His jaw tightens with the narrowing of his eyes. "Who?"
"Dana, Brenda, Tammy."
He mutters something under his breath that I don't catch, which is probably for the best. I doubt it's nice.
"How was your day?" I ask.
He laughs, but the sound is bitter. "Got pulled aside by the athletics director. He reminded me that mypersonal choices reflect on the program. Asked if there was anything I needed todisclose."
"What did you say?"
"That my personal life is personal."
A beat of silence.
"They're saying we had sex in the library," I say.
He closes his eyes, exhales. "I heard."
Tears threaten again. "But we didn't. We didn't do anything wrong, but they…they--"
He cups my face. "Hey. I know. You know. That's what matters."
I want to climb into his lap, and he wants to pull me there, but we don't move. School has let out. There are kids and teachers everywhere. We feel every set of eyes.
"It'll die down," he promises again. "Something will happen and they'll move on."
"Will it? Will they?"
"This is how it works. They talk until they find something new to talk about."
I nod, wanting to believe him.
"Let's not worry until we have to."
I take a breath, then say quietly, "We have to worry a little bit."
He knows what I mean--the meeting. When he stands, he offers me a hand.
"You and me."
I take it, stand. Steady myself.
"You and me."
CHAPTER 41
TALL TALES
GREY
Good thing we're united against the world, because the world is all freaking over us.
Didn't make it two hours into Monday before the bullshit hit the fan.
The rumor reached me through Shelby, which was a small mercy. I could lose my shit with somebody I trusted.
The unmitigated fucking audacity. I endured the day worried about Molly, imagining what people might say to her, how they might treat her. Nobody said anything to me but the athletic director. I think everybody else was afraid they'd get decked. I'd never, not my colleagues, not at work. But I'm just fine with them being scared I would.
