First Comes Like (Modern Love #3) - Alisha Rai Page 0,8
new time zone.
He opened his mouth, but Luna held up a finger, her words coming fast, like she’d rehearsed them. “I have no real educational structure right now, except for the one my tutor makes up.”
“You’re two grade levels ahead of your age. Your structure is the four hours you work with your tutor in the mornings, plus any homework she assigns. Is it that you feel as though you don’t have a dedicated workspace? I’ll buy you a desk.” Actually, he quite liked the idea of that, both of them working side by side in his office in the apartment when he wasn’t on set.
“Please hold comments until the end.”
Not for the first time, he wondered if Luna was actually a too-serious forty-five-year-old businessperson in a child’s body. He mimed zipping his lips.
She held up a second finger. “While I do get to participate in many activities, group sports and social events are not possible. I want to join a football team, or play cricket—or baseball, whatever—or be on a fancy dress party committee.”
She had a point there. He had no doubt Luna had gotten to do many things her friends didn’t, by virtue of being a Dixit, but team sports and the like hadn’t been one of them.
He noticed she didn’t say theater. She’d demonstrated no interest in the art, and he wasn’t about to push her into it. There had been enough unnecessary pushing in this family.
A third finger. “Currently, I have no friends except you and Adil Uncle. I am thirteen years old and require more friends my own age in close contact. Studies show this is when our brains develop to learn how to have relationships.”
That, he couldn’t argue with. He forever felt guilty that Luna wasn’t around kids her own age. It was the reason she was even allowed to have social media, so she could keep in contact with her friends.
“What if we leave here in six months?” he asked. Hollywood was fickle.
“I don’t care. I want to go to a real school.” She swiped her hand at a curl over her eye. “I know how to work Uber or whatever other service they have here. I can take a car to school and back. You wouldn’t have to come to any events. It wouldn’t take any more of your time.”
He raised his hand to stop the flood of words that mildly broke his heart. “I am not too busy to drive you to school,” he said gruffly. “My concern is that you’ve never gone to school before.”
She lifted one shoulder. “Only because Baba said tutors were easier for him.”
Rohan.
“I know you think an American school will be like 90210, but it’s not that glamorous,” he warned.
She gave him a blank look. “What’s that?”
“It’s not like the TV shows, I mean.”
“I don’t want to go because we’re in America. I’ve wanted to go forever.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I needed time to think of reasons to give to you for me to go.”
“You are a great debater,” he conceded.
“Aji said I could play a great lawyer.”
“Or you could be a lawyer.” He might not pressure her, but their elder relative was a different story. “Why don’t we discuss this in the morning.”
Her shoulders slumped. “That means no.”
“It means yes. However, it’s too late to determine which school you should attend.”
Her eyes brightened. “Really?”
He smiled, relieved that the dark clouds in her eyes had vanished. “Really.”
“I don’t want it to be a fancy school.”
“If you’re going to school, it will be the best school.”
“I’ve heard the best private schools are quite the party places. Rich kids.”
He narrowed his eyes. His schools had been decidedly middle class until sixteen, and he could concede she was right. “You will go to the second-best school.”
“I’d like to go to a public school.”
He reared back. “Luna, that is too much.”
“Don’t be classist. A public school will allow me to meet different kinds of people.”
“I’m not . . . fine.” He gritted his teeth. He supposed his instant dislike of a public school for his niece was classist. Besides, it wasn’t like he had the money to justify this particular ism right now. “We will investigate both options.”
A smile spread across her face. “Thank you, Kaka.”
He wanted to hug her, but he kept the space between them. Physical affection had never been something he craved, but he’d never before been faced with a young curly-haired orphan with his brother’s chin and a polite smile and haunted eyes. “You will