"If we had a lawyer, we probably wouldn't be in this mess." He mumbles the words, but he's standing close enough I can hear him clearly. "Sorry to just throw that on you. I'm just… Upset with my brother right now. He signed a contract with a business for what he thought was selling a portion of our farm, but it turns out he sold everything but his house. Including my house."
"Oh." Wow. I don't know what to say to that. I know he mentioned needing this class for a certification, but I didn't realize it was because he was losing his entire livelihood. "I can always take a look at it, but I'm not the lawyer of the family. I could call—"
"No, it's okay. I just wasn't sure if you knew anything. We'll… Figure something out." He sounds so dejected and the way his shoulders slump and he lets out a long sigh has me fighting the urge to reach out and comfort him.
"Do you want to go get lunch?" The words are out of my mouth before I can think them through. "I mean, I just ordered Chinese for three even though it's just me and we can go to a park or something."
"I'd love to, but I have to get back and help with the animals. I'll see you Thursday."
"See you Thursday," I say back. I can feel my ears heating with embarrassment at asking him to join me for lunch. I get into my car and don't look toward Nelson's truck as I pull out of the parking spot and head to the exit. The embarrassment doesn't stop me from thinking about his question. He's about to lose everything. I wish there was something I could do, but I'm not one that deals with contracts like that. Signing them with contractors or freelancers, I can do, but not takeovers and land deeds. That's my brother's specialty.
I pick up my food, thank the lady who now officially knows me by name, and head to the apartment like originally planned. I turn the TV on before anything else. I pull out my laptop and bounce between eating lunch and working on the outline for the business proposal project for the summer class's final grade. It's a limited version of the usual final project I do with my full-length semester classes. I have to adjust to account for the time constraint, but I think it's a great way for them to put everything to practice in a practical way. I've had a few students the last two years that I've connected with some friends back home who could help them make it a reality.
It's not even three in the afternoon when I let out the third yawn and decide to give up. A mid-day nap sounds amazing right now. I can hear my sister's words in the back of my mind as I head to the bedroom.
"Must be nice to just sleep whenever," she'd say. "I haven't been able to do that since having the baby."
I never know how to respond to her comments like that. It isn't like I wouldn't love to have at least a kid one day, but my twenties were spent partying and once I hit twenty-eight, I realized that half of my friends were getting married or moving up in their jobs. I was still stuck as the Boss's son that waseternally interning with the company. I know I still have time, but I'll be thirty-one soon with no perspectives. I know the reality around a single, gay man adopting as well.
My thoughts continue to swirl in my head as I strip down to my underwear and pull back the covers. I immediately pick up my phone and start scrolling through the different apps. I go between watching reels on the social apps to causally checking the dating app. I only have the one, a newer one that released this year called Manhole. It's similar to other apps, but I like it because it's only just gaining popularity which means not a lot of unsolicited dick pics occur. I've had a few hits over the last week, but I haven't made any solid plans with any of them.
After dozing off and needing to watch a video for the third time, I click my phone off and set it on the nightstand. I pick up the remote to the TV and click it on before rolling over onto my stomach and kicking my leg up to form a ninety degree angle with my knee and sigh heavily.
I hear my phone ping with an incoming notification, but I'm already barreling toward unconsciousness to lift my head or arm to check it.
Chapter Six
Itapmypencilagainst my cheek, reading over the words that I've written. I really don't like these written answer questions. The multiple choice ones I breezed through. Having to formulate my thoughts and then make them make sense is what trips me up. I'm aware that I'm one of the last that is still working, but I know I have ten more minutes to check and double check. I don't want to misread a question like last time.
A pair of shoes come into my peripheral view and I glance up to see Bennett standing in front of my desk. He isn't looking at me, but over the whole class. His hand taps on my desk twice before he walks away and repeats the same motion on another desk. I focus back on my paper, but a small yellow square catches my eye. It wasn't there a second ago. I keep my head down to the quiz, but reach with my pencil-yielding hand to pull it closer. I really need to start admitting to myself that I need reading glasses.
You're on the right track. Don't overthink it.
It's definitely Bennett's handwriting because I see it every class period on the board. I can feel a small smile tug at the corner of my mouth and I give myself one deep breath. I read my words one more time before I set my pencil down and decide it's good. Five minutes later, Bennett calls time and our quizzes are handed in.
"As with the last one, I'll have them graded by Monday and I will have my office hours open if anyone has any questions. Now, let's get right into the next chapter…"
The class goes by quickly. I jot down notes, feeling a bit more confident than I was when I walked in this morning. Three pages of notes later, I'm packing up my things to head back home. I'll never understand how people can get up and out of a classroom in under a minute. I don't remember being like that when I was in school. We had the policy that everyone stood up, thanked the teacher, and then packed up and left the room.
Old habits die hard, I guess.
"Any weekend plans?" Bennett asks when we're alone in the room once again. I realize that my thoughts distracted me enough I'm still sitting in my chair. I stand quickly and put my bag over one shoulder.
"Sorry, I don't know where my mind just went."
"Judging by the scrunched up expression you had, it was something to do with your classmates?" I can see the enjoyment on his face when my cheeks heat. He probably can't see it under the stubble I need to shave, but still.
"I was just pulling one of those 'back in my day' thoughts. It amazes me how they can clear a room in under a minute but complain when you ask us to move to form groups."
"Oh, that's simple. They want to leave the classroom, they don't want to do group work." Bennett leans against the front of his desk, assuming his usual stance with his ankles crossed and arms over his chest.
"I can't blame them. I hated doing group work when I was in school. I'd rather just get the job done on my own instead of relying on someone else."
"I think you might have some trust issues there, Nelson." Bennett says the words sarcastically, but he's not wrong. I shrug a shoulder, but smile.
"You call it trust issues, I call it confidence in myself."
Bennett laughs, tossing his head back. I stare at him for a moment while he isn't looking at me. He's attractive, that's for sure. It's clear he shaves and takes good care of his skin and hair. I would wager that he dyes his hair to get that brownish-red color, but I'm not a hundred percent sure. It's a good color on him. His outfit of choice today is a simple t-shirt with a suit jacket and a pair of dark jeans. Matching belt and shoes. Laid back, but still presentable.
