“I don’t know if you have either of them in your classes, but Joe and Victor are both great guys. I’ve only been invited to the ranch a handful of times but for a while I thought Victor was a shy kid. Turns out, he’s just like that around people he doesn’t know well.”
“I’ll have to double check the roster,” Tawson said. Theythanked the hostess and took their seats. They were sitting by a window but the setting sun was on the other side so they didn’t get any glares. The rest of the restaurant was standard patrons; families having a final dinner before saying goodbye for however long, two couples that looked like they were on dates, and then Victor and Joe sitting a couple tables over. Tawson caught Joe’s eyes while he was skimming over the room. They nodded and turned back to their menus and company.
The conversation was minimal but nice. They both ordered the nightly special, a cuisine that was native to the owner’s family country. It was a little spicy for his taste, but still delicious. They continued talking about the coming year and the special projects. He’d be working with William for a community outreach and he’d also be helping to run a booth at the yearly campus Halloween party they did for the kids in the city.
When they paid the bill, Daniel said his goodbyes and they went their own ways. Daniel had to get home and Tawson needed to get a little more settled into the office before heading back to the ranch for the weekend. He’d be back on Monday and wanted to enjoy a relaxing weekend.
“Now I think you’re just following me,” a voice said. Tawson swiveled his head before seeing Victor behind him. He smiled and stopped on the path. He’d decided to walk around the campus. He hadn’t been on this side of the campus for any reason yet and figured he should at least familiarize himself with everything.
Victor caught up to him easily. His friend, Joe, wasn’t with him now. “I think with you being behind me, that would qualify you as the follower.”
“That would qualify you as the follower,” Victor said in a mocking tone. They continued walking along the path. “You’re so formal.”
“Did you miss the part where I’m the new professor? Formal is kind of in the title.”
“Not for another three days,” Victor said. “Seriously, though, isn’t the English department the other way?”
“It is,” Tawson said. They were walking with enough distance between them but the path was only so wide before one of them would start walking in the grass. Tawson wasn’t much taller than Victor. He’d noticed that when they first met last weekend. He’d noticed a lot more than that too, but there was no way he was going to admit that. He had eyes and while Victor was portrayed as a bit shy, he had a quiet confidence about him. “I just thought I should know the layout of the campus. Daniel was involved in a lot more than I thought I was signing up for.”
“He’s well known around here,” Victor said. “I met him when I was in middle school and the whole foundation was starting. He’s been to a few cookouts and parties at the ranch since.”
“Middle school? Wow. I feel old.” Tawson looked from the path in front of them to Victor.
“I’m not going to assume your age, but I have noticed the wrinkles.”
“Ouch.” Tawson put his hand over his chest while Victor laughed. They were passing by the female dorms. “I’m not even thirty yet.”
“Wait really?” Victor looked over at him and just like last week, Tawson could see him clearly looking him up and down.
“Yes, really. But I’m also still your professor.”
“Not mine,” Victor said after a second. “I’m not taking your class. At least not this semester. I tested out of the ones you’ll be teaching so unless you teach something a little more advanced, we won’t see much of each other off the ranch.”
“Smart and thinks he’s funny.” Tawson stepped closer to Victor to let a group of women pass by them. Instinctually, he put his hand on Victor’s lower back. It was out of habit of all the times he’d done it to his ex when they were walking. He dropped his hand as soon as he realized what he’d done. “Sorry.”
“For what?” Victor asked. There was another group up ahead on the path, but no one was close enough to hear them talking. Not unless they spoke loudly. Victor resumed walking and they stayed quiet for a moment. “You’re different.”
“Different?” Tawson looked over at Victor. His skin was tanned, naturally, and he was maybe two or three inches shorter than Tawson now that they stood side-by-side. His arms weren’t big, not like Patrick’s or Xander’s, but they were defined. He’d noted a flat, toned stomach when he met him last time, with his shirt that had the sides cut out.
“I just mean you’re like Daniel. Easy to talk to. Dare I say kind of funny.” Victor shrugged and looked ahead of them. “I obviously haven’t been to university before, but I think you’ll be dubbed a cool one.”
“High praise for someone that called me ‘guy sitting on my porch’ an hour ago.”
“I’m terrible with names,” Victor said, a sly smiling forming on his lips. “It’s my best quality.”
The group from ahead was passing them now. It looked like a group of friends that were gearing up for a party. They stopped again, this time standing side-by-side instead of Tawsonbehind Victor. Not a single one of them paid any attention. Of course they wouldn’t, because Tawson was in casual clothes. They probably thought family or something.
“This is my stop,” Victor said. He pointed to the building on the left. It wasn’t anything too fancy, an apartment building style that went up a handful of floors.
“Are you living alone?”
“That’s to be decided,” Victor said. “Oh, uh, just don’t mention that to my mom. She’ll freak out. There’s definitely a roommate, but I haven’t actually met him yet. He hasn’t been to the apartment since before I got here earlier today.”
“Are you okay staying here alone?” Tawson knew he was being an overprotective weirdo, but he couldn’t help it.
“I’m a big kid,” Victor said. “I think I can handle a few nights alone.”
“Don’t party too hard,” Tawson said.
