You Said I Was Your Favorite (A Lancaster Prep Novel)

Thanksgiving

I’m nervous. My palms are sweaty and I’m tempted to rub them on my skirt but that’s gross and I don’t want Arch to notice.

But he grabs my hand, clutching it tight as we ride in the swiftly rising elevator to the penthouse apartment where his parents live, and he notices.

Of course, he does.

“Nervous?” He squeezes my fingers.

I withdraw my hand from his, vaguely embarrassed. “Your parents don’t like me.”

“They just don’t know you.” He tosses my own words back at me. I remember saying that to him about my dad. “Once they meet you, they’re going to fall in love with you. Just like I did.” He snags my hand again, pulling me to him and kissing me soundly, just as the elevator doors swoosh open.

I pull away from his still seeking lips quickly, my cheeks flooding with heat, but no one is there. All I see is a pristine white wall and a gold console table.

“Come on.” My hand is in his yet again and he leads me out of the elevator and into his parents’ apartment.

All I can do is stare, my head tilted back as I take it all in, Arch dragging me deeper into the plush, beautiful apartment. Everything is white and the palest blue, vividly colored landscape paintings are on the wall. Expansive windows that show off the city spread out before us. Light fixtures that look more like pieces of art shine down upon us, and I reach for my ear out of habit, my fingertip drifting across my diamond daisy earring.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, afraid to speak in a normal tone, it’s so quiet in here. “Where is everyone?”

“In the dining room. We’re late.”

I don’t think Arch knows the meaning of being on time. I wonder if his parents realize this.

They have to.

When I asked my father if I could spend Thanksgiving with Arch and his family, I was worried he’d say no. A big part of me didn’t want to leave him alone during the holidays, but he said I should go, that Kathy invited us to spend the day with her family already and he’d said yes.

I’m relieved he’s with Kathy and her family. I don’t feel as guilty leaving him alone to be with Arch, because he’s not alone.

And no one should be alone during a holiday.

“Is your mother upset with you?” With us?

Worry gnaws at me. I’m desperate to make a good impression and Arch warned me already that his mother might not be exactly…warm towards me at first. Her expectations are high when it comes to her children and the people they date, and nothing makes her happy, according to Arch.

And also Edie, who warned me I shouldn’t take her mother’s potential attitude toward me personally.

But I’m me, and I’m definitely going to take it personally. I just want his mother to like me.

I want his family’s approval. I can’t help it.

“I’m always late, so she’s not upset.” Arch grins, as casual as ever, but I suppose he has every right to be. This is his home, his family, and he’s not nervous at all. But he must notice the fear in my expression because he sobers right up, stopping us in the middle of the living room. “Daze, don’t sweat it.”

“Easy for you to say.” I shake out my damp palms, gasping when he yanks me into his arms and kisses me, like that’s going to make it all better.

Which it does. For about ten seconds. Then the nerves are back, roiling in my stomach, making me nauseous.

I don’t know how I’m going to be able to eat a single bite of food during this meal.

Resting my hand on my stomach, I take a deep, steadying breath, Arch watching me, affection shining in his eyes. “You’re going to be great. Just be yourself.”

I nod once and we head for the dining room. The apartment is gigantic, a maze of rooms and wide corridors, until finally we’re standing in an open doorway, staring at a giant table that’s covered with huge autumn-colored floral arrangements and beautiful table settings placed in front of each chair. Almost all of the seats are occupied, his family chatting pleasantly amongst themselves.

A man who resembles Arch spots us first, a pleasant smile stretching his mouth. “There you are. Glad you finally showed up. We’re starving.”

“Sorry, Dad. You know how it is.” Arch glances over at me, his expression warm as he says, “Everyone, this is Daisy.”

There are murmured greetings, Edie louder than the rest and I shoot her a grateful smile, my nerves easing some when I spot an empty chair right next to hers, with another empty chair across from it.

“Sit by me, Daisy,” Edie encourages, and I go to the empty chair, settling in as carefully as I can, flashing a timid smile at the older woman sitting on the other side of me. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I give her a quick hug, thankful for the ally at the table that’s not just Arch. I love my boyfriend, and I know he loves me, but it’s nice having someone else who likes me too.

I think I’m going to need as many allies as I can get, dealing with the Lancasters.

Arch introduces me to all of his relatives, including his little brothers, who are sitting close to their dad and have matching sullen expressions on their faces.

They look like trouble. Arch tells me they’re little heathens and I don’t doubt it.

