“Okay.” Audrey made a note. “We can switch to paper straws ... which also helps save sea turtles.”
“I like it, and who doesn’t want to feel like they’re saving sea turtles?”
“Exactly.” Audrey beamed at her, and Michelle’s heart gave a happy thump. “We can also install more water fountains around campus, the kind designed to fill water bottles, and before you mention the cost ... we can start by selling NU-branded reusable bottles to help fund it. Encourage students and faculty to refill their water bottles rather than buying single-use plastic bottles.”
“Now you’re talking. Run the numbers before the meeting so you can show them how many reusable bottles we need to sell to fund the water fountains and how quickly we could expect to break even or even save money with reduced plastic usage.”
“Give them numbers.” Audrey jotted more notes on her phone. “Got it.”
Michelle’s gaze snagged on Audrey’s turquoise ring as it caught the light. She’d been extremely careful not to think about that ring again in any capacity, but over the past few weeks, she could no longer deny—to herself at least—what she was feeling. This never-ending pull to be near Audrey, to hear her laugh, to see the way her eyes lit up when she spoke about art ...
Michelle wasn’t naive. She was forty-five years old, for god’s sake. She knew attraction when she felt it, but she couldn’t lust after her former student. She just couldn’t. Honestly, it had been so long since she’d felt anything for anyone. Her marriage had been dead romantically for years. She’d actually been excited about the possibility of feeling butterflies for someone new, but it couldn’t be Audrey.
Audrey still looked up to her as a mentor, and Michelle would never take advantage of that. She had endured more than her fair share of unwanted advances from older male colleagues when she was Audrey’s age. She remembered exactly how frightened, howpowerlessshe’d felt when a male professor had rubbed up against her ass or invited her back to his place for “a little fun.” Once, a colleague had even suggested she might receive tenure sooner if she was a little friendlier with the men in the department.
If she ever acted on her attraction to Audrey, she’d be no better than the men who had harassed her. Besides, Michelle wasn’t even looking for a new relationship. She had no desire to date. These days, she was built for solitude. She’d become quite familiar with her vibrator over the past few weeks now that her libido had finally returned, but she’d been very careful not to fantasize about Audrey.
On the contrary, she was enjoying her own company more than ever, and she’d become obsessed with her new writing project. Michelle had spent countless hours this month poring over her research and writing more than she ever had in her life.
Maybe she couldn’t truly call herself happy. Michelle wasn’t a happy person. She accepted and even appreciated that about herself, but she was so much more fulfilled than she had been even a month ago. And if drinking tea with Audrey was one of the highlights of her day, where was the harm in that?
“Earth to Michelle.”
“Hmm?” She blinked, realizing she’d completely zoned out of their conversation.
“Lost you there for a minute.” Audrey was smiling, head cocked to the side with a curious expression, as if she hoped Michelle would share where her thoughts had taken her.
No chance of that happening. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” Audrey leaned back in her seat. “There’s a reason people in other parts of the world nap in the afternoon, right? Plus, it’s kind of warm in here today.”
It was, now that Audrey mentioned it. Maybe that could explain Michelle’s flushed cheeks. She preferred to blame the unseasonably warm day and un-air-conditioned building rather than acknowledge the way her heart raced every time Audrey looked at her.
“Any other ideas for the meeting?” Audrey asked.
“I like what we’ve got so far, and remember, we should consider it a win if they agree to consider even one of our ideas.” Michelle lifted her eyebrows for emphasis.
“Keep my expectations low,” Audrey said with a wry smile. “Okay.”
“Leave room for them to surprise you, or else you’ll be continually disappointed.”
“Solid advice. Hey, next time we do this, let’s sit outside. There are some nice benches and picnic tables around campus. Fall in Vermont is so gorgeous. We should be soaking it up.”
Michelle shrugged. “If you really want to experience fall in Vermont, don’t do it on this campus.”
“But the campus is gorgeous! Just look.” She gestured toward Michelle’s window. Outside, the trees dotting the quad had turned bright red, and more foliage was visible on the hills in the distance. Yes, the campus was picturesque ... but there were so many people. So many buildings. It didn’t hold a candle to the view from her back porch.
“If you really want to enjoy the foliage, go for a drive through the Green Mountains. Or better yet, a hike.”
Audrey gave her an eager look. “Any recommendations? I went hiking a lot with my friends when I was a student here, but it’s been so long, I don’t remember any specifics.”
Michelle really should have seen that coming, but she couldn’t spend time with Audrey outside work, not without blurring important boundaries. Besides, Michelle did most of her hiking on her own property. Her house sat on forty acres of land, so she had everything she needed right at home. “Any of the local hiking trails will be beautiful this time of year. Take your pick. Speaking of fall activities, though, the campus Pride Coalition is looking for volunteers to help plan their annual Halloween party.”
“Ooh, that sounds fun!” Audrey gave her another of those annoyingly irresistible smiles. “Are you volunteering?”
Michelle nodded. “I am, but we’re looking for one more faculty member, if possible.”
“In that case, count me in.”
