Wrong for You (Before You #3)(48)

“I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Are you going to stay here and go to the University of Montana?”

Violet blinked and then tapped her fingers on the table. “I wish, but my parents are pushing for me to go to their alma mater, and as amazing as that would be, I’m a little nervous about the whole idea.” She took a deep breath and exhaled, nervous about the thought of living anywhere but Montana.

“Where’d they go?”

“UCLA.”

“Wow. That would be a change,” Alec said.

“I know. I’ve lived here my whole life and I think I’d feel totally out of place there.” She leaned back against the booth, contemplating leaving. “I just don’t think I’ll fit in, not that I know from first hand experience or anything. But—”

“But?”

“Going there would really kick start my career. I’d have a lot of contacts…more than I’d make here, and I’d have a better launching pad to make a difference with troubled kids.” She paused. “But it’d be weird to leave Montana, my brother, and Annette. They’ve been the constants in my life since I was a kid…no, since I was born. I can’t remember life without them.”

She chewed her lower lip and then he reached across the table, squeezing her hand briefly. “You’ll be fine. It’s not as bad as you’re imagining. There are lots of different kinds of people in LA, not just the kind you’re thinking.”

She nodded absently. “I hope so.”

“I’m there. Am I that bad?” He smiled softly.

“No.”

“You’ll find friends.”

“I might just stay here. Montana has a respectable law school.” Her eyes flickered away quickly. As dumb as it sounded, she wanted him to offer to hang out when she moved there and at least remain friends, but he didn’t and that said a lot about the path of their relationship. She blew out a forceful breath, trying to redirect her thoughts. Alec didn’t promise a relationship or even a friendship after he left. “Speaking of LA, did you decide when you’re leaving?”

“Friday.”

A pang of something resembling disappointment ripped through her chest, which was completely stupid because they both knew this relationship was temporary. He had to go home eventually. Trying to regroup one more time, she forced her lips to smile, but it felt suspiciously like a grimace. “Right. Of course. The month ends on Sunday.”

“I wanted to stay through the weekend, but I can’t. I need to go back. Pressing work…and all.”

“I can’t imagine how you got your boss to agree to let you leave for this long.”

“True. I shouldn’t push my luck. He’s a slave driver and he wants to meet Saturday morning to catch up on some things.”

“That’s only a couple days away.”

Falling silent again, they stared at each other across the booth.

“Yeah,” he finally answered. “I probably won’t go back to the Foundation again. I have a few things I need to take care of before I leave.”

“Your mom and dad,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.

“Something like that.”

“What are you going to say?”

He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “We’ll talk about family stuff.”

“Family stuff,” she mocked, but she smiled so he realized she didn’t have any hard feelings about his evasive answer. “You know what?”

He raised his eyebrows.

She pointed at him, waving her finger back and forth. “You owe me a question.”

“Huh? I need to ask you a question?”

“Oh,” she said, drawing out the word, leaning forward, her elbows resting on the edge of the rectangular table. “You’re going to play dumb.”

His lips twitched. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

“Music room. The Foundation. One question. Does that ring any bells?”

“Yeah, you against the wall, your mouth parted, your legs wrapped around me—”

“Oh my God.” Her arm shot out across the table and she slapped her hand over his mouth. “I was talking about the part where you promised an answer to one of my questions and you tried to divert me from asking anything by…” she lowered her voice as her eyes darted around the restaurant. “Seducing me.”

“Oh that,” he said, chuckling when she pulled her hand away. “What do you want to know?”

“What you’re going to do about your mom and dad.”

He exhaled. “I’m talking to my dad tomorrow. We’re going to meet for breakfast, and my mom…” He shook his head. “I’m done with her. I don’t want to see her. She always manages to pile more shit on me and I’m done with it. I can’t let her in my life again.”

“Yeah, I can understand that. Are you nervous about seeing your dad?”

“Not nervous, but I’m not looking forward to it.”

“Do you want me to come? I could be a buffer.”

“You have to work.”

“It’s breakfast. I can take the morning off.”

“No. As much as I don’t want to, I need to do this alone.”