Last Christmas (Private 0.60)

be too much of a distraction."

"And what do you think?" Ariana asked. She stole a glance at the ugly, neon-lit clock on the far side of the

diner. If they hurried, she could be back on campus and with Thomas in half an hour.

He shrugged. "Don't know. It's gonna be a rough semester. Taking orgo and biology at the same time is

really gonna blow. So maybe my dad is right." He laced his fingers together on the table and flashed her a

mischievous smile. "He was right about you, anyway."

" Hmmm?" Ariana tipped her head slightly to the side. A loose lock of hair fell across her face, and Daniel

reached over to brush it away. "What did he say about me?"

"He loved you." Daniel beamed. "Both my parents did. They wouldn't get off my case. Kept asking why I

hadn't brought you home sooner." He reached for her hand. "And they really loved your accent." He grinned.

"Works like a charm," she said in an exaggerated southern drawl, warmth crawling from her neck into her

cheeks. "I really liked them, too," she lied.

"They want to get your parents to Southampton some time in August." Daniel's eyes widened as he realized

his mistake. "I mean, your mom. Or your dad. Whatever." He cleared his throat and pressed his palms into his

wool pants. "Do they, like, ever do stuff together?" he hedged.

Ariana's face burned with embarrassment. "Occasionally."

223

Very occasionally, she added silently.She felt the familiar protective walls rising around her, and it did not

feel good. She'd been so open about her parents with Thomas that she had to remind herself to be guarded

with Daniel. He would never understand-not that she even wanted him to.

"Well, I'm sure they'd do this," Daniel said. "I mean, if they knew how important it was to you."

Not important at all, you mean? Ariana thought wryly.

"I'm sure," she said.

"Good. Anyway, my parents asked how serious we were. They wanted to know what our plans were for next

year. "He looked relieved to be changing the subject, but as far as Ariana was concerned, this one wasn't any

better.

Ariana bristled. "What did you tell them?"

She had to concentrate to keep from tugging at the neck of her sweater. It felt like the diner was getting

warmer with every passing second. Like it was a giant oven, and someone was slowly turning up the heat.

Torturing her.