Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1)(66)

“I’m glad it’s not you,” I say. “I want you to be safe. Besides, my dad is part of the group that writes laws for our country. That makes him disliked by a lot of people.”

“You know, my dad is going to hate the fact that your dad’s republican,” he says.

I laugh. “And my dad is going to hate that yours is democrat. But he will like you. I mean, as long as you vote for him when you’re old enough.”

“Your dad raised you, so he’s got to be pretty good, right?”

“I think he’s pretty cool,” I say. “But maybe I’m a little biased.”

“You said your dad’s wife is pregnant, right?” he asks.

“She is. Nora,” I say. “She’s about halfway through the pregnancy.”

“Is it weird that you’re going to be seventeen years older than your sibling?”

“Maybe a little,” I answer. “To be honest, I figure Nora and Dad will have more kids. Nora’s in her twenties still.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“It sounds weird, I know. But once you meet Nora, you’ll see why I love her. She and my dad together are the perfect match,” I say. “I miss them. I miss all of my family.”

“When do you think you’ll see them again?”

“I don’t know.”

“I hate that all this has happened, but I’m glad you’re here,” he says.

“Me, too. I thought I would hate it, but I don’t,” I say.

“Are you going to forgive Brooks?”

“Uh...” I say. “I told him I would, but I’m still so mad at him. I still can’t believe he did that.”

“I can,” Estaine says. “Brooks has always been impulsive.”

“I like Brooks,” I say. “But he gets so jealous. I really hate that.”

“He was that way with River,” he says. “They were usually fighting over a guy.”

“Do you think romance in college is any better than high school romance?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” he answers. “On one hand, I think a lot of people learn from mistakes they make in high school romances. But on the other hand, maybe we just are who we are. Seeing my parents fighting all summer was terrible. Maybe it doesn’t matter if you’re sixteen or forty. Maybe some relationships are destined to make it, and some aren’t.”

“I think it has more to do with if the people are willing to fight for the relationship. Every couple fights, right? I mean, even Dad and Nora argue. But they have this thing where they refuse to go to bed mad, even if it means staying up until one in the morning, talking through their issues. It’s cute. I like it. And they definitely won’t argue in front of me,” I say.

“What about your mom and stepdad?”

“Mom fights. Rick is so chill,” I say. “So, whatever Mom wants, Mom gets. They hardly ever fight each other. But when Rick is serious about something, he will win. I asked him why he always lets Mom get her way, and he told me it’s best to pick your battles. Don’t fight over little things, just stand your ground on the things that are really important to you.”

“That’s actually really good advice,” Estaine says.

“It works for them,” I say.

“That’s good,” he says. “My parents are going to go public with their divorce announcement soon.”

“I’m sorry,” I tell him, not knowing what else to say. I was too young to remember my parents’ divorce, but I imagine it would suck. I can’t remember a time when my parents were in love. In fact, imagining them together at all is kind of strange.

“Soon, the whole world will know that my family is completely screwed up,” he says.

“It must be hard to have a dad who is a politician,” I say.

“Your dad is a politician,” Estaine says.

“Oh. Right. I almost forgot,” I say. “My dad didn’t ask a lot from me. I just helped him campaign in the summer and on the weekends. But I wanted to. After he was elected, it didn’t really affect me... I mean, until I was nearly kidnapped. But, I’m proud of my dad for his position. I know he loves it.”

“Do you think he will want to run again?”

“I doubt it,” I answer. “After what’s happened with me, I figure Dad will finish his term and then step away. I would say that I want him to stay in office, but I want my future baby brother or sister to be safe. And I want Charlie to be safe. And all my family.”

“Politics aren’t always so messy,” he says. “Nobody has ever tried to kidnap me.”

If every politician went through what my dad has gone through, there wouldn’t be anybody left who would want to take office.

“Do you think the guys who kidnapped me are democrats?” I ask, in a completely joking tone.

Estaine laughs.

“Maybe they just kidnapped you because you’re cute,” he says.

I feel my face grow warm and I’m pretty sure it’s bright red. “My mom used to tell me when I was little that if somebody kidnapped me, they would end up bringing me back home because I would drive them crazy.”

“Why is that?”