“Ah. Brevan told your coach in the same way he told you,” I muse.
“More or less,” Lane agrees.
Byndley and I take a seat in the waiting room to wait. Since Coach already worked his way into Brevan’s meeting, there's no need for me to go in with guns blazing. I’ll just be here when he’s released.
I’m not surprised this ends up being a long meeting. I’m not even upset about it. HR is doing their job, and I will absolutely recognize that. I will even praise them for not letting my position within the university cause them to look the other way.
We’re all on our feet as Dr. Boden’s door opens. Celia steps out first, and her eyes meet mine. I can see her wariness. Ready to defend. Coach comes out next and immediately takes us all in. I hold my breath as I wait for Brevan.
He’s looking a little worse for wear. His eyes are on the floor, but when he steps into the hall, he looks up. No doubt lookingfor his friends. He’s not expecting me, so his eyes get wide. His footsteps falter for a few steps, and then he’s walking toward us.
“Kendr—uh, Dr. Keller?” Brevan asks.
I offer him my hand, and he looks at it for a moment before placing his in mine, and I pull him close for a hug. He sighs. “I’m sorry,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to the side of his head. “I didn’t know they were going to bring you in while I was still talking with the Board of Trustees.”
Brevan pulls back and looks at me with alarm. “Are you fired?”
“No, sweetheart.” I brush my fingers through the hair that’s growing too long and getting in his eyes. “I’m not technically breaking any rules. There’s no reason to fire me.”
He sighs with relief. With his hand still in mine, I tug him gently toward me again, and he readily wraps himself around me. Everyone is silent as they watch and wait. Maybe waiting for me.
Celia has taken several steps closer. Coach stands beside his other two athletes with a smirk, hip jutted out and arms crossed over his bright pink crop hoodie.
I meet Celia’s eyes. “Thank you for doing exactly what you should be doing,” I say.
I’ve caught her off guard, but only momentarily. However, she relaxes as she holds my eyes. “I don’t believe anyone should be outside of being held accountable,” she says.
“I agree. Your dedication to keeping RDU safe for everyone is one of the reasons I’ve always been a big supporter of yours, Dr. Boden. Keep up the good work.”
She smiles and bows her head. That smile falls when she looks disapprovingly at Coach Lemon. “I believe you’ve broken at least eight rules, Mr. Frost.”
Coach shrugs one shoulder. “As it turns out, I don’t care. I’ll break whatever rules necessary to make sure my kids are treated with respectandunderstanding.”
“As Dr. Keller just stated, it’s my job to make sure everyone is held accountable for breaking the rules. That includes you,” she counters.
“I don’t change my statement,” Coach says. “I’ll take whatever discipline you’d like, however, I’d also like to propose disciplinary action against you for bringing Brevan in and not taking into account his understanding of the words you’re saying to him.” He presses his hand against Brevan’s back gently. “You’re looking out for his well-being in one instance while also disregarding it in the same breath. You should be protecting our students’ mental health just as much as their federally protected rights, Dr. Boden.”
“Mr. Frost?—”
“He very clearly didn’t understand what you were asking him,” Coach says with irritation. “It doesn’t take a psychologist to have figured that out while talking to him, considering you’d already listened to him answer you for fifteen minutes before I arrived. There are laws against this kind of thing, Dr. Boden. That’s why suspected criminals are entitled to lawyers whodounderstand the questions you’re throwing at them, however you want to phrase the question. The least you could have done is offer Brevan to have someone with him so he’d have the same assurance.”
Brevan is still in my arms. I can feel his heart racing as I hold him close, though I think he’s holding his breath. I glance at Byndley, and she flicks her eyes to our students present. They don’t need to be part of this.
“Okay,” I say, interrupting their argument. “Let’s revisit this tomorrow. Dr. Boden, continue doing your job just as you’ve always done. I’m proud of how you handled thissituation concerning the suspicions against me. Coach Lemon is also correct, though his approach could maybe use some improvement.”
“I asked nicely first,” Coach says, once more crossing his arms. “I will always fight for my students, Dr. Keller, to make sure they understand what’s happening around them,especiallywhen they’re the ones being spoken to. Frankly, I don’t care what kinds of rules I have to break to assure them they always have support on their side.”
Byndley smiles, though she covers her mouth with her hand to hide it.
“Understood. Again, let’s pick this up tomorrow. Byndley will be in touch once we get back to our office to schedule a meeting. Youbothdid the right thing, whether we’re talking legally correct or morally correct. We need to find a middle ground, but this isn’t a conversation to continue right now.”
“Very well,” Celia says. “Marny will await your call, Miss Horship. Have a good afternoon, everyone.”
I watch as she retreats down the hall. Brevan sighs into my neck. “Let’s go home, Brevan.”
CHAPTER 35
BREVAN
