I suppose if this is one thing they agree on, it must be true. “Okay,” I whisper.
“Let’s talk about consent,” Dr. Boden says.
Coach shifts to look at me. “Did Dr. Keller bribe, trick, coerce, promise, or otherwise entice you into a sexual situation or relationship?”
“Coach,” Dr. Boden says sternly.
“Of course not,” I say, ignoring her as Coach does. My gut twists, and I can taste bile in my mouth. “I’m with Kendrick because we make each other happy. That’s the only reason anyone should be with a partner.” I look at Dr. Boden. “Kendrick is a good man. He’s done everything for this school.Everything.It’s really rotten that you’re making him out to be a bad guy!”
Coach smirks at Dr. Boden, but it seems the conversation isn’t finished.
CHAPTER 34
KENDRICK
My meeting with the Board of Trustees went smoother than I thought it might when I learned what it was about. They were surprisingly very understanding and sympathetic about my family and recent divorce.
What wasn’t surprising was that Dr. Matthews was ready to send me packing based on his interpretation of policies and unspoken rules. Unfortunately for him, the rest of the Board seem to be fans of mine. They’ve always been largely supportive of everything I’ve wanted to do.
I don’t think it’s personal with Dr. Matthews. He’s always come across as black and white. There’s no middle ground. Absolutely no grayscale. In his mind, workplace romances are in bad taste and against policy, written or not.
That’s not the way company policies work, though. They’re not up for interpretation depending on who’s reading them. In the end, and in a different series of words, I have the Board’s blessing to continue to see Brevan while he’s still a student on campus.
I wasn’t giving them a choice. They could accept my relationship, or they could find a new provost. As far as I’mconcerned, I’ve personally sacrificed far more for this job than most people would even consider an option.
It’s been fifteen minutes since the end of the call and five since Byndley left my office. I’ve been rubbing my eyes, wondering what to do next. I’d love to call Brevan and tell him about my divorce. I need to tell him about this call with the Board, too. I can’t do that over the phone, though.
A knock on my door makes me look up. It opens without prompting, which is unusual, even for Byndley, who sticks her head in. Even before she speaks, I can tell something is wrong.
“There’s a student here. He insists on talking to you. He says it’s urgent and about Brevan. Not an emergency but urgent.”
My heart drops. Fuck.
Maybe my first thought should be a concern for his safety. But given the events of the past hour, I don’t think that’s the case at all.
I get to my feet and follow her to the waiting room, where Morlan looks incredibly harassed. There’s a student standing at the end of the hall waiting for me. I don’t recognize the student at all.
“Hello,” I greet, offering him my hand.
He looks at me shrewdly before taking it. “I’m Horace Beech, Brevan’s friend. He’s been called into HR…” Horace’s eyes flicker to Byndley and then behind him to Morlan. “I think you understand that Brevan’s ability to read people is lacking a little and we’re afraid that the current, uh, situation has been leaked, and he’s not going to do well when being questioned by HR with a whole bunch of questions he doesn’t understand the root of.”
Fuck.
“Thank you, Horace. Morlan, I’ll be back in a bit. Cancel, reschedule, do whatever you need to until I get back.”
“Yes, sir,” he answers. I can hear the confusion in his voice.
“Byndley—” I meet her eye and do something that I’ve absolutely never done before. “Come with me?”
She smiles and inclines her head. “Of course.”
I’m not sure why I feel like I need support right now. It’s more than just the fact that she supports me and that she’s a witness to the fact that the Board ‘approved’ our relationship. She’s my friend. Perhaps my only friend. Her presence is comforting.
Horace follows us into the elevator. He glances up at the camera before speaking. “Our friends Lane and Wulfe are there, but they’re in the waiting room. We sent Coach Lemon in since your guy at the desk refused to relay you a message. That’s why I came in person. No offense, Dr. Keller, but you should be more available to the student body.”
Byndley turns her attention to the buttons to hide her smile. “You’re correct,” I say. “I’ll make sure that happens.”
He nods as the door opens. Once we step outside, I ask, “Did Brevan tell you about… us?”
