by Willa Okati
She wrinkled her nose. “This smells like cigarette smoke. Quentin, have you been indulging in tobacco? I realize you used to smoke back in your younger days, but if you’ve started up again we really need to have a talk.”
“Me? Oh, no. No. This is…my roommate…”
“I see. You’re sharing accommodations with a smoker.” Melissa heaved a sigh. “Well, I certainly hope you don’t expect me to stay in the same space as him tonight. Smoke makes me cough.”
“I know. I mean, no, you won’t be staying in the faculty lodging tonight.” Quentin tried a smile. “I’ve reserved a room at the Sweetwater Bed and Breakfast. It’s a queen-sized bed in case I might be able to stay—”
“We’ll see.” Melissa aimed a pointed gaze at the luggage. Quentin hastily picked the bags back up. “All right. Where is this car? And really, Quentin, the next time you want to see me with so little notice, I would appreciate not having to travel by train. Wait until we have enough saved for a plane ticket.”
“It’s only a few hundred miles.”
“Are you correcting me?”
“Of course not. I apologize for the uncomfortable mode of travel.”
Melissa’s gimlet stare was beginning to make Quentin uneasy. He felt, uncomfortably, as if he’d failed her yet again.
Quentin cleared his throat. “The car is much more comfortable, although I’m afraid it’s not the latest make or model. I had to take what I could get, you see, and it was kind of Andy to offer his vehicle on loan.”
“Andy? So you’re on first-name terms with your fellow professors?”
“With him, at least. He’s become something of a friend, as I said.”
“A confidante? Quentin, I do hope you haven’t been spreading gossip around. I’ll talk with this Andy and see if you’ve been telling tales out of school, so to speak. Will we meet him tonight?”
Quentin desperately hoped that Andy could be a good liar. He shook his head. “I don’t have to return the car before tomorrow. He said I could keep it overnight.”
“Then let’s get out of the cold.” Even though she was wrapped in Quentin’s coat and should have been toasty warm, Melissa gave a small shiver. “I really can’t afford to catch anything, Quentin.”
“No, of course not.” Quentin arranged the luggage in his left hand and offered Melissa his right arm. “Allow me?”
Melissa gave him a dubious look but did place her hand on his elbow. “No more liberties,” she warned him. “This is as far as I want to go in public.”
Quentin felt that surge of aggravation well up again. For heaven’s sake, they were all but engaged. “I’ll be careful,” was all he chose to say. “Now, if you’ll follow me to the parking lot, it’s the red Corolla parked over by a light pole. Just to our left there. Do you see it?”
Melissa stopped. A frown curved down the corners of her mouth. “Rust-red, you mean. Wholly unacceptable. Quentin, call us a taxi. I won’t travel in something like that. It looks like it’s held together with duct tape.”
Quentin’s heart sank. If Melissa wouldn’t accept the ride, he’d have to spend still more money he could hardly spare to get a cab back to pick up Andy’s car. “I did warn you.”
“Are you correcting me again?” Melissa demanded.
Quentin gave up. “No, Melissa. I’ll go and call for a taxi. Why don’t you wait inside the station where it’s warm?”
“I’ll do that. Don’t disappoint me again.” Still wearing his coat, Melissa clicked off on her heels toward the station. Quentin gazed after her, then sighed. He reached into his pocket for some loose change, hopefully enough to make a phone call.
He’d missed Melissa so much, but it seemed that he could do nothing right. He’d just have to try harder. He needed Melissa.
Even if he couldn’t tell her exactly why.
* * * * *
“This is it? This is where you live? Really, Quentin, you should have said something or at least tried to find better accommodations.” Melissa gazed at the faculty housing with a critical eye. “Driver, wait here. I don’t think we’ll be long.” She turned away before she could catch the taxi man giving her the finger, for which Quentin was devoutly grateful. “This place is on the verge of being condemned. What is the administration thinking?”
Quentin blinked. “It’s a perfectly serviceable building,” he said without thinking. “I’ve been quite comfortable here.”
