Chapter 116
[Rose's POV]
I laughed softly, the sound light in the cool evening air. "No. He's just a close friend."
Sophia's eyebrows lifted slightly, but she didn't press further. The three of us climbed into the back seat while Alexander settled behind the wheel. The engine hummed to life, smooth and quiet.
"Where am I heading?" Alexander glanced at us through the rearview mirror.
"Somerville first," I said. "Then Cambridge."
Sophia leaned close to Ava as we pulled away from the curb, her voice dropping to a theatrical whisper that was clearly meant for me to hear. "He's pretty good-looking. Kind of has that mysterious vibe going on."
I caught Alexander's eyes in the mirror. His lips twitched, fighting back a smile.
"He can hear you," Ava pointed out dryly.
"I know." Sophia grinned, completely unrepentant. She stretched out in the back seat, tension from hours of practice finally releasing from her shoulders. "It's been such a long day. My feet are killing me."
"Mine too." Ava pulled off her sneakers and flexed her toes. "But we nailed that final sequence. Did you see Rose's face when we finally got it right?"
"You both worked hard," I said. The city lights flickered past the windows, casting moving shadows across our faces. "You should be proud."
Sophia shifted in her seat, her expression turning more thoughtful. "Rose, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Your family has money, right?" She gestured vaguely at the car, the leather interior, Alexander's expensive watch. "I mean, this isn't exactly a regular ride."
The question hung in the air. Ava went still beside her, clearly interested in my answer but too polite to have asked directly.
"My family does well," I said carefully. "But what they've given me is just a foundation. Everything I build from here needs to be my own work."
Alexander made a small sound in the front seat. I knew what he was thinking. Just a few weeks ago, he'd believed wealth was his birthright, something he could take for granted. Now he understood differently.
"That's a good way to look at it," Ava said quietly. She stared out the window at the passing neighborhood. "My parents worked three jobs between them to keep me in dance classes. They always said education and talent were the only things no one could take away from you."
"They sound like wise people," I replied.
We turned onto Ava's street in Somerville. Row houses lined both sides, their small front yards neat and well-maintained. Working-class families who took pride in what they had.
Alexander pulled up to the curb. Ava gathered her dance bag and water bottle.
"Thank you so much for the ride," she said to both of us. Then she paused at the door, hand on the handle. She turned back to Alexander. "Could I get your contact information?"
I blinked. That was forward.
Alexander glanced at me in the mirror, clearly asking permission. I gave a tiny nod.
"Sure." He pulled out his phone, and they exchanged numbers quickly. "Just text me if you ever need a ride to practice."
"Thanks." Ava smiled genuinely. "I really appreciate it. See you both tomorrow."
She climbed out and jogged up to her front door, waving once before disappearing inside.
As Alexander pulled away from the curb, I leaned back against the seat. "You're surprisingly popular tonight."
"Your friends are nice people," Alexander said. His tone was different from his usual cocky swagger. More genuine.
Sophia laughed beside me. "I was sure you two were dating when we first came down. He was waiting there like some kind of romantic hero."
"Definitely not dating," I said firmly.
"Really?" Sophia tilted her head, studying Alexander's profile. "Because he looks at you like—"
"He doesn't," I interrupted, perhaps too quickly.
Alexander's hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "I couldn't date Rose even if I wanted to. She's way out of my league."
There was something in his voice. A note of truth wrapped in humor, protecting something vulnerable underneath.
"You're both being weird," Sophia announced. She pulled out her phone and started scrolling, clearly deciding not to push the subject further. "So where are we heading now? My place is near Harvard Square."
"That works," Alexander said. "I know the area."
We drove through familiar streets. Boston at night had its own rhythm, different from the daytime rush. Students clustered outside bars and restaurants, their laughter carrying through the open window. Street performers packed up their instruments. The subway rumbled beneath us at a stoplight.
"This city is so different from where I grew up," Sophia said softly. She'd set down her phone, just watching the world pass by. "I'm from a tiny town in upstate New York. Population like eight hundred. When I first came here for college prep, I couldn't sleep because of the noise."
"And now?" I asked.
"Now I can't imagine living anywhere else." She smiled. "All the opportunities here. All the different people. My hometown was so small that everyone knew everyone else's business. Here I can just be whoever I want."
"Being able to reinvent yourself is a gift," I said. "Use it well."
Alexander turned onto her street in Cambridge. The buildings here were older, more historical. Some dated back to colonial times, their brick facades weathered by centuries.
