I stared at Dad. “What happened?”
“He disappeared after graduation owing me most of it.”
“He never paid you back?”
“No.”
Dad’s face tightened.
“I later found out he’d told people I was useful because my family had money.”
That shut me up.
Dad looked toward my room.
“So when you kept mentioning a roommate asking what we owned, I noticed.”
I exhaled. “Chloe is not Darren.”
“I know.”
“You’ve known her for ten minutes.”
“I know.”
“Then this is unfair.”
“Maybe.”
That surprised me.
Dad shrugged. “I’m not asking you to hate her.”
“Then what are you asking?”
“Pay attention.”
That was it.
Not “dump her.”
Not “I told you so.”
Just pay attention.
Mom said quietly, “People sometimes reveal themselves when they think there’s nothing to gain from impressing someone.”
I looked through the small window in the dorm door.
Chloe was talking to two girls.
All three glanced toward the hallway.