“And you’re correcting me again.” Melissa reached into her pocketbook and pulled out her cell phone. “We’ll have to work on your manners, Quentin. You’ve backslidden so far since we last met. I wondered why you needed to see me in such a hurry. Do you realize I left important work unfinished to come up and visit you? Go ahead and get the door unlocked. I’ll just make a quick call.”
“The reception isn’t spectacular up here—”
“I think I can handle myself.” Melissa clicked the phone open and hit a speed-dial button. “Hello, Charles? Yes, I’m still fine. We’re at the housing right now, but hopefully not for long. The McClark case? You should find my notes on the corner of my desk in the out tray. Of course I finished up before I left…”
Quentin ducked his head and reached for the small set of keys in his pocket. A racket from within caught his attention, causing him to frown in confusion. After eight p.m. the outer door was locked by campus security. But if no one but faculty were supposed to be in there, then why did he hear a commotion?
Oh, dear Lord, was someone holding a party?
He stiffened. Billy. God, no.
Hurrying through his unlocking, Quentin turned back to Melissa. “Perhaps you’d rather not come in,” he ventured. “My roommate is a little messy from time to time and it might be best if you don’t see this.”
“Not come in?” Melissa disconnected her call. She gave Quentin what might have been a scowl on a less polished face. “I do plan to come in. I’ll need to see what your living conditions are like, after all. Regardless of how your roommate behaves, I want to see your private quarters. I expect you to have remembered how to keep order.”
As if he were a child.
God, why am I getting angry? This is just Melissa…being Melissa.
“Give me a moment first?” Quentin begged—no, requested. “I’ll just be sure that there isn’t any company visiting.”
“Why would there be company this late at night? What are you hiding from me?” Melissa strode up to join him at the door. “Go ahead. I want to see what you’re keeping a secret.”
“Nothing. I swear.”
“Then you have nothing to risk by letting me in, do you?” Melissa folded her arms across her chest. “Open the door. Now.”
Swallowing hard, Quentin turned the lock. He stood aside for Melissa to enter first, pushing the door open for her. She tsked. “No magnetized keycards. Honestly, anyone could just use a credit card and break in here. It’s a good thing you don’t have anything valuable. And really, what is that racket?” She pointed at his door. “Do you have noisy neighbors? How are you expected to get any work done?” The cell phone came out again. “Give me the number for the campus police.”
“Melissa, please don’t. I’m afraid…” Quentin swallowed. “Well, this is where I live. I did warn you about my roommate.”
Melissa drew back as if she’d touched something dirty. “I see. We certainly will have to work on finding you a more suitable living place.”
“There’s really nothing unless you go down into the town, and it’s a two-mile walk uphill from there.”
“Quentin,” Melissa warned. “Contradict me one more time and I’ll expect an immediate ride back to the train station. I didn’t come down here to have you cross me at every turn.”
“Yes, Melissa.” Quentin hesitated. “Do you still want to come in?”
His prayer that she wouldn’t was denied. “Of course I do. I intend to have a few words with your so-called roommate. He needs to understand some things about respect, silence and professional beha
vior.” Melissa’s eyes glowed with anticipation. “Just point him out to me once we’re inside.”
Oh, God. Good luck. Heaven help me.
Nervously, Quentin inserted his key into the apartment lock. The door vibrated a little with the sound of the music booming from within. Truth be told, he’d gotten used to Billy’s fondness for foot-long woofers, but when Melissa saw…
The door swung open onto a veritable swarm of people. Students. They milled around in groups, laughing and chattering amongst themselves. Almost every one of them held a plastic cup of some sort. Quentin smelled beer and ginger ale on the air, as well as the ever-present cigarette smoke.
“Billy?” he called over the din. “Billy, please come out. I’d like for you to meet someone.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m on my way,” Billy shouted back from the kitchen. He emerged with cigarette clasped between his lips, both hands full of beverages. Putting them down on an end table—without coasters—he took his cigarette and inhaled deeply. “Quinn.” His grin was infectious and charming as ever as he used the nickname he didn’t know held so many unwelcome—yes, unwelcome—reminders of the past. “Who’d you bring home? Don’t tell me you’ve got a date.”
