Page 33 of No One But Us

I’m pissed off on his behalf. His parents’ status-conscious bullshit is well and good, but he shouldn’t have to dread telling them that this is what he wants for himself.

“Only you will be stuck with the life you choose, and you only get to choose once. So they don’t get a vote.”

His eyes rest on me. “It’s weird, but somehow I knew you’d be the one person who gets it.”

“Max would understand.”

“Max could understand, but not really, because I’m not sure he gets the concept of wanting to feel like you have a purpose. But I knew that you would.”

I grin. “See how wise I am? By the end of the summer you’ll be coming to me for all of your advice.” I twist the chain around my neck, a nervous habit. I wonder if he’ll ever stop making me nervous.

His gaze flickers to the chain and back to me, and there is fleeting panic—and regret—on his face before he closes his eyes. “You’re dangerous, Elle.”

“How so?” I ask.

He doesn’t open his eyes. “You just are.”

Chapter 21

ELLE

James handles the restaurant reservations for Ginny’s birthday, a harder task than it sounds since her birthday is on the 4th of July.

“I’ll bake the cake,” I offer.

“And I’ll plan the huge house party for the night before,” offers Max.

“You know her so well, don’t you?” I ask.

“I know her better than she knows herself,” he says, and I suspect he actually means it.

The only sour note, for me, is the fact that Allison is coming down for the event. Ginny couldn’t be more giddy about this. She is video-chatting with Alex when I go upstairs to get ready for work, and Allison’s arrival is all she wants to talk about. You’d think Hillary Clinton was staying with us.

On my part, of course, Allison’s arrival here is roughly as welcome as a herpes outbreak. Max seems to feel similarly when I mention it to him.

“That’s the last thing James needs right now,” he grumbles.

“Why?” I ask.

“He’s already confused about school, and all she’s gonna do is show up and make him feel guilty and more confused. He’s spent the whole year surrounded by people like her who have their heads up their asses,” he replies. “That’s why this summer’s been good for him. You and I are good for him. He told me about the FBI thing. And I think the only reason he admitted it to me at all is because he told you and the world didn’t end. He needs more of that in his life.”

“I was just being honest. He was born to protect people, although I’d say Ginny and I have experienced more than our fair share of his protectiveness this summer.”

Max gives me a long, pointed look. “I’m not sure he’s actually trying to protect you.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

His smile is evasive. “I can’t give away all of James’ secrets, now can I?”

* * *

Ginny is in full scrub-down mode when I get back from the beach on Friday. “Don’t even think about dropping anything there,” she says as I swing my backpack to the ground.

“Why exactly must I continue to hold my fairly heavy bag?”

“Because my sister is in an idiot,” comes a voice from the couch. “She seems to have confused Allison with the Pope.”

“And you’re a lazy sack of shit for not helping,” snipes Ginny.