Chapter Eight
To help pass the timeon the weekends, Reagan had been attending Luna’s soccer games. If there wasn't a game, the two women would hang around with Davis, typically at his apartment. It was ideal for Reagan, who still detested her roommate. Lydia was the worst person Reagan could remember meeting, and Luna absolutely agreed after the first time she met her. All Luna had done was walk in the door and Lydia had bitched about Reagan bringing friends back to their dorm when there was no room. Regardless of the fact that Reagan had never brought anybody over before and Lydia had, the bitching commenced for the entire time. Reagan changed her clothes and used the bathroom, and when she came back into the room Lydia was grilling Luna about what year she was and how many times she was expecting to be there. Finally, Luna informed Lydia that she was an RA and would be happy to speak to the one in their hall to mention what a peach Lydia was. Lydia narrowed her eyes but stopped talking, and Reagan and Luna escaped as quickly as they could.
Davis had a two-bedroom apartment a few blocks from the admissions office on campus, which meant it wasn't very far from Reagan's dorm. More and more, she found herself at his place, even when Luna wasn't around. It was still the same easy and friendly relationship they’d first cultivated, but Reagan felt that she was coming to understand Davis better, especially his love for Luna.
“It doesn't matter what I say to try and convince her, she won’t listen.”
“Davis.” Reagan shifted in her seat so that she was looking in his eyes. He was sitting in the chair across from the couch she was sitting on. “She loves you, I promise. There can't be any doubt about that anymore. Seriously. But you and she move in different stratospheres, and it scares her. Surely, she’s explained this to you.”
“She has.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I don't think that’s a reason not to give us a chance, that's all.”
“Look at it this way. What do you consider the worst situation you could find yourself in?”
He laughed. “Being naked in public, I guess. I don't know, why?”
“Imagine that dating Luna is being naked in public every single time you walk out the door. How would you deal with that?”
“I’d stay at arm’s length.” It was said with a sense of understanding and resignation. No matter how many times Luna had attempted to explain it, she would inevitably get emotional and it wouldn't come across in a way that made any sense to Davis. The way Reagan explained it summed it up perfectly.
“So, you see now? She wants to, but it’s hard. She’s focused on studying, and keeping her scholarship, and being an RA. She doesn't have the extra emotional space to worry about a true relationship with you. I don't know for sure, but maybe once you both graduate she'll have less on her plate.”
“Maybe.” Davis felt depressed at having to wait that long. “What about you? Why aren't you dating anyone? I've seen the looks some of the guys around here give you and it’s obvious they find you hot.”
Reagan sighed. It appeared that the tables had turned in her direction whether she liked it or not. “There was one guy, but it’s a really bad idea.”
“What about it is a bad idea?”
Reagan closed her eyes. She wanted to tell someone, wanted the weight off her shoulders for a change. “I didn't know it at the time that we . . . hooked up, but he’s a professor here.”
“Oh. That’s not great, is it?” Davis frowned for a second but he wasn't terribly worried over it. He didn't think the guy was chasing Reagan down or stalking her or anything.
“No. Um, he’s my lit comp professor.”
His brows went up. “So the two of you can't even give it a try.”
“No, and I know he doesn't want to, anyway. He told me to get out the last time I saw him.” She didn't add that it was in his office and not that long ago.
“Damn.” Davis got up and disappeared into the kitchen for a minute. Reagan cocked her head as she heard a drawer open and close and something rattling.
He came back with two pints of ice cream and handed one over with a spoon. Reagan wanted to laugh but didn't quite have it in her. “Thanks.”
“If we’re going to talk boys we might as well have ice cream to go with it.”
“If he were a boy it would be so much easier. He’s forbidden from me.”
“When you put it like that it sounds much juicier. What are you going to do?”
Reagan took the top off of her pint and dug in, swallowing the creamy chocolate ice cream and trying not to cry. “I don’t have a clue. I see him all the time and I want to go to him. Even though he was a dick the last time we were together, I think I understand his point. He would be fired if we were caught.”
Davis opened his own pint of ice cream. “But that makes it all the more tantalizing.”
“For you, maybe.”
“Okay,” he said around a mouthful before he swallowed. “So you wait the year. Or wait, do you have him next term?”
“Yeah, I'm pretty sure I will. I already requested a transfer, but he’s got the only advanced class. I’ll be in it again next semester, so we have the remainder of the school year before we could even consider dating. I don't honestly know if he wants to, though. I think it’s only sex for him.”
“Well, Ray, have you seen yourself?” He indicated hourglass curves.
