I don’t know if you know what “elite” means
@pancakesareelite:
I know you don’t trust people, but trust me on this
@theanswerisno:
Okay. Fine. I’ll try it.
@theanswerisno:
Here we go.
@theanswerisno:
You’re right.
After my morning site meeting, I rushed back to my truck, ready to get to the office even though I wasn’t allowed to interfere with the final test.
I scrolled through my messages and found one from@pancakes areelite. A strange feeling burst in my chest when I opened it.
@pancakesareelite:
Hey Link, I have to do something big and scary today. Will you play with me tonight? (Play can be interpreted in whichever way you desire)
Elizabeth would never cease to amuse me. I replied in a way@theanswerisnowould:Of course. There are many ways to play with you, and I intend to do them all.
Heat crept up the back of my neck as if I hadn’t already spent all night with her in my arms.
I turned my truck on and started the journey home.
My phone pinged, and I grabbed it, eager to see if Elizabeth had replied, but the naughty thoughts I had quickly disappeared. It was my mother texting me that the professional cleaners would be at our old home tomorrow afternoon.
Somehow, amid all the chaos, I’d forgotten about the room that both haunted and comforted me, and I still didn’t want to face it.
I had little choice but to pack up my father’s office tonight, but I wanted to spend tonight with Elizabeth. I’d promised her.
Technically, I could do it now. I wasn’t needed or allowed to be involved in the final test, and Elizabeth wasn’t likely to leave the boardroom before the end of the day.
My phone rang, and I answered on instinct. Professor Hahn’s voice connected to my radio. “Lincoln, you answered!”
“It was accidental.”
She laughed. “Listen, I have a meeting at SDSU. Are you intown? We could grab a cup of coffee. There’s an opportunity I want to tell you about that I believe you’ll be perfect for.”
“Is there another conference coming up that I don’t know about?” I said.
“No. But I’ll be at SDSU for the next few hours, and I’d really like to talk to you. If you can’t make it today, we can arrange a video call for whenever you’re free, but it has to be as soon as possible.”
My curiosity piqued. “Why?”
“Well, how will I lure you into an in-person meeting if I give away all my secrets?”
“Fine. I’m on my way.”
Maybe it was because I wanted to know what secrets she held… or maybe it was because I would choose to go anywhere instead of to my father’s office. I would do anything instead of unplug and pack up our unfinished game.
I pulled up at my first university and hopped out of my truck. While my postgraduate research at UCLA had given me the world’s best supervisor, it was SDSU that gave me the opportunity to study engineering. It also gave me Rose and Neema, which led to Shaun and William too.
