“Same building? That’s convenient. I guess it makes sense to keep all the languages together.”
Dr. Matthews nods her head. “Especially when you have crossover professors.” Amelia says something from her desk, and Dr. Matthews turns back toward the door. “Feel free to leave your things here. We’ll come back up afterward so you can grab your employment packet and such.”
I stand and follow her out of the office. Her heels don’t make thathigh-pitchedclickas she walks — a sure sign of expensive footwear — and standing next to her I hope I don’t look like a child. She’s 5’10” of sexy, professional boss lady, and here I am, 5’5” on a good day, with my Peter Pan collared blouse and, in case you forgot,yellowshoes. I thought I looked sophisticated when I left the apartment this morning, but now I feel more like Ms. Frizzle.
Hold on, let me overthink this. The blouse is fine, but I should have worn a pencil skirt and heels. At least then I’d look more sexy librarian than nerd. Eh, but then it’d set a precedent that I consider myself somewhere in the same league as Dr. Matthews — the boss lady major league.Pfft. Yeah right.It’s better that I showed up looking like myself. Professional, cute, and quirky.Take a deep breath, Alis.
I run my hands down the front of my blouse and skirt, smoothing any wrinkles that developed while sitting. Everything seems nice and smooth, so I stop fretting over my outfit and walk next to Dr. Matthews down the hall, down the stairs, and then to Pod A: Languages on the first floor.
“Deborah, it’