There are a few cousins here, including a beautiful blonde named Charlotte and her equally beautiful husband, Perry. I stare at them like I can’t help myself, which I sort of can’t because they’re sitting next to each other and across from me. He looks at her with so much love filling his eyes, and they’re constantly touching each other like they can’t help themselves.

It’s sweet.

My gaze slides over to Arch to find he’s already watching me, his lips curved into a closed mouth smile and my skin goes warm.

He looks at me like I matter too. I might watch Perry and Charlotte, wishing I had the same kind of love…

But I already do.

Once the plates are cleared—I was able to eat after all, Edie’s constant chatter putting me at ease—all of the women end up in a sitting room while the men are in the room with the giant big screen TV, watching a football game. I guess even rich guys enjoy football, which is silly of me to think but it makes them seem more human.

Being alone with the women though, is a little intimidating, especially when Edie excuses herself and rushes off to use the bathroom.

“So.” Miriam Lancaster studies me, finally engaging me in conversation. She’s been pleasant, welcoming me to her home when Arch specifically introduced us at the table, but otherwise she hasn’t said a word to me.

Which is fine. I’d rather be ignored—I’m used to it after all—than have her attention on me like it is now.

I shift in the uncomfortable chair I’m sitting in and smile at her, curling my hands in my lap, waiting for her to drop a verbal bomb. Bracing myself.

“Arch has told me about you,” Miriam finally says, her tone even. There’s not much emotion showing on her face either. “Are you still ranked number one in your senior class?”

Does that impress her? I hope so. “I am,” I say with a nod.

“Do you plan on going to college?”

“I do.” Lately though, Arch and I have been talking more about the gap year plan and I want to do it. He does too. Traveling is an education in itself, isn’t it?

That’s what I tell myself.

“Where do you want to go?” She sounds genuinely curious.

I rattle off my usual list, some of them state universities I know I can get into, the rest Ivy League schools that are tougher to get admission. She nods, seeming impressed and when I finally go quiet, she says, “Perhaps you’ll be a good influence on my Arch and convince him to go to college.”

My Arch. She’s possessive of her children, I can tell. It’s the way she looked at them at the table while we were eating, how she engaged in conversation with them. Arch says she’s a pain in the ass who never lets up on him but maybe his mother just wants the best for her children. And who can blame her for that?

“Maybe,” I hedge because I can neither confirm nor deny my influence over his future choices is that strong.

But we’ll see.

“I know you and Edie have become closer. I think that’s wonderful. Edith has never had a lot of friends. Her circle is tight.” Miriam tilts her head, contemplating me. “You don’t come from much, do you?”

No one else is paying attention to our conversation, thank goodness. Everyone is broken off into smaller groups, chatting among themselves, the occasional tinkle of laughter filling the room and right now, I’d give anything to be a part of that conversation. The one where they’re laughing and most likely having a better time than I’m having.

I shift in my chair, my hands twisted together. “My father works at Lancaster Prep.”

“I know. Ralph. The groundskeeper. And your mother…I’m sorry that she’s no longer with us.”

My hand automatically goes to my ear, tracing over the earring Arch gave me. Touching them calms me sometimes, eases my racing heart and nervous stomach. “Thank you. I miss her.”

“I’m sure you do,” she murmurs. She studies me for a moment, her gaze intense. Like she’s trying to make me break.

I sit up straighter, my hand dropping back into my lap.

I’m not going to break. I refuse to.

“Arch mentioned you had a strong spirit, though I don’t think he phrased it quite that way.” Her smile is small. “I think he said that when you believe in something, you don’t back down from it.”

My heart starts to pound harder. Where is she going with this?

“And I get the feeling that you believe in my Arch,” she continues, a delicate brow rising. “You’re in love with him?”

I can’t answer. The words get stuck in my throat. All I can manage is a nod.

“He’s in love with you. I see the way he looks at you. You could break his heart, I think. And that’s a powerful position to have.” She leans forward, as if to share a secret, and I find myself leaning forward as well, eager to hear what she has to say. “When a Lancaster falls in love, they tend to do it when they’re young and passionate, and they put their whole heart into the relationship. You’ll be overwhelmed by their love, but in the best possible way.” She pauses. “Consider yourself lucky, Daisy.”

Edie returns to the room, plopping herself onto the edge of the chair I’m sitting on and I scoot over, giving her more room. “What did I miss?” she gushes.

Her mother leans back in her chair, sharing a secret look with me. “Nothing, darling. Daisy was telling me about her future college plans.”

The conversation shifts back to college, Miriam drilling Edie on what she might want to do and I watch them speak, replaying what Miriam said in my mind.

Consider yourself lucky, Daisy.

I am.

I’m the luckiest girl in the world.