Mr. Wrong

by Taryn A. Taylor

The large, circular clock loomed above her on the wall next to the metal curtain that opened and closed according to business hours. Jonathon said he would be there around one.

  The door across the entrance squeaked and Beau walked in, dusting snow off of his jacket. He smiled and held up a drink. “I thought you might like some hot chocolate.” He quickly grabbed a chair from the hallway and pulled it up to her counter. “Even though it’s in a coffee cup,” he whispered conspiratorially over the counter, “it’s really hot chocolate.”

  Sara glared at him.

  He laughed and leaned over the counter. “I missed you last night.”

  She took the hot chocolate and smiled. “Good.”

  He laughed and sat down. “It is good.” He surveyed her face closely. “What’s wrong?”

  “He’s coming soon.”

  Beau shrugged. “I know.” He took another sip and raised the cup to her in a mock toast. “Maybe it’s time we had a man to man.”

  Alarm washed over her. She did not want that. “No. I don’t think that would be good.”

  Beau waved his hand in the air. “It’ll be fine. How is work going?”

  Sara told herself—for the thousandth time—that she couldn’t control everything. Leaning back into her chair, she tried to relax. “Good. Not too busy. I’ve been working on your class.” She nodded to her laptop. “Is our relationship going to present problems for you? Are you really allowed to date students?”

  He sighed, kicking his boot up on the chair opposite of him. “Sara, quit worrying about that. I’ve told you, I am not a real professor. I don’t care. If they don’t want me to teach, I don’t need to teach.” He smiled reassuringly.

  “But you’re such a good teacher. I’ve learned so much this semester.”

  Beau winked at her. “Just marry me. That’ll fix the problem.”

  Sara frowned at him and picked up the ringing phone.

  A student asked about their graduation track and what classes they needed. She put them on hold and went to grab the file Mrs. Livingston told her all the information about graduation requirements was stored in.

  Jonathon walked through the door.

  Beau stood, pulling the chair back to where it belonged.

  The inside of Sara’s chest went into an erratic pattern. He was here. He was here. And—Beau was here. She gave him a half wave and picked up the phone.

  Beau walked over to Jonathon and stretched his hand forward in greeting.

  Jonathon didn’t reach back.

  “Excuse me!” The girl on the phone insisted. “Can you tell me what they offer toward my major for the spring?”

  Sara shuffled through the folder. “Umm, let me get a course catalog book, hold on.” She put the phone on hold and ran to grab the course catalog book.

  Beau and Jonathon looked locked in an intense conversation.

  The bottom of her stomach tightened. She picked the phone back up and shuffled to the art major section. It took another five minutes to fumble through answering questions and get the student squared away with the graduation path that they needed to be on. She put the phone down.

  Beau turned and backed into the exit door. “See ya, Sara.” His walls were up, and his smile was a little wider than normal.

  Grateful that there had been no fights, Sara waved. “See ya.”

  Jonathon came forward, holding up a bouquet of roses. He grinned. “I figure it’s about time I brought you roses.”

  Sara laughed, mostly relieved that Beau and Jonathon seemed to be behaving.

  He held them out to her. His warm, brown eyes shined. “I’ve missed you.”

  Sara took the flowers. He looked different. Guilt played lightly on her heart, and she thought about what she was putting him through. Beau’s face flashed into her mind. Putting both of them through. She smelled the roses. “Thank you. They are beautiful.”

  Jonathon looked around. “It’s a nice place to work.”

  Sara put the roses on the back counter and turned back to him. The knot still tightened in her stomach. “Yeah. I like it.” She felt unsure. “I’m off in about an hour. Do you want to go explore and come back for me?”

  Jonathon smiled. “Yeah. I may do that. I want to check out the institute too.” He touched her hand and then turned for the door. “Hey,” he said, wheeling back around, “I want to take you out for a nice dinner tonight. Actually, Beau just gave me vouchers for a place called, The Lodge. He said it was nice.” He shrugged and rolled his eyes. “I guess he’d be an okay guy if he wasn’t the competition.” His tone was begrudging, but he didn’t seem angry.

