.
Doing anything in the library today ends up being an absolute pain. I end up propping my crutches against one of the chairs and just taking it slow as I unpack a series of fantasy