Chapter 73. Secret

He drove for a while looking like he was carrying the whole world on his back. We finally got downtown and found a parking garage. He goes inside and drives all the way to the top, so we can sit outside on the highest level. He stops the car and clears his throat, which makes him look worried.

"What was all of that?" I ask. "Why on earth does she think that I’m your girlfriend?"

"I’ll get to that, but first, this story begins before that." He tells me in a quiet voice, and I sigh and lean back in my seat. "My parents are well-known in New York society. As kids, we were all raised for pictures, parties, and other things that look good on paper. When I was a kid, my parents always made sure I had a date to big events. From about age 16 on, I always had to bring a girl to anything important.

"Okay, but what does that have to do with me?" I raise my eyes and ask him, and he clears his throat.

"When I moved away, I