An Education in Ruin by Alexis Bass

Author:Alexis Bass [Bass, Alexis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250195944
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2020-07-06T18:30:00+00:00

Thirty

I have a lot of questions rooting around in my head about Jasper and Rob James. To get closer to him, I feel like I need to understand this—whatever was between them and whatever makes him harbor so much regret. She was giving him his overview when it started. She was a senior when he was a sophomore, though I have seen his sophomore-year photos, and he’d had his growth spurt and a full jaw chisel by then. But what happened in the meantime, between when they got together and when it officially ended over the summer, to make him hate her. What did he do when he was with her that he’s still ashamed of? What makes him want to take back the whole thing? Is it something he did with her, or for her, or to her?

A little after noon, I text Theo to meet me in the sky lounge. It’s the top floor of Hylift, connected to the aerial tram that takes skiers to the closest mountain. Theo’s sitting on a stool, eating fries at the counter in front of a window. I take a seat next to him.

Our parents, as well as a slew of other board members who were also derailed in Chicago, arrived this morning. I had brunch with my dad, but he has meetings the rest of the day, so I’m pretty much on my own. Theo and Jasper are, too, even if the Mahoneys aren’t as involved in the company operations as my father is.

Theo and I catch up for a bit and rejoice about how excited we are to be done with Rutherford finals. Neither of us mention that we have reading lists we could be tackling to prepare for the upcoming semester. I wait a while before I bring up what I really want to talk about.

“What happened between Jasper and Rob James?”

“You think I know any more than you do?” he says.

“Theo.” I pat his hand. “I think you know all about it.”

Theo takes his time swiping a long, greasy fry through a pile of ketchup. “I understand that Jasper and Rob James makes for some juicy gossip, but don’t you think it’s a little awkward to be discussing that now, when it’s completely over, and we’re here, at a gathering for her investors—a.k.a. our parents—who have lots of money tied up in her company?”

“I’m not asking because I want to gossip.” A little too defensive, maybe. Theo gives this infuriating yeah, right kind of look as he shoves two more fries in his mouth. “I’m worried it’s not completely over.”

His forehead scrunches with concern. “Why do you say that?”

I tell him what happened at the pool last night.

“What the hell?” he mutters, shaking his head. “She can’t do that. It’s not allowed.”

Not allowed? “What do you mean?”

“It’s creepy!” Theo says. “She shouldn’t be tracking his whereabouts just because she can.”

“She was very eager to talk to him. Alone.”

“I’m sure she was.” Theo rolls his eyes.

“But why?” I say, not caring that I might be coming off too pushy.

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