Page 142 of Their Cruel Play
Those knots inside me loosen just a little. I still have to fix things with Harper though. “How do I fix this?”
“I’ll let you know after tonight.” Caden runs a hand through his hair and then offers me his hand to help me up. “Harper and I might be on almost the right page, but we’re still a little off.”
“You punished her, and I didn’t stop it.” I clap him on the arm. “Own it. She doesn’t want us because we’re perfect. She likes broken toys, so show her what breaks you. Trust her to keep it for you.”
Caden chuckles and shakes his head. “I’m pretty sure the only thing that could truly break us is her.”
Harper
In my email is a list of colleges, not a small list, like a fuck ton. It’s not even funny. My head spins at the names like Duke, Auburn, Yale.
Fucking Yale. How the hell am I supposed to get into schools like that? I’m just ignoring the tuition cost for now. If I can’t get in, I don’t have to worry about affording it.
Fortunately, a few of them use the common app that I’ve already filled out, but almost all of them have their own essays. I’ve been copying the prompts into a Google document for the last half hour.
I’m sitting at my desk chewing on my pen when my mom knocks on the door.
“Come in.”
“How’s it going?” Mom glances around my room as if a guy is going to jump out at her.
I roll my eyes. “No one is here, Mom.”
“Just making sure.” She holds up her hands and smiles. Her scrubs tonight have little puppies all over them. Usually by the time she comes home, she’s wearing her spare pair or a pair from the hospital.
She walks in and sits on the edge of my bed behind me. “What are you doing?”
“Bemoaning the fact I didn’t take more extracurriculars.” I spin in my chair to face her. “Why didn’t you encourage me to try out for more things?”
She arches an eyebrow. “Would you have listened if I told you to?”
“No.” I sigh. “Why am I so stubborn?”
“You’ve got this, Harper. You danced competitively until last year. You also volunteered at the hospital for a few years.”
I did up until this year because my classes got harder. Once again, I should have been in band. Then I wouldn’t even have to worry about applying to a million colleges to be nearmy boyfriends of sixty seconds because I would have lost my virginity like a normal girl at band camp.
“Okay,” I pull a face. “You have to leave soon?”
She nods. “I take it one of your guys will be over?”
“Caden.” I toy with the pen in my hand. “Were you upset about Luke last night?”
She laughs. “No. I’m just surprised I didn’t catch on quicker. I’m pretty sure these night shifts are messing with my brain.”
“I’ve been a good kid.” I feel like I should get some leeway. This relationship wasn’t what I wanted at first, but now, I’m apparently all in and applying to colleges I’ll never get into to be near them. And the thing is, I kind of want to get into those colleges, to prove I’m good enough.
“Youarea good kid.” Standing, she brushes her hand over my hair. “And you make good decisions, so I’m not as worried as I probably should be.”
“I have five boyfriends. That’s a big red flag for most parents.” I give her a look that says,aren’t you worried?
“If I thought for one minute those boys were bad for you, I’d bring the world crashing down on them.” Mom shakes her head. “But I’ve seen the way they look at you. They know you’re worth your weight in gold, sweetie.”
I’m beginning to see that. But it’s hard sometimes. They can still be assholes.
“No guy is perfect, Harper. But maybe that’s why you need five.” She laughs. “I’ve lost my mind, but I trust you to do what’s right.”
The doorbell rings at the same time my phone buzzes. I smile at Caden’s text saying he’s here.
