Maybe she had screwed things up, back in San Francisco, Grace realized with a sudden horror. Maybe Theo had known exactly what she had been thinking about, well, the kissing, and now, in person, avoiding her unrequited feelings was just too awkward for him to deal with.
Hallie scraped back her chair. “I have to go meet Dakota.”
The noise dragged Grace back to reality. She looked around. The light was fading now, nothing but empty plates and dinnertime debris on the table.
“Good to see you, Theo. Swing down anytime!” Hallie planted a kiss on his cheek, then left.
Amber and Auggie rose from the table too. “We’ll make ourselves scarce,” Amber said, winking at Grace. “Give you two some time to . . . catch up.”
“It’s fine!” Grace all but yelped. “You don’t have to go anywhere.”
But they disappeared into the house, her mother wafting after them, and suddenly, Grace and Theo were left alone.
“So . . .” Theo started, then stopped. He fidgeted with his napkin. “How have you been?”
“You mean, since yesterday?” Grace smiled, trying to keep the mood light, but Theo just looked even more awkward.
“Of course,” he said. “Right.”
“I’m good,” Grace said quickly. “And I’m really glad you made it down. It’s good to see you again. You know, for real.”
The backyard suddenly lit up: dozens of tiny electric tea lights strung between the branches. Sultry jazz music began to play, low, through the outdoor speakers. Amber clearly thought she was doing them a favor: it was cozy, and romantic, and Theo looked as if he wanted to hurl himself straight into the pool to escape it all.
Grace leaped up. “Want a tour?” she said brightly.
“Yes!” Theo agreed immediately. “That would be great.”
Grace led him inside, sending silent thanks that there were seven bedrooms, a gym suite, and a library to see. That, at least, would fill some time. “You need to see the viewing room,” Grace babbled, heading up the sweeping staircase. “Uncle Auggie has a screen so big it takes up a whole wall, and the default screen saver shows pictures from Amber’s modeling portfolio. And the guest bathrooms are done in hot pink and orange!”
Theo followed her up, looking around slowly at the sweep of marble and abundance of chandeliers. “You know, you’ve never really said if you’re happy here.”
“I guess so,” Grace replied. “Amber’s sweet, once you get to know her, and Uncle Auggie means well. He’s so generous — he even tried to give me an allowance, but . . . I feel bad enough just taking over the guesthouse.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Theo paused. “Does it feel like home?”
Grace stopped. “No,” she said finally. “Not like before. Don’t get me wrong: it’s gorgeous,” she added quickly, “and we’re so lucky to be here. But, look around. It’s like a different world. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like . . . like I belong, the way I used to.”
Grace opened the doors to Uncle Auggie’s library: revealing a book-lined room of dark wood and hunter-green leather chairs. There were stuffed deer heads mounted above a huge flagstone fireplace, muted oil paintings on the wall, and a huge mahogany desk with ink pot and fountain pens at the ready. It looked like the quintessential gentleman’s library. Uncle Auggie never stepped foot in it.
Theo blinked. “Wow.” He drifted over to one of the bookcases, tracing the leather-bound volumes. “This is . . . kind of creepy, yet awesome.”
“It’s my favorite room in the house.” Grace exhaled happily. “Nobody ever uses it, and, I mean, it’s so wrong.”
Theo stared up at the dearly departed livestock. “So wrong.”
Grace collapsed into one of the wing chairs. “Check out the books. Take one.”
Theo tried to pull one out of place. It didn’t move. He frowned. “What . . . ?”
“They’re not real.” Grace grinned. Theo went to try another; this time, pulling out the whole row. “They’re glued together,” Grace explained. “Can you imagine? Amber said the designer bought them by the yard, just for the look. Some of them don’t even have writing inside, it’s all just for show.”
Theo shook his head. “Sacrilege.” He moved to join her, sitting in the matching wing chair across from the fireplace. “And this thing . . . ?” He looked at the heavy grate.
“Gas fire.” Grace flipped a switch, and suddenly, the hearth glowed with the flicker of fake flames, projected on an LCD screen.
“Convenient.” Theo grinned. “For when you want to warm yourself during those bitter Los Angeles winters.”
“Right?” Grace laughed. “It got so hot over summer, I could barely move. I just lay there for months, caressing the A/C dial.”
Theo laughed, and Grace felt a rush of relief. There: a glimpse of normal.
“What about you?” she asked. “Tell me more about the Hamptons — you barely said a word about it all summer.”
“It was fun.” He shrugged vaguely. “Mainly family stuff, you know.”
“Right.” Grace didn’t. “And now, college is . . . good?”
“Yup.” Theo stared at the fake flames in the hearth. “What about you? Any new friends?”
“A few,” Grace found herself saying. “You know about Palmer . . .”
“Right, with the hats.”
“Uh-huh. And I’m hanging out more with Harry.” Grace found herself adding, just to get some reaction. “And Brandon, of course. I was just with him, when you came over.”
Theo blinked. “The guy from next door? But isn’t he older?”
“Twenty-two.” Grace shrugged, nonchalant. Sure, she hung out with twentysomething guys all the time.
“Isn’t that kind of weird?” Theo looked thrown. “I mean, for him to be hanging around a junior?”
Grace stiffened. “Why? Because I’m such a kid?”
“I didn’t mean —”
“We get along great, actually,” she continued. “We have a lot in common.” Grace folded her arms and gazed at Theo defiantly. Was that what he thought of her: too young to have older friends?
“That’s great,” he said unconvincingly. “That you’re making friends.”
“Yes, it is.”