The Love Rectangle

Chapter 16

The first month of the semester is over in the blink of an eye. I spend Valentine's Day with Sam watching chick flicks, and drinking cheap champagne. I'm careful not to over indulge as I refuse to endure anymore hangovers. Jeff came to Haverhill to take Kat on a date. Shelby may have gone to visit her parents, but no one can confirm that. It's a very enjoyable evening with Sam though she keeps messaging with someone.

"Um, Carter. Would you mind terribly if I headed out?" Sam asks mid movie.

"Now?"

"Well, yeah. I've been messaging with this guy all night and he wants me to go hang out in his room," she clarifies.

"Like Netflix and chill?" I ask.

"Ha! Yeah, it's basically a booty call. You're not mad, right?"

"Not at all! But who are you going to meet," I add surprised by the whole thing.

"Oh, just a TKE guy. I think you know him—Grant."

Sam is so nonchalant about him that I know she has no clue what happened that first night of the semester.

"Yeah, I think I know who you're talking about. Go for it!" I encourage her.

I swipe through social media to catch up all the Valentines love that's in the air. Brian took Emma out to dinner as evidenced by the foodie-wannabe photo of her meal. Jen Cooke has received so many goodies that she needed a pic collage to acknowledge them all. Too bad, she doesn't tag the generous gift-giver or givers in her post. Connor is apparently eating feta and olives somewhere in the Mediterranean. It's almost midnight when Kat comes home with Jeff in tow, and they disappear into her room.

The next morning, I can't wait to pump Kathryn for info when I get home from the gym. She's up and drinking coffee.

"So?? Did Jeff stay over last night?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll get to that in a minute. I have better news."

"What could be better than your sexcapades?" I honestly wonder.

"My dad has business in Greece next month during our spring break week. He wants to fly me and a friend- that's you obvi—over to meet him!"

Kathryn's dad is a wealthy businessman. He's taken Kat and her brother all over the globe with him, but hasn't spent much time at home since she was little. Thus, he has spent the past few decades buying his children's love with lavish toys, clothes and trips. Kat is wholly aware of their unconventional father-daughter relationship.

"Wow, I don't know what to say!"

"Say: Thanks, Kat, you're the greatest friend ever!"

"Well, that shouldn't have to be said. You ARE my bestest friend in the whole world," I pause soaking in the news. "I guess we're going to Greece for spring break. In ONE month!"

"So, I was thinking. I'm sure my dad will want a few days alone with me to spoil me rotten so he can get out of calling me until graduation in May," she rolls her eyes. "You should spend some time in Athens with Connor then fly to the islands to meet us."

It's settled. Kat and I fly direct to Athens on the same flight. She will grab a hopper flight to Mykonos after landing. I will meet up with Connor for two days then join Kat and her dad. At first, it seems like Connor isn't stoked that I'll be visiting. It's hard to tell though since all our communication has been on chat apps.

We are so busy planning our Greek getaway that Kat and I both forget that my birthday will fall on the last weekend of spring break. We will be back from Greece in time to celebrate it, but campus housing will still be closed. I tell my mom how I don't want to be away from friends for my last birthday as a college student. I have possibly the best parents because they take matters into their own hands.