Her father told them the three that she had applied to, and she went back to staring at her horrid peas. The potatoes were a little undercooked as well.
“How come you’ve chosen them?” Wayne’s father asked.
“They’re the ones I want to go to, and also my boyfriend has applied there as well.”
Her father choked on his wine, and Wayne kept staring at her.
“Boyfriend? You’ve not told us you were seeing anyone?” Lisa asked.
“You’ve never asked, and never cared before. We’re waiting to see which one will accept us both, and we’re going there.”
“Ah, I see,” Wayne’s father said. “I wasn’t aware you were with anyone.”
“Aria, why don’t you take Wayne out into the gardens?”
“It’s getting cold,” she said.
“Now!”
Pushing away from the table, she slapped Wayne on the head. “Let’s go.”
She didn’t offer any kind of words to her father, so she got her jacket, and headed outside. “This is so lame.”
With her cell phone in hand, she sent a quick text to Eli.
Aria: Told Dad about colleges. He’s making me walk the gardens with asshole.
“I think you’ve upset your dad with that little mention.”
“Whatever. He doesn’t consult me on anything, and it’s not like this matters.” She pocketed her cell phone, and finally stared at him. “Why are you guys even here, again? Don’t you have someone to cook you food?”
“We do. Mom’s cooking is much better than yours, and she’s a lot nicer.”
“I don’t have to be nice to you, Wayne. You’ve never been nice to me, and I’ve done everything I can to avoid you.”
The chill was in the air, and her birthday was tomorrow.
“Can we agree to let our past slide?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not really. Why is your father here again, and why the hell are you here?”
“I wanted to be here.”
“You wanted to have dinner with the Dean family?” she asked, not really believing it.
“Why not? Your father is a legend in our house.”
She laughed. “You can have him, believe me.”
“You have no idea what our parents have planned, do you? They didn’t even know you’re with Eli either.”
Pushing her hair away from her face, she forced herself to stare at him. “Then why don’t you enlighten me? After all, you’re clearly in with the big secret.”
Wayne looked toward the house, and then back at her.
“Our families have been doing business together for a long time. Our fathers are hoping for our respected companies to be united.”
“So? What does that have to do with dinner?”