“Oh, screw off. His mom is our housekeeper. Back in the old days, Toby Fox would've been a house-born servant in our family.”
“I just worry he'll trip over his own feet and embarrass himself somewhere else. And then who looks bad? Me.”
House-born servant. Those words drove into my chest like needles.
A fine, spreading ache bloomed behind them.
I gathered what courage I had and spoke, barely above a whisper.
“It's fine, actually I……”
Before I could finish, Clyde walked over.
“Willow, you were so angry you smashed your phone just now. Want me to get it fixed?”
Willow was still fuming. She didn't even look at the phone before hurling it into the trash can.
“If it's broken, it's garbage. It's not like it was worth anything. Why would I waste my time getting that fixed?”
The corner of Clyde's mouth curved up. He turned to me with a look that said everything.
“She's right. Something that cheap and embarrassing was never worthy of her in the first place.”
“Come on, I'll take you to pick out a new one.”
He draped his arm around Willow and left without looking back.
My roommate Patrick Finch grabbed my arm, voice tight.
“Toby, wasn't that the phone you gave her last week? For her birthday?”
“That's insane. You worked side jobs for months, skipped meals, cut every corner you could just to buy that.”
“Even if she's loaded, she can't just trash someone's gift to their face like that!”
He was fuming on my behalf. I stared at the trash can for a long time, then smiled.
“It's fine. She's right. It wasn't worthy of her.”
The thing is, Willow didn't used to be like this.
She used to keep my rough sketches right alongside her expensive collectible figures, ruffling my hair and saying:
“Little Toby, you're so talented. When I grow up, I'm totally hiring you to design my mansion.”
“It'll have two studies. One for me to play games in, one for you to draw in, so you can't complain I'm too loud.”
Thirteen-year-old Toby Fox turned redder than his paints, quietly thrilled.
So I was part of her future too.
She must like me. At least a little.
So I had to work harder. Had to become worthy of her.
Then came junior year. I'd sprained my ankle, and her friends saw her helping me to the car.
“Willow, why are you always going to and from school with the housekeeper's son?”
“He's dressed in that cheap plastic polyester. Aren't you worried about breaking out in a rash? Don't tell me you actually like him.”
Willow's expression froze. She shoved me to the ground, and her voice was someone I didn't recognize.
“Don't be disgusting. If I were going to like anyone, it'd be a rich boy from a family that actually matches mine. Him? As if he'd ever be good enough.”
“We just live in the same direction. I was being generous enough to let him ride along!”
Clyde, freshly back from abroad, blinked and smiled warmly.
“Relax, Willow's not that desperate.”
“By the way, my uncle and aunt reserved a restaurant tonight and wanted to invite you and your mom. The driver bailed last minute. Could you drive me to pick them up?”
He glanced at my swollen ankle, looking mildly inconvenienced.
“But this kind of event, it probably wouldn't be appropriate to bring Toby along. And the rain's really coming down, so getting a ride won't be easy……”
Everyone knew what a private gathering between elite families meant. Business. Or matchmaking.
Willow was silent for a few seconds. Then she tossed her umbrella at me.
“Toby, just walk home on your own. If I brought you along, the Sawyers would think I was trying to insult them.”
“I'll have someone at home give your mom a raise. And from now on……don't wear clothes like that anymore.”
I didn't take the umbrella. I limped away.
My ankle screamed with every step, and the rain hammered down cold against my skin — punishment for daring to dream.
That night, after I'd washed up, a friend request came through on my phone.
“Hello, Mr. Fox. I'm the general manager of Pinnacle Group. Congratulations on passing your interview.”
