by Parker, Ali
“No, but teens, especially teens together, can get into some pretty ridiculous situations.”
He rolled his eyes, shaking his head with disgust. “So, no. I can’t go because you think I’m a child.”
“You can go, but listen, I need you to make me a promise.”
He nodded. “What?”
“If you see something that isn’t okay or you find yourself in a position that makes it unsafe for you to get into a car with someone, call me. I promise you I will not be mad or question what happened. Just promise me you will not get into a car with a drunk driver and you will not do anything you know is truly wrong.”
“I won’t. Trust me, I won’t.”
I believed him. He’d learned a hard lesson. “Good. Then I hope you have fun and make new friends.”
“What about you?” he asked.
“What about me?”
“What are you going to do?”
I smiled. “I’ve celebrated many a new year. I think I’ll keep it low key.”
“You have to go out and do something,” he insisted.
I shrugged. “I might head down to that little bar by the lake. I’ll have a drink or two and celebrate New Year’s with the folks on the east coast.” I chuckled. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I am lame. I’m an old guy. I need my beauty sleep.”
“I thought you said you made a friend at school,” he said.
I nodded. “Alan, yes, but he’s older than I am. He’ll probably be tucked in bed by nine.”
“Lame.”
“You’re probably right, but I don’t mind being lame,” I told him.
“Are you trying to make me feel guilty?”
I burst into laughter, shaking my head. “No. I want you to go out and have fun. Honestly, if you stay home with me, I’ll just feel like I have to stay up and entertain you. I really don’t see myself making it much past ten. I’ve seen the ball drop. I’ve done all the things you’re supposed to do to ring in the new year. I don’t mind getting a good night’s rest.”
“You’re sure?” he asked.
I loved that he cared about how I would spend my night. “I’m positive. Tell me more about this girl.”
He shrugged. “She’s pretty, plays basketball.”
I nodded. “How old?”
“Sixteen. I met her in homeroom.”
“Name?”
“Tara,” he answered. I saw the smile on his lips and knew he was smitten. Young love was so good—until it wasn’t.
“Do you guys talk on the phone a lot?”
He cringed. “No one talks on the phone.”
“How do you know anything about her?”
“We text. We message and stuff like that. We don’t talk.”
I smiled. “Sorry, I forget. This is why I will be lousy at the dating thing. I don’t understand the rules.”
“You’ll figure it out. Did you call Gina?”
I frowned. “No.”
“Why not? She’s pretty and she’s got a good figure for an older lady.”
“You keep calling her older. She’s younger than me. You’re making me feel really old.”
“You’re not young,” he replied.
The waitress delivered two heaping plates of food. I stared at the pile of gravy smothering the biscuits and looked at Olin. He had the same reaction I did. His eyes were bugging out of his head.
“Thank you,” I said to the waitress.
She scurried off, leaving me and Olin staring at the food. “Wow,” he whispered. “Are we really supposed to eat all of this?”
I chuckled, picking up my fork. “I don’t know, but I hope it’s good.”
“Maybe you should only eat half,” he suggested.
“Why?”
“Because it looks really fattening and high in cholesterol. You’re not getting any younger. Your arteries are probably already clogging.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re full of compliments this morning.”
He shrugged. “I’m just trying to help you out. You’re in the market for a new lady. You need to be in good health to get one of the pretty ones.”
“I’ll try and keep that in mind. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to enjoy my breakfast without any more references to my age or the condition of my heart.”
He grinned before popping a bite of the meal into his mouth. He slowly nodded while he chewed. “It’s good. Really good.”
I took my own bite, appreciating the flavor of the gravy that was just spicy enough to give a good kick, but not enough to cause a case of heartburn. We both ended up devouring our meals.
“Wow, I guess we know what all the fuss is about,” I commented wiping my mouth.
“I’m so full,” he groaned.
“Me too. I’m ready to go home and take a nap.”
“I think I am too,” he muttered, pushing his plate away.
“Do we need anything while we’re out?” I asked hoping he would say no. I was too full to walk around a store.
“No.”
“Good.”
I quickly paid the bill, leaving our waitress a healthy tip before we left the restaurant. It was a busy place and after eating the famous biscuits and gravy, I knew why. I couldn’t eat like that every day. Olin was right, I was not a young man with a fast metabolism. I couldn’t die young and leave Olin alone in the world. I had to take care of myself and make sure I was around for a good long while.
Chapter 27
Leila
I parked my car in the relatively empty lot reserved for faculty of the university. I wanted to grab a couple of things and make sure I was ready for the start of a new semester. I was a planner and an organizer, and I always made notes throughout the semester about what I could do a little different to make my class even better.
I had reviewed the comment sheets that had been submitted by a few of the students from the first semester. Some of them felt like I was giving them too much information to digest. I wanted to find a way to make it easier for them to remember. I wanted everyone to love my class.