He pulled up in front of a modest apartment building. Sophia gathered her things, then paused just like Ava had.
"Need a ride tomorrow?" Alexander asked before she could speak.
I shot him a look. He was being too eager.
"Actually—" Sophia started.
"If you need transportation," I cut in smoothly, "just send me a message. I'll make sure you get to the studio."
Alexander made a sound of protest. "Come on, Rose. Let me add one more contact."
"You already got one pretty girl's number tonight," Sophia said, laughing. "Save some for next time." She opened the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk. "Thanks again for the ride. And for the pizza. And for being such amazing teammates. See you tomorrow."
We watched her climb the steps to her building and disappear through the door.
The moment she was gone, Alexander's whole demeanor shifted. His shoulders relaxed, the careful politeness dropping away. "Why didn't you let me get her number too?"
"Because," I said, moving to the front passenger seat now that we were alone, "I want you to learn how to get to know people one at a time. Not collect contacts like they're trading cards."
He started driving, heading back toward Magnolia Estate. "What does that mean?"
"It means I saw how you looked at Ava when she asked for your number. And I saw how quickly you offered the same to Sophia." I kept my voice even, not accusatory. "I don't object to you dating. Either of them would be a good choice. But you need to actually choose. Give one person your full attention instead of keeping your options open."
"That's..." He trailed off, processing. "That's not how most people date anymore. Everyone talks to multiple people at once."
"I know. And I'm telling you that approach is wrong." I watched his profile as he drove. "Real connection requires focus. If you're constantly comparing, constantly wondering if someone better might come along, you'll never actually build anything meaningful."
He was quiet for several blocks. Then: "Is that how it was in your time?"
My time. He meant the 1940s, when I was young and alive for the first time. When dating meant deliberate courtship, not casual hookups orchestrated through phone apps.
"People were more intentional," I said. "Romance moved slower. You actually had to talk to someone face-to-face to get to know them." I smiled slightly. "Though we had our own problems. Social expectations were suffocating in different ways."
"But you think my generation does it wrong?"
"I think your generation has more freedom and less wisdom about how to use it." I turned to look at him fully. "Which is why I'm teaching you now. If you want to pursue Ava, pursue her properly. Give her your full attention. Don't hedge your bets with Sophia at the same time."
"And if I want to pursue Sophia instead?"
"Then commit to that choice. But make a choice."
He nodded slowly, working through the implications. This was growth I could actually see—Alexander considering his actions instead of just following his impulses.
"What if I screw it up?" His voice was quieter now, almost vulnerable. "What if I pick wrong?"
"Then you learn from it." I reached over and squeezed his shoulder briefly. "That's how you become a better person. By making choices, facing consequences, and growing."
We pulled through the gates of Magnolia Estate. The mansion loomed ahead, its windows glowing warm against the night sky. Alexander parked in his usual spot near the garage.
Neither of us moved to get out immediately.
"Rose?" He stared straight ahead through the windshield. "Thank you. For teaching me this stuff. My parents never—" He stopped, jaw working. "Nobody ever explained things like this to me before."
"I'm your great-grandmother," I said gently. "It's my job."
"Yeah but you actually do the job." He turned to face me, and his eyes were suspiciously bright. "Most people just tell me what I'm doing wrong. You tell me why it's wrong and how to do better. That's... different."
My throat tightened.
"You're a good kid, Alexander," I said. "You just needed someone to believe in you."
"You really think Ava would be interested? If I actually tried?"
"I think if you show her the young man you're becoming—responsible, thoughtful, genuinely interested in who she is—then yes. She'd be lucky to have you."
He grinned, that cocky confidence flashing back for just a moment. "Guess I better figure out which one I actually want then."
"Guess you better."
We climbed out of the car together. The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of the estate's gardens. Inside, lights glowed from the main rooms.
"One more thing," I said as we reached the front steps. "Tomorrow after practice, if you want to drive Ava home and spend some time getting to know her better, you have my permission."
Alexander's whole face lit up. "Really?"
"Really. Just remember what I said. Focus. Intention. Actually listen when she talks."
"I will. I promise." He bounded up the steps two at a time, suddenly full of teenage energy again. "This is going to be great. I'm going to plan something amazing. Maybe I'll take her to that new restaurant downtown. Or the observatory."
I followed more slowly, smiling to myself. Young love, full of hope and possibility.