  Sara knew Beau got all kinds of things from local businesses because he would have different business people come in and talk with their class. “Okay.”

  **

  They sat at The Lodge and took in the retro modern décor. All the servers wore black. The women, skirts. The men, pants. They all wore their hair slicked back tight against their heads. It kind of made her uncomfortable and made her feel like she was in a futuristic sci-fi movie.

  Jonathon put his hand on top of hers across the table. “Did I tell you that you look great tonight?”

  Sara jolted out of her thoughts. “Yes.”

  His brown eyes shined in the candlelight. “And I love that black dress and your hair up like that.”

  Sara pulled her hand away and looked closely at the menu. Everything felt weird. Really weird. “Thanks.”

  Jonathon hesitated and then looked down at his menu.

  Sara focused on the entrée’s. Fish. A lot of fish at this restaurant.

  “I have something to tell you.”

  Sara looked up at him. She noticed an almost smug look on his face. “Okay.”

  He sniffed and then let out a loud breath. “I’ve decided to come to UW, Sara.”

  “What?” Sara pulled back too fast and bumped the back of her head against the booth.

  He leaned in, excitedly. “Well, when you told me last week that you wanted to date Beau and me.” He paused and took a sip of water. “I was a little upset. But the whole way home from Laramie I prayed and I pondered our relationship, and Sara, I want you to know that I realize what a jerk I’ve been. A complete jerk.”

  Sara rubbed the back of her head. “Okay.”

  “I tried to see it all from your point of view. You’ve been waiting for me for two years and then I come home and everything is just so uncertain. You’ve been waiting for so long and then I can’t make a decision. No wonder you’ve wanted to keep your options open.” He shook his head happily. “I’m coming here. I told the coach this morning that I’m going to be a Cowboy.”

  Sara felt like her whole world shifted slightly off-kilter.

  “And I don’t want to pressure you . . .”

  The server came to the table and asked to take their order.

  Sara tried to digest Jonathon’s announcement.

  Jonathon looked from her to the server. “I think we know what we want.” He turned to her. “Are you ready, Sara?”

  At just this moment, the swooshing, white skirt of a beautiful, Italian-looking woman went by her. She paused and watched the sparkles on the skirt, mesmerized.

  “Sara?”

  Then—she saw a man appear next to the swooshing skirt . . . Beau.

  Chapter 34

  Sara jerked forward, knocking her ice water over.

  Jonathon stood and swiped at his slacks. “Sara!”

  Sara reflexively stood and grabbed for her napkin to help mop it up. “I’m sorry.” She peeked back at Beau.

  He and the woman were being sat at a corner table. He didn’t appear to notice them.

  Jonathon finished wiping his seat and then sat down with a sigh. “Sara, do you know what you want?”

  Sara looked at the waiter blankly then tried to shake herself back to the present. “I thought I knew what I wanted.” How dare he be here with someone else! She looked back to make sure that it was really Beau.

  Jonathon exhaled and to
ok the menu out of her hand. “We’ll both have steaks. Medium rare. And the potato with butter and the vegetables.”

  Sara wanted to be upset that he’d ordered for her. But she couldn’t focus on that. She tried to get another look at Beau and his date. She was pretty. Pretty was an understatement.

  **

  “Hey, I thought you’d be happier.” Jonathon finished the last of his steak.

  Sara focused on Jonathon’s face. “Yes. I am happy.” She smiled reassuringly. “I have to run to the restroom for a minute.”

  “Okay.” He opened his phone and started playing some game.

  She got up, moving toward the bathroom and then circling around a pole to spy on Beau. She heard him laughing and got a clear view of the woman he was with. The dress was a low-cut halter top.

  Her stomach felt queasy, and she put her back against the pole, gasping for breath. This was not happening. She thought of him waving to her in Academic Affairs. Had he set this up? Is that why he gave Jonathon the vouchers?

  Peeking again around the pole, Sara heard him laugh and saw the girl flash a red, glossy-lipped smile.

