“I have an idea on how I want to get him back for what he did tonight.” He turns to me with a smile. “Trust me?”
38
DANE
The wait for Tuesday morning to arrive was excruciating.
I deserve an Olympic gold medal for the restraint I showed not using his number that’s burning a hole in my phone. Seriously, going the entire weekend without texting him with a snarky remark is next level maturity that even I’m shocked by.
Not to say I didn’t attempt to, more times than I’d like to admit.
The text messages went something like:
Me: Can I get a side of semen with my mashed potatoes please?
Delete
Me: Is that a pepper grinder or are you justhappy to see me?
Delete
Me: Mmmm. Sweet and salty.
Delete
Me: You kinda left me hanging….
Delete
Me: Can I take you out properly? Both of you. I swear I’ll behave.
Delete
My desperation over the course of the weekend shifted from wanting to continue to push his buttons to just wanting to hear from him. I half expected to get a call or message from Hannah because she’s always been that middle ground for us, but it’s been crickets.
“Hey, Professor Campbell,” Jodi calls out from behind me. Her heels clack against the tiled flooring in a rush to catch up. “How was your weekend?”
“It was good. How about yours?” I reply with a monotone expression. I’ve learned to minimize my excitement and refrain from engaging too much with the students, especially ones like Jodi who are clearly interested.
“Kind of boring. Maybe you could take me out, show me a good time?” She looks up with an innocent expression I know all too well.
“I’m sure you have plenty of friends that can do that.” I pick up my pace to my classroom door.
I wrap my hand around the cool brass handle and hold my arm open to allow her to pass through. “Ladies first.” She wears her pout as thick as she wears her makeup but manages a fake smile as she passes by.
I follow her through the doorway and my eyes quickly scan the room. There are only a few students—the punctual ones—already here.
I peek over to where Ethan and Hannah usually sit and I’m shocked to find their chairs empty. It’s uncommon for the students to sit somewhere else but it’s always a possibility. I glance around the room and still nothing.
They are always early. Hannah is the best student in the class and there hasn’t been a day where she’s been late, other than that first day when she had to go to the office before class.
The same unsettling feeling of being left alone in that hotel room wafts over me and I hate the deja vu it brings.
He wouldn’t have dropped the class, right? Even if he did there’s no way he would have convinced Hannah to drop.
I second guess my thoughts. Disappointment blankets me as the students begin to pile in and I glance at the clock.
So, it’s official. They’re absent.
