The Distance Between Us

meet him?”
    I know she’s no longer talking about Mason. She’s back to Xander. “Here.”
    “You met here.” She points at the floor.
    “No, actually it was down there,” I say, pointing to the door. Maybe now isn’t a good time for a joke because her whole face tightens.
    “You know that the Daltons are . . .” It’s like she can’t even say the word.
    “Beyond rich? Yeah, I know.”
    “Caymen . . .” She lets out a long sigh.
    “What’s the problem? We like each other.”
    “People like him don’t end up with people like us.”
    I sigh. “Mom, please. This isn’t the eighteen hundreds.”
    She laughs an ironic little laugh. “The richer you are, the slower time progresses.”
    I give a fake gasp. “So are you saying he’ll be seventeen forever?”
    “Caymen, this isn’t a joke.” She runs her hand down her face. “What will Mrs. Dalton think?”
    I stare at her now-clenched fist, my state of euphoria finally gone. “What does this have to do with Mrs. Dalton?”
    “You met her grandson in the store. She’ll think we’re unprofessional.”
    “I think Mrs. Dalton likes me.”
    “She likes you as the girl who waits on her, not as the girl who is dating her grandson.”
    I blink once, the words shocked from my mouth. It feels like my mom just said, “Xander’s family won’t think you’re good enough for him, and guess what? You’re not.”
    “You knew I wouldn’t want you to see him and that’s why you lied to me about who he was in the first place.”
    I can’t believe my mom, who has been keeping so many secrets, has the gall to even speak right now. “Mom, you’re being ridiculous. We have fun together. Can’t you just be happy for us?”
    “That’s all it is for him, though. Fun. Can’t you see that? You are just a little bit of excitement for him, Caymen, something different, until he’s ready to settle down for real.”
    “Wait, did I give you the impression that I want him to propose marriage? I was going to wait at least another three weeks before I asked him about that.”
    She completely ignores my sarcasm. “He’s having fun. It’s exciting: date the girl who lives above the doll store. An adventure. But he’s not playing for keeps. He’s going to break your heart.”
    “Wow, no wonder why my dad never came to see me.”
    “Your father never wanted to see you! That’s my point, Caymen. Don’t you get that? He left us.”
    I’m breathing hard, my chest rising and falling in large movements and yet it feels like no oxygen is reaching my lungs. “Awesome. You think I can blackmail him? Show up at his work screaming, ‘Daddy’? Like Will Ferrell in Elf ?”
    “Caymen, joking about it isn’t going to help either of us feel better.”
    It feels like someone is squeezing my heart in her fist. “ Elf is no joking matter. That movie is a classic.”
    My mom lets out a heavy sigh. “I’m here if you’d like to talk about how you’re really feeling. And I can’t stop you from seeing Xander, but if you trust my judgment or care about my opinion at all, you won’t.”
    She doesn’t want to know how I’m really feeling. She just wants me to stop seeing Xander. “Your opinion has been noted.” I leave the room hoping I can breathe again soon.

Chapter 35

    S aturday I wait outside the store. My mom and I have barely acknowledged each other all week, and I don’t want her to use this occasion as an excuse to restate her horrible opinions about Xander so I’m intercepting that possibility. I shift uncomfortably on my heels (which are actually Skye’s heels). I don’t wear heels a lot. But there are sacrifices I’m willing to make for Xander, and apparently I can add “heels” to the growing list . . . right after “relationship with mother.”
    He pulls up in a sleek black sports car and I bite my lip. I had been kidding about him having more than one car. Why does he have to fit some stereotypes so well and disregard the others? It’s like he’s bent on proving my mom right on the surface so she actually has to make an effort to realize she’s wrong. She’s not going to make that effort.
    He steps out of the car, and my heart lets me know that it still likes Xander, a lot. He looks amazing in a suit. His hair is slicked back tonight, making him look older than he is. His skin has a healthy glow from his trip to Florida.
    “I missed you,” he says.
    “Me, too.”
    “You look gorgeous.”
    Even though the dress fits me well it