“Oh, yeah,” he said, turning around. “I remember reading about that. A big deal, I guess?”
“Yeah. It affects every system on campus.”
“Right, right. I have to do something different for online grading next semester or…something. I have the email on it.”
“Yes. So, I’m here through the whole break.”
“Not going home at all?” he asked. He’d finished packing his bag, grabbed his coat and came to stand in front of me.
I stood up and reached for my coat. He took it from my hands and held it open for me. The gesture was so foreign to me that it took me a second to realize he was helping me. If that had happened in my neighborhood, the guy would have taken off running, my coat in hand, and me chasing after him.
I slid into the coat, wishing his hands would linger on my shoulders or some such mushy crap, but he stepped away as soon as the garment was on.
“No. No plans to go home. The pay for doing the testing over the holidays is too good to pass up.” I turned to face him. I could see on his face he knew the other reason I wouldn’t be going home for break.
That I never wanted to go home again. Yeah, he’d definitely read between the lines.
Damn, why’d I have to be so forthcoming in my papers? But, just asGangster’s Follyhad for Montrose, the assignments for his class had all seemed to pour out of me.
Maybe I should have edited a bit more, though.
“Well, if you want to get started with my project over the break, you’re welcome to. I’ll be different places over the break. I’m going to New York for a few days, to a wedding, then skiing.”
“Yes, I’d like to start working on it. But, you know, you don’t have to be around for it.”
He nodded. “And self-sufficient. I knew you were the right choice, Ms. O’Brien. Why don’t you stop by my office tomorrow? I’ll be there all day. I’ll get you a key and show you the first boxes and get you started.”
“Great,” I said, unable to tamp down the smile of excitement that burst forth.
He seemed a little startled, almost took a step back. “I’m really excited about this. Like you said, a great big jigsaw puzzle.” I hoped that took anything off my smile that might have unnerved him.No sir, it has nothing to do with the fact that I’ll get to work so closely with you for five whole months!
He stepped aside and motioned for me to lead the way out the door, which I did.
I started to turn right, and he left, and we both stopped. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” he asked.
“Yes. It’ll probably be around eleven. I have one last final that should be done around then.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He started to turn away, then stopped and looked at me again with a question in his eyes.
“What?” I asked.
“Now that I’m no longer your instructor, do you mind if I drop the Ms. O’Brien thing?”
“No. God, no. Not at all.”
He chuckled. Man, he looked so…edible when he smiled.
“Great. See you tomorrow, Syd.” My name sounded good coming from that mouth.
“Okay…”
“Billy,” he said, with a pointed look.
“Okay, Billy,” I said.
Yeah, my name from his mouth was good. But saying his name, to him? Even better.
Chapter3