Melissa stood solidly still at Quentin’s elbow. He didn’t turn around to face her, afraid of the look likely to be on her face. “This is Melissa, the woman who I hope will become my fiancée. Melissa, this is, well, Billy. Dr. Jennings. My roommate.”
“I see.” Melissa’s voice was chillier than the outside air. “And is this how you normally spend your evenings, Billy?”
“What, this?” Billy waved around himself. “Nah. This is the wind-down after study group.”
“And what are you studying? Advanced courses in how to be a hoodlum?”
Billy cracked up. “Oh, yeah. She’s a pistol. Watch out how you squeeze that trigger, Quinn. She’ll go off and boom. Come on in. Just watch where you walk.”
Melissa withdrew a couple of steps, obviously revising her plan when weighed against the current parameters. “I’ll stay outside, thank you. But tomorrow, before I leave, you and I will have a talk, Professor.”
“Call me Billy.”
“I’ll call you Professor, thank you.”
“Geez, make me feel old, why don’t you? It’s Billy to my friends, but if you insist, it’s Dr. Jennings.” Billy threw a wink at his crowd. “Not that anyone else here wants to be formal, right?”
A cheer went up. Melissa grew stiller and colder. “I see. Quentin, get your things. We won’t be staying here any longer than it takes for you to pack a bag. Pick up whatever clothes you need as well as your books. I’ve brought some of my own. We can study tonight before bed.”
“Might I suggest that you wait on the porch where the air is fresher? I know how the smell of tobacco bothers you, after all.” And really, the smoke was thick enough to make Quentin, who’d gotten used to the odor, want to cough. His eyes stung. “I won’t be a minute.”
“I’ll expect you to hurry.” Melissa clicked out onto the porch, reaching for her cell phone. “Charles? Really, this is an intolerable situation. You won’t believe what I’ve walked into. Yes, I would rather be there working on briefs, thank you.” Over her shoulder, she warned Quentin, “Five minutes, if you please. No longer.”
“Yes. I’ll hurry.” Quentin began to push his way through the milling throng, headed for his bedroom. He could hear Billy saying something to him, but he ignored his roommate. He had no interest in anything the man had to say at this point. As it was he’d be in for a detailed lecture from Melissa on his permitting Billy to run wild, and the longer he took the hotter her temper would run.
She didn’t display any emotions in public. In private was another story.
“Quinn, man, wait.”
Quentin refused to slow down. He opened his bedroom door and, with no small degree of shock, found two students kissing on his bed. His mouth hung open in disbelief. “What the—what on God’s green earth—”
“There you two are.” Billy had appeared behind Quentin. “Look, partying after study group wraps up is one thing. You get up to this kind of shit, you’ll be in for a world of hurt. Come on, out of Quinn’s room. Out.” The students scrambled up, laughing. “Not funny, kids. You want to go play smacky-mouth, do it somewhere else, on your own time.”
Quentin stood frozen in shock. His sanctuary invaded. God. Had this happened before?
Billy touched him on the shoulder, causing Quentin to startle. “Hey, calm down. I’ll talk to those two again. This was completely uncalled for.”
“You really don’t care about how much trouble you put yourself at risk for, do you?” Quentin felt oddly calm. “Smoking, drinking, letting your hair down…”
“Speaking of which, should I cut this or let it grow out longer? I kind of like longer.” Billy tossed his red-tipped locks. “The color could stand a touch-up.”
“I have absolutely zero time to discuss anything so trivial with you. If you don’t mind, I’ll be packing a bag. You won’t have to deal with me tonight.” Quentin moved into his room, reached under his bed for a duffle and placed it on top of the rumpled covers. “That should make you happy, at least.”
“What are you talking about?” Billy lounged in Quentin’s doorway, annoyingly refusing to go anywhere else. “Having you around doesn’t make me unhappy. I like you, Quinn.”
“That warms my heart. Now, if you don’t mind leaving me alone?”
“Nah. I don’t just like you, Quinn. I like you.” Billy crushed his cigarette out in Quentin’s potted fern and sauntered into the room. With his hands tucked into his pockets and his hips thrust forward, he was walking temptation.