  One of the servers walked past.

  Sara matched her pace and tried to stay out of Beau’s view. She paused against a space where the servers would come and go for food. She looked at Beau. Beau’s blue eyes were bright against the tan sport jacket he wore. He was leaning toward the woman, telling her something that appeared to be very intimate. The woman laughed the kind of laugh that very controlled, elegant women have.

  Beau smiled and peered deeply into her eyes.

  The woman leaned closer, gently kissing his lips.

  Sara jerked back, bumping into a server carrying a platter of drinks. The noise was terrible. She stayed squatted down on the ground, hoping Beau wouldn’t see her.

  The server gave her an exhausted look and started cleaning up the mess. Her matted hair pulled out here and there.

  She leaned forward, helping to pick up the glass. “I’m so, so, so sorry.”

  The girl turned to her, smiling half-heartedly. “It’s all right—just been a long night, and it’s just started. Why don’t you go back to your seat?”

  Sara sighed and felt ridiculous. “I can’t. It’s complicated.”

  The server hesitated and then gave her a knowing look. “A man.”

  Sara nodded back.

  The woman finished cleaning up the mess and turned to her. “Come on, I’ll cover for ya.” The woman put her tray in a blocking position and escorted Sara across the restaurant.

  Sara went all the way to the restrooms and then circled back to her table.

  “Are you all right?” Jonathon put his phone down.

  Sara glared at Jonathon. “When did those vouchers have to be used by?”

  Jonathon looked confused, but he pulled them out. “It has no expiration date. Why?”

  “Never mind.” Sara fumed, trying to get herself under control.

  **

  The popcorn ceiling taunted her. It was dust-ridden and Sara usually ignored it. This had been a decent place to live, and what else could college kids expect of apartment, cheap living. But after an hour of staring at it, she just couldn’t take it a second longer. She pulled her clock to her. 11:30 p.m.

  The rest of the evening Sara had been so preoccupied with Beau that she really hadn’t heard much of what Jonathon told her. He’d dropped her off around 10:00 p.m.—saying that he could tell she needed some rest and he would see her in the morning.

  She turned on her side, feeling angry at Beau and angry at herself. Without thinking she picked up her phone and called Beau.

  The first thing she heard was television in the background. “Couldn’t stay away from me.” His voice was soft.

  Her heart rate went into overdrive. “Hey.” She didn’t want to accuse him. She didn’t. She wanted him to confess.

  “Hey.”

  “Sorry to call so late.” She pulled the phone closer to her ear.

  “Sara, you can call me anytime. But is this allowed during the off weekend?” He was teasing her.

  “I am not restricted by rules, remember?” She thought of the beautiful woman and thought about commenting that he, obviously, wasn’t either.

  “How was your date tonight?” Beau’s voice was steady.

  “Great.”

  “Good. Good.” Beau was saying the words absentmindedly.

  “What did you do tonight?” She felt her stomach grip in anger.

  “Oh, I went out with an old friend that’s in town.”

  “Hmm. Well, that sounds like a good time.” Sara tried to keep her anger veiled.

  He cleared his throat. “Yeah, it was interesting.” He paused for a moment. “So—Jonathon told me he’s decided to come to UW?”

  Sara was taken off guard. “When did he tell you that?”

  “When I spoke with him earlier.”

  Unexpectedly, she was on the defense. “Yeah. He is.”

  Beau sighed. “Is this the call that you tell me you’re getting married? Is he sitting next to you on the couch?”

  The edge in his voice took her back. “Would it matter, Beau? How fast would it take you to get over me?” She thought of the woman he’d been with.

  Beau coughed. “What’s that supposed to mean, Sara?”

  “I don’t know. Ask the black-haired beauty you were with tonight.” She hung the phone up, breathing heavily, her adrenaline pumping. Black-haired beauty? Did she really say that? She put her head into her hands.

  Her phone rang and she saw Beau’s number. She silenced it, shaking. Hesitating for a second, she pulled up Genova’s number and pressed call.

  “Hello.”

  “Genova, I’m sorry to call, it’s just . . .”

