“And I’m rooming with Tripp and some of the guys again.”
I’d already paid my first month’s rent to Tripp. His parents were filthy rich and had bought a house for him to live in during school. He rented out rooms for beer money and it was a 24/7 party. I’d lived with him for the past two years.
Our parents exchanged a look.
“This year is going to be different,” Mom said. “Your father has refused to pay for your room and board.”
“What?” I gaped at her.
My dad was court-ordered to pay my tuition. He’d also paid for my living expenses for the last three years. He had a shit ton of money, and since he’d spent my childhood ignoring me to make his fortune, he could damn well pay for my education.
“And the costs of dorms have gone up,” Ken said. “We’ve priced it out, and it would be more cost-effective to have you two share an off-campus apartment.”
My jaw dropped, as did Jules’s. It would have been comical if we’d been talking about something that didn’t involve us having to live in the same place in a week’s time.
Jules and I had an unspoken agreement that we didn’t interact outside of the house. We’d successfully avoided each other the last three years.
It hadn’t been exactly difficult. We were in different programs, had different friends, and he’d lived in the dorms while I’d lived off campus.
We never crossed paths, which was exactly the way I wanted it.
“What?” Jules squeaked.
“Your father has agreed to provide you with a cost-of-living allowance for food and gas—”
“Gas?” I cut in.
“We’re giving you my old car.” Mom smiled benevolently.
“You’re getting a new car?” I asked.
“Next week. Something safer, more family-friendly.”
Mom drove a minivan. It was five years old, a total mom-mobile, and about as family-friendly as they came, so that was code for flashier and more expensive.
“You expect us to drive around campus in a minivan?” Jules asked.
“And you expect us to share it?” I added.
“The apartment we’ve secured for you is a fair bit away from campus. We decided it would be better and safer if you had reliable transportation for your night classes.”
“But we’re on completely different schedules.”
“You’ll have to work that out between you.” Ken waved dismissively. “I didn’t have a car in college. Didn’t get one until I got my first job after graduation. You should be thanking us for giving it to you instead of trading it in.”
“Where’s the apartment?” Jules asked quietly.
“On Ridgemont.”
“Ridgemont?”
I was pretty familiar with most of the streets around campus thanks to three years of partying there. I’d never heard of Ridgemont.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket to look it up.
“No phones at the table,” Ken said sharply.
I shoved it back into my pocket and drew in a deep breath.