Each semester was a chance for me to try again. I loved the first day. It was always exciting for me. It was always a challenge setting the tone for a new semester. It was like getting a New Year’s Day twice a year. I loved seeing the new faces and wondering who was going to be the star of the class.
Hands down, Christopher had taken that title for the last class. I was going to miss seeing his face and discussing the myths and how they played a role in the modern beliefs of today. I knew it was for the best even when I had my doubts. I couldn’t afford to have the distraction.
I got out of my car and made my way down the path to my building when I saw Professor Ben Myles. According to the rumors, he was the one caught messing around with a student. The rumor mill had been in overdrive the last few days of the mini-semester and judging by what I saw, the rumors had been true. He was carrying a box. Everyone knew what that meant.
I looked around, hoping to find a way to avoid crossing paths with him. He’d already seen me, leaving me no escape. He was looking at me, waiting for me. We had never spoken much. There was something about him that had always rubbed me wrong during faculty meetings. I supposed he was attractive enough, but he just had a look I didn’t like.
“Good morning,” I greeted in a cheery voice, faking my like for him.
“I suppose,” he muttered. “It’s not starting off all that great.”
“Getting a jumpstart on the next semester?” I asked and immediately wanted to kick myself in the head. Obviously, he wasn’t doing that. It was the usual go-to small talk for me. I was awkward. I knew it. They all knew it. I always asked about another professor’s class. It was a safe topic. Usually.
“You didn’t hear?” he asked with irritation. “I’m sure you heard. Dean Johnson told everyone. He tried to make me out to be some horrible man. I’m not a bad guy. I should sue him for defamation.”
“Heard?” I asked innocently. “Heard what?” my voice was very
soprano and nothing like my normal tone.
He smiled. “You heard. You don’t have to pretend otherwise. I know everyone is talking about it, like I’m the only one who’s slept with a student. I thought that was a perk of being a professor.”
The way he said it made my skin crawl a little. “Apparently not.”
“There is no way they can control every minute of our lives,” he seethed.
I grimaced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were fired. I hope it works out for you.”
“I was, but I’m not going down without a fight. I’m here to get my job back.”
“Oh,” I said for lack of anything better to say. “Good luck.”
“You know, it isn’t what it seems. The dean made a mountain out of a molehill.”
“I don’t know the details,” I told him, hoping to keep it that way.
“He made it seem like the girl and I were banging in the classroom. It was nothing like that. She came on to me. We met a few times and had drinks and one thing led to another. My wife isn’t half as mad as the dean. There is nothing that says we can’t have fun when we aren’t at work.”
I nodded. “Well, good luck,” I said, wanting to get away before he gave me any more details.
“She got pissed that I gave her a C,” he continued. “She went to the dean and that’s when things got ugly. If she could have just kept her mouth shut like all the other co-eds, everything would have been fine. She should have done the damn work if she wanted a better grade. She used me.”
I scoffed. “She used you?”
“Yes. She used me. She thought she could sleep with me and secure a good grade. She used me. She came on to me and I’m the one being punished.”
“That’s too bad,” I said. “I better let you get going. Sounds like you’ve got a lot to do.”
He opened his mouth to say more. I smiled and waved before rushing off. I wanted no part of that conversation. I couldn’t believe the dude acted like he was the wronged party. I pulled out my phone as I was walking and called Kami. I didn’t really want to talk to her, but I wanted to give the appearance I was too busy to chat. I didn’t want to get stuck in a conversation like that again.
“What’s up?” she answered the phone.
“Nothing. I need to look like I’m talking on the phone.”
“You are talking on the phone.”
“You know what I mean,” I hissed.
“I don’t think I do. Are you dodging someone?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
I walked into my office and closed the door behind me. “The dude that got busted sleeping with a student.”
She laughed. “Was he trying to sleep with you?”
“No, but I guess he got fired. I ran into him on my way into the office.”
“Why are you at work?” she asked, completely ignoring the part about Professor Myles.
“I wanted to come by and go over a few things and that is totally not the point.”
“You are supposed to be on vacation. Break. No work. Why is that such a foreign concept to you?”
I sighed, stuffing my planner into my purse. “I just needed a couple of things. Did you miss the part about the sleazy professor?”
“No, but I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“He’s married!”
“Then it’s his wife’s problem,” she answered easily.
“But he was acting like the student should have kept her mouth shut. Is that what I’m acting like? Am I him?”
“No, you are not him. You are wound too tight though. It sounds to me this other professor is a sleazebag. You are not. He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and now he is trying to get out of it. You need to take a break. Get away from that drama.”
I groaned. “It’s my job. I’m feeling so guilty.”
“Stop it. You’re supposed to be over that. You shut him down. There is nothing to feel guilty about.”
“I do, though,” I complained.
“You need to get out. You need to dance and drink and forget all about Christopher and your job. I say we go out for New Year’s. We kick our heels up and have a good time.”
“I don’t know,” I said, not exactly big on kicking up my heels. As if I could.
