“There’s a lot stuff happening around here, and I don’t like hanging out on campus any more than I have to,” Molly purses her lips and slumps in the chair. “Would you be open to… like, meeting me at my house for this? We don’t live that far from campus. It’s just beside the tree farm. I’ll make you coffee or something.”
Calvin immediately bristles. “Uh, I don’t think?—”
“I think that would be fine,” I cut him off, keeping my tone professional but firm. “I’m always happy to get off campus. The library is not great. This whole place feels gloomy.”
“Perfect,” Molly breathes out. “It is so bad here. I swear the lighting reminds me of a horror movie.”
I let out a genuine laugh. “I completely agree.”
Calvin shifts again, his shadow falling across my desk. “You’re sure you really feel it necessary to go into a student’s home?” he asks calmly, but the edge in his voice makes it clear it’s more of a challenge than a question.
“I’m more than happy to meet wherever Molly,” I gesture to his daughter, “Feels comfortable. If that’s in her own home, then that’s okay with me.”
“Dad,” Molly turns to him, her voice chiding. “I don’t want to meet on campus. It’s creepy, and you know that. You never want me here after hours. You’ve said it’s not safe with all the gang activity.”
Gang activity? In BFE, Colorado?
My mind spins, but Calvin doesn’t miss a beat, addressing Molly.
“Maybe it would be better to do it at your mom’s.”
Molly rolls her eyes. “No, it wouldn’t. Mark is there, and it’s too far from campus. That’s not being very thoughtful, Dad. It’s just an hour of her time. It’s not even like we’re paying for it. You said it was up to me to figure this out, anyway. You’re just moral support.”
Calvin gives her a look but doesn’t say anything else to her, turning to me instead. “I’d prefer that the sessions be as early in the day as possible.”
“It’ll be fine,” Molly waves him off as I open my mouth. “I can seriously make anything after four work, any day, if that works for you.”
I hold back my laugh. “I think four-thirty on any day will work for me.”
“Awesome. Can we start tomorrow?” Molly beams, oblivious to the tension lingering between her father and me.
“I can fit that in.”
“Thank you so much for being so helpful,” she immediately replies, her voice warm. “You have no idea how much I appreciate your honesty and willingness to help me with my future.”
“Of course,” I choke out, my hands starting to sweat from my lies—orsomething. “I think we can make some solid progress.”
Calvin studies me for a long moment, as Molly stands to her feet. He doesn’t even try to be subtle about the fact he’s glaring a hole through my face.
It’s like the first timeeversomeone acts like they can’t look away from me.
And naturally, it’s in the most brutal,intimidating way.
Finally, I clear my throat from pure nerves. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Molly.”
Calvin tilts his hat back slightly as he opens the door for his daughter, exposing the sharp line of his eyes. “I’ll see you then, too,Dr. Williams.”
I nod at the two of them as they exit, my chest feeling tight. I have no idea what the hell I’m getting myself into, but I sure as hell hope it leads to Cade.
Otherwise, I might just be playing with fire for nothing.
Chapter 9
Bradford
“I don’t thinkit went that bad,” Molly mutters, mostly to herself as we walk toward my truck. “Dr. Williams iswaynicer than I thought she’d be about the whole thing.”
I think she’s full of bullshit.
