“Because of the accident?” he asked, expression serious.
“Yes,” I said. “I’ve been too afraid to put him in a car. He’s young, but that kind of trauma…” I swallowed. “He deserves to be healthy. Happy.”
“Hey.” He stopped walking and faced me, ignoring the students sending us covert glances. “Look at me, Libby.”
I sucked in a breath and met his gaze. “You’re brave. Each time you get in a car, you must relive one of the worst experiences of your life.”
My throat closed, but not from the fear I normally felt. This was emotion. He leaned in, almost as if he wanted to comfort me. Instead, he studied my face.
“Ready for your last class before the break?”
“Yes, sure, but I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself once the semester ends.”
“Why’s that?” he asked.
“Because I’ll have six glorious weeks in my apartment with my baby before I need to pack up and move.” Where, I still wasn’t sure, but I didn’t want to stay in this part of the country. Now that I was so close to finishing my degree, I wanted to move away from the memories of loss. Plus, I wanted more seasons. I’d put on a coat, but I could have gotten by with just a sweater. Dr. Finch wore a sports coat over his dress shirt and was plenty warm enough.
Definitely seasons—withactualsnow.
Jamies—Dr. Finchpushed open the door to the building for me, and I scooted past him.
“You don’t have plans for the holiday?” he asked.
“With a five-month-old?” I shook my head. “Hudson and I are going low-key for his first holiday. Lots of drinking milk and chilling in our jammies.”
Whatever he planned to say dissipated when Sneer Girl shrieked his name. With fascination, I watched his expression slide into neutrality. Huh. Who knew so much was going on behind his stoic mask?
He shot me an apologetic look as he pushed into the lecture hall.
CHAPTER4
Jamieson
So much forenjoying a few stolen moments with my shy doe. Though I doubted Libby Dagon was actually as quiet as or spooked as easily as a deer. She shot Aspen Omerich a look filled with fire before she took her normal seat. I settled Hudson’s carrier next to my podium as I waited for Ms. Omerich to ask her question.
“Oh, he’s so cute,” Ms. Omerich gushed. “I can see why you like him coming to class. Who wouldn’t want baby snuggles?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I turned away, deliberately using my body to block Ms. Omerich’s attempts to touch Hudson. If she thought she could use Libby’s baby to get in my good graces, she was gravely mistaken.
But then there was much this particular young woman wouldn’t grasp—not least of which was the coursework. I still didn’t understandwhyshe was in my course. Well, I did. Ms. Omerich wasn’t in my class for learning; she was there in hopes of scoring something besides a good grade, which she’d told me the second time she’d propositioned me during my office hours.
“I was wondering if you’d have time after class for some extra…tutoring,” she asked, biting her lip.
“As you know, I have office hours for questions,” I said, “but they’re all full, so, unfortunately, you’ll have to make do with Peter or the Internet.”
She pouted as she leaned closer. “Your TA isn’t as good at explaining the material as you are.”
I bit back my remark about her current fling with Peter and the fact that I was, ultimately, the one who graded her assignments, not my teacher’s assistant.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d take your seat so that others can learn.”
She missed the dig about her abilities, and I sighed, all too thankfully, when she settled into her seat. Never before had I been so glad to know the end of a semester loomed near. I hadn’t fit in at this institution, and I longed to go back home. Escher had considered this trip an adventure, and it was. But this detour to the South made me crave Pennsylvania’s crisp fall air.
Soon, we’d return.
I picked up Hudson, who snuggled into my chest, his tiny, pudgy cheek pressed into the lapel of my sports coat. I smiled, enjoying his slight weight and puffs of breath.
I turned toward the lecture hall, all business.