“Nope. I’m not letting you shut me down. We’re going out. We’re going to find you a new man that’s never heard of the university. It’s me and you on the prowl.”
I had to laugh. “That sounds dangerous.”
“And fun. Lots of fun.”
“All right, I’ll do it, but I’m not making any promises,” I warned.
“That’s fine. You don’t have to have a good time, but I’m going to. You can be a boring, old stick in the mud but as long as you’re not wallowing in guilt or self-pity or whatever mood you are in at that moment, I don’t care. Fun. We’re going to party like we’re twenty!”
“You’re very enthusiastic about this.”
“Yes, I am, and you are not going to rain on my parade. Now, get your shit and get out of there. You better get your butt home and paint that damn door. I do not want to hear you bellyaching about it while we’re out tomorrow.”
I smiled. “You know me so well. Fine. I promise I will be on my best behavior. No whining.”
“Good. Now, my biscuits are burning, gotta go!”
I laughed, ending the call. She was always baking. I grabbed the few things I needed and decided to take her up on her advice and get the hell out of the school. I didn’t know if the dean was around, but I did not want to see him.
I felt like I was being very shady as I exited the building. I looked left, then right before dashing down the sidewalk. If I was a runner, I would have run back to my car. As it was, I wasn’t a runner and had to settle for walking as fast as my legs would carry me. I kept my phone pressed to my ear, hoping anyone that saw me would assume I was in a hurry and too busy to talk.
I made it to my car, tossed my crap in the passenger seat, and sped out of there like I was running from the police. With the university in my rearview mirror, I took a second to think about what Ben Myles had said. It really irritated me he could be so blasé about sleeping with not just a student, but another woman in general.
He was married!
I hated that Christopher was likely thinking I was like Myles. I wasn’t. I didn’t sleep with someone just because I got a hankering. At least, I never used to. Christopher had been different. I wished I could tell him that, but it would only benefit me. I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea or lead him on.
I had to keep telling myself it was better to just let things fade out. He’d not texted anymore. He was a very good-looking guy and would likely find someone more suitable.
“But he’s so sexy,” I groaned, pulling my car into the driveway of my little house.
Sexy and off-limits.
I swore I could actually see the little devil on my left shoulder and the angel on the right. The devil’s advice was far more interesting and appealing, but the little angel was the one reminding me of just how bad it was to get involved with someone that could get me fired.
Now that I knew for sure that had been the outcome for Myles, I definitely wanted to stay far away from scandal. Clearly, the professor was not a good guy, but he was going to have a hard time finding another job because of what had happened. Maybe it had been a one-time thing and he just caved in to his lust.
I doubted it. The way he had talked about the situation made it seem like it was not a big deal, like it was something he did so often he couldn’t understand what the big deal was. That pissed me off. I did not want to be in the same category as he was.
Christopher had been a big deal. He could have been a really big deal if the universe would have put him in my path anywhere else but in my class.
“It’s done now,” I whispered, dropping my stuff on the kitchen table. “Move on.”
Chapter 28
Christopher
I was a nervo
us wreck. I kept telling myself he was old enough to make his own decisions. He’d been raised right. I had to trust Carlie’s parenting skills. She’d done a great job with him and it was my turn to take it home. I couldn’t let her down. I had to show her I could take care of him.
I had gone back and forth, trying to decide if I should rescind my approval. I couldn’t. He was sixteen. I had to let him spread his wings. If I didn’t give him the okay to do it, he would do it anyway and it would likely end up going very bad for him. This was that part of parenting that sucked. I had to let him grow up.
He came downstairs, tugging on the shirt we had picked up at a mall yesterday. “You look nice,” I said.
“Thanks.”
“You know the rules, right?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, Dad.”
“I’m serious. If you’re sloppy drunk, don’t be afraid to call. If you see something that isn’t right, call. I promise, I will be there as fast as humanly possible. No judgment. I swear to you, on everything that is holy, I will not make a fuss about it. Now, I reserve the right to correct any illegal activities, but tonight is a free pass. One night only—if you make the right decision and call me before things can get ugly. Don’t call me if your ass is in jail. That’ll be too late.”
He smirked. “Got it. If I’m cuffed, don’t call you.”
I nodded. “Exactly, because I will leave you there overnight.”
“That’s not very nice.”
“Neither is a criminal record. Do the crime, you’ll do the time. I will not use my money or influence to get you out of trouble.”
He nodded. “Got it.”
“Have fun tonight. I’m glad you’re making new friends and I hope they know how to make good decisions as well.”
“I’m sure they will,” he said checking his phone. “I’ve got to go.”
“Will I see you tonight?”
He shrugged. “I don’t think so.”
“Where will you sleep?”
He grinned. “Who said anything about sleeping?”
I groaned. “Oh, to be young and free again.”
“Don’t wait up,” he said giving me a wave as he walked out the door.
