Sarah’s jaw dropped. What. The. Actual. Effff???? she thought.
She knew Bent was the son of a billionaire. But apparently she didn’t realize just how rich that really made him.
Mr. Smith took a bite of his spinach and kale salad. He glanced at Sarah. “You really don’t know the kid’s last name? I’m curious who his parents are.”
But luckily, Sarah’s mother stepped in. “Walter, Dear. Can’t you see Sarah’s mad at us? She won’t tell us anything.”
“Well that’s too bad,” Mr. Smith said. He took a swig from his water glass. He never drank alcohol. “If I knew who this boy’s father was, I could invite his father out to the country club for a golf match. And that means, you might see more of Bent if his parents are friends with yours.”
Sarah’s eyes lit up. Now that was an angle she hadn’t thought about.
“And…” Mrs. Smith said dramatically. “Bent wants to attend Yale. Just like Charles. And just like you did!”
Mr. Smith beamed. “Go, Bulldogs! I bet the kid could learn a lot from Charles.”
Sarah’s mother clapped her manicured hands. “That’s exactly what I told Bent! He was just thrilled with the idea.”
As Sarah sat listening to her parents, she thought over her eventful night. From nearly exposing herself to the guy’s soccer team after her field hockey game, to the boy with the beautiful name showing up suddenly at her house. She couldn’t wait to tell Erin and Pam all about it as soon as she got back up to her room.
Sarah looked from her father to her mother. They were so pleased with themselves.
Even Trash thumped his golden tail happily on the carpet.
Sarah took a deep, reluctant breath. “His last name is Prince…Bent Prince. His family’s from South Fortland. They just moved here recently.”
In that moment, Sarah finally understood how far out of reach the boy with the beautiful name really was.
Her parents were rendered speechless. And that never happened.
All she could hear was the tick-tock of the pendulum in the grandfather clock.