Page 136 of Bad Prince
“Tristan.”
I stare at the ceiling.
“You love Jade,” I say quietly.
That lands.
She doesn’t respond immediately.
“You adore her,” I continue. “You send her birthday gifts. You post her book launches. You call her ‘resilient.’”
“That’s different.”
“Is it?”
Her voice cools.
“You’re not equating this to?—”
“I’m saying,” I cut in, tone still controlled, “be careful, Mom.”
Silence again.
The kind that crackles.
“You know what happens,” I add softly, “when your circle decides someone doesn’t belong.”
Her breath shifts.
That was a direct hit.
“You’re being dramatic,” she says finally.
“No,” I reply. “I’m being observant.”
Another pause.
“What exactly is going on with this girl?” she asks.
“Nothing.”
“That’s not what I’m hearing.”
I laugh under my breath.
“Don’t worry,” I say. “She doesn’t want me.”
I can practically hear her frown through the phone.
“She doesn’t want to date me. Doesn’t want to be seen with me. Doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“That’s not amusing.”
“It is a little.”My jaw tightens. “She’s not interested, Mom.”
It tastes strange saying it out loud.
Not interested.