  “Spill it.”

  “I was out with Jonathon and saw Beau with another woman.”

  “What? Who?”

  Sara was annoyed, realizing what a hypocrite she sounded like.

  “He told me he loved me, Gen. He told me to bag this whole thing and elope with him. Then I see him with this crazy-beautiful woman.”

  “Wait—wait—wait. Start from the beginning.”

  Sara filled her in.

  Genova let a breath out. “Once again, you’re better than any show I watch.”

  “Gen . . .”

  “Wow. Sara, it sounds like Beau might be the only contender in this contest, and you’re just realizing it.”

  Sara sighed and laid back onto the bed. “What do you mean?”

  “Look at you. You’re beside yourself with jealousy.”

  Sara turned onto her side and squeezed her eyes shut. “Gen . . .”

  “Sara.”

  “Ugh. Jonathon was so sweet tonight. And he told me tonight that he’s going to come to UW. And he’s totally on board with me finishing my education.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What?”

  “If you had to pick right now, who would it be?”

  Sara got up and started pacing around the room. “It’s like—I’ve been in love with Jonathon forever. And, there’s a part of me that can only see that future, ya know.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Did I ever tell you that I hate hmms.”

  Genova laughed. “Do you love Beau?”

  Sara stopped pacing, feeling all these emotions hit her. “Yes. No. It’s . . . it’s like when I’m with him, all I see is him. We are in this little world, and it is . . . incredible. But, well, I told Beau this last night, I have to know with Jonathon. I just have to Gen.” She collapsed back onto the bed.

  Genova sighed. “What are you guys doing tomorrow?”

  “I don’t know. Tell Kevin thanks for letting him stay at his place.”

  Genova cleared her throat. “My advice to you,” she said, clearing her throat dramatically, “is to really try to focus on Jonathon tomorrow.”

  Sara sighed. “You’re right.”

  “If we want our game to work, you have to focus. Come on, Sara,
get your head back in the game.”

  Sara leaned back into her bed and closed her eyes. Genova was right. “Okay.”

  “You have feelings for both of them. Give Jonathon time. Give yourself time with Jonathon. Deal with Beau later.”

  Sighed. “Have I told you that you’re the best?”

  “Hmm, not lately.”

  Sara laughed. “Thanks.”

  Chapter 35

  Sara woke to banging on the door. She jumped out of bed and grabbed her bathrobe.

  If Beau thought he could just come over here after last night—he had another think coming. She threw the door open.

  Jonathon sported a t-shirt and gym shorts. He pumped his eyebrows. “Hey, beautiful, I thought we could do an early workout at the gym together.”

  Sara shook her head and tried to focus on him. “It’s freezing.”

  Snow was frozen in a pile around her door.

  “Hey, I am immune to cold.” He gave her his best arm flex.

  Rolling her eyes she laughed and opened the door wider. “Sure, we can go work out.” She loved to run early, but with everything this semester, her working out had suffered. “Come in, and I’ll change.”

  The gym was empty. Most of the students were still gone for Thanksgiving. They both ran for a warm-up and then Sara tried to play basketball with Jonathon, which was hardly competitive for either of them. He was too good.

  “I guess my high school skills are rusty.” Sara shot a free throw in an ending game of PIG.

  Jonathon rebounded her missed shot and smiled. “Yeah, but your pretty good, for a girl.” He did his basketball star smile and sunk a three-pointer.

  She laughed and tried another shot, missing. “Dang.”

  “It’s all in the follow-through. See.” He showed her a shot. “Make sure your wrist follows through.”

  Sara tried it half-heartedly and it worked. “Yes.” She fist pumped the air.

  He smiled at her.

  Sara snuck the ball quickly out of his hands and shot again. She made it. “Wow.” She pointed at him like a pro athlete. “It was all you, baby.”

  Jonathon laughed and pulled her into him. “Can I kiss you, Sara?”

  Sara looked in his eyes and felt the dreaminess of two years ago sweep through her. But she was puzzled. “Why are you asking all of a sudden?”