“Even when her goofiness is directed at you?”
He gave her a knowing look. “I’m just hoping she never hears about the Neo coat.”
Oh, it felt good to laugh.
Mike put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. She didn’t resist; she didn’t want to. Having him nearby during the difficulties of the last few weeks had reminded her what a source of strength he was.
“After we get her down to campus for her finals, I’ll go talk to the campus police, see what they’ve figured out and what they suggest we do.” Mike adjusted his position and Celeste found that she fit perfectly beside him. “I’m thinkingyouought to go talk to the Title IX office, though. Sometimes having an attorney involved, even if that attorney is there as a mother, can get things done faster than anything else.”
He was probably right.
“Is it weird that I’m almost hoping we run into this guy tomorrow?” Celeste said. “Part of me wants to come across him so we can beat the snot out of him. Part of me just wants to get a feel for what kind of a creep he is.”
“Not weird at all,” Mike answered. “I’m hoping the same thing.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thank you again for being here and for caring about us.”
“It is my pleasure.”
***
By the end of the next day, Mike was exhausted. He and Celeste had spent the time during Kristina’s finals talking with the administration, the campus police, and Kristina’s roommates, getting a better idea of what exactly had been happening the last few weeks.
According to the administration, Kristina was not the first woman on campus to report unwanted attention from this Jim guy. The campus police told them that Jim had been cited more than once in the past for loitering outside of other women’s apartments— women who had reported his behavior to the police just like Kristina had.
Kristina’s roommates said Jim hadn’t made any appearances in their complex or at Kristina’s work. Mike had silently tacked a “yet” onto the end of that. A guy who had harassed more than one woman, who had been approached by the police for more than one incident of borderline stalking, and who was following that same pattern again was likely to repeat the entire scenario. He hadn’t shown up at her apartment or workyet.
Still, there was a small sliver of relief along with these discoveries. The administration and police both reported that Jim was in his final semester and was graduating in only four days, and that he was headed to Florida to start a new job. Florida was multiple states away. That was at least a little reassuring.
They shared all they’d learned with Kristina as they walked with her from her last final of the day, across campus to the parking lot. She, they discovered, knew a lot of it already.
“I hadn’t heard that he was moving to Florida,” Kristina said. “That actually makes me feel a lot better. Except, I feel bad for the women of Florida. He’ll probably harass a lot of them, too.”
“Probably.” Celeste’s tone was more tired than surprised. “Let’s hope the company he’ll be working for has a good HR department.”
“Let’s hope Jim decides to quit being a creep,” Mike said.
Kristina took hold of his coat sleeve with her gloved hand. She motioned ahead of them with her head. “That’s him.”
Mike looked in the direction she’d indicated. A guy about the right age stood a few yards ahead of them. Mike had beenpicturing a football player, someone enormous. This guy was tall, but slender, the kind of person most other guys probably didn’t give a second thought. If not for a little arthritis in his shoulder, Mike wouldn’t even wonder if he could physically take on this guy. But of course Kristina would have doubts about her ability to defend herself. Size was, after all, relative.
It was a different world for women in so many ways.
He pulled his car keys from his pocket and handed them to Celeste. “You and Kristina head to the car. I’ll meet you there.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“I’m just going to talk to the guy.” As much as he’d like to pound the guy a little, he suspected it wouldn’t actually help. “I think he needs to know she has more allies than he realizes. Allies who are watching him.”
Without warning, Kristina gave him a hug. “I love you, Mike.”
He hugged her fiercely in return. “And I love you, kiddo. Always have.”
“Always will.”
He nudged her over toward her mother. “I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”
He fully expected them to take up the journey to the parking lot once more, but Celeste stepped up to him. She pressed a kiss to his cheek. Before pulling back, she whispered, “We all love you, Mike.”