Quentin tore his gaze away and focused on the bag he was filling with pajamas Melissa had bought him, a nice sweater and clean pair of trousers, socks…
“Don’t look away from me. I saw that woman. That is the Melissa you’ve been sighing over every damn day since we met? She’s like a Popsicle without the sweet flavoring. Ice on two stick legs. Come on, Quinn. A woman like her does it for you?”
“She’s almost my fiancée,” Quentin said firmly, although his lips felt numb. “Please don’t speak ill of her in my presence.”
“So I can say whatever I want as long as you’re not listening? And you’re definitely not listening to me.” Billy turned and called out the doorway, “Hey, anyone else see the Ice Bitch who was just at the door? What a cunt, huh?”
“Billy!” Quentin zipped his bag with a vicious jerk. “I’ll only warn you one more time.”
Billy turned back. “And then what? You’ll get violent? I’d like to see if you could take me down.” He licked his lips, leaving them glistening in the low light of the lamp those students must have turned on. “Bet you could. You’re thin but I’ve seen those muscles. How’d you like to have me on the ground underneath you, wrestling to see who comes out on top?”
“Billy, don’t.” Quentin picked up his case. “I have to go out and meet Melissa. We’re going to a bed and breakfast for the night, and a taxi is waiting for us.”
“Oh, so you can afford to treat her on your salary? She must be a sweet piece of ass to rate the swanky treatment.” Billy came closer. “How come you and I never go anywhere nice?”
“We never go anywhere at all. Now, if you’d kindly move…”
“Why?” Billy stood firm, blocking the doorway. “Jesus, Quinn, open your eyes. You don’t belong with someone like her.”
“And who do I belong with? You?” Quentin blurted. His hand flew to his mouth, but too late. Billy’s eyes had hooded, and his grin became predatory. “Billy, move out of the way.”
“Don’t think I will. You’ve actually considered it, haven’t you?” Billy drew closer. Quentin could have darted around him and been out the door, but his feet felt stuck to the floor. Billy sauntered closer, gazing down into Quentin’s eyes, making him feel like “Quinn” again. “You want to know what it’s like being with me.”
�
�I live with you.”
“Not the same thing. You remember the times we’ve kissed, sugar? I do. You taste delicious, like mouthwash and toothpaste, all minty. You’re so squeaky-clean that I’m dying to get you good and dirty.” Billy’s tongue flickered out again. “Ditch the woman. I’ll kick my students out and we can spend the night getting to know each other better.”
“I already know everything I want to about you. You’re trying to… I don’t think it’s wise. And I’ll be on my way now, if you don’t mind.” Finally able to move, spurred on by desperation, Quentin elbowed past Billy and headed for the door.
He stopped when a sharp whistle from behind him drew his attention. He turned slowly to see Billy digging in one pocket of his faded jeans. “Your loss. But hey, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, and play it safe.” He withdrew two foil packets and tossed the condoms to Quentin, who caught them on reflex. “When you get tired of someone who’s just using you as a walking dildo, I’ll be here. Maybe even tonight.”
Quentin felt unbearably tired. He didn’t even have the strength to muster up a response. All he could do was stare at Billy with utter weariness.
Billy ran a hand down his chest, fingers teasing at the button on his jeans. “I’ll be thinking of you. Who are you going to be thinking of?”
Quentin’s mouth opened, then closed. Oh, God.
Without a single look behind himself, he fled.
Chapter Seven
“Well. At last, a place with a little taste and some peace and quiet. Good choice, Quentin.” Melissa took off Quentin’s coat and folded it over her arm. “Where do we check in? I assume you know.”
Quentin looked around himself in confusion. This wasn’t the sort of bed-and-breakfast he had expected where there would be acres of chintz and lace with a kindly grandmother type behind a small counter, beaming and welcoming them inside her establishment. Instead, the place was done in gleaming chrome and glass, with no sign whatsoever of a reception area.
Someone had to have taken his call, though, when he made the reservations. Knowing it would make him look like a fool, and wincing at the thought of the inevitable repercussions, he cleared his throat and called, “Hello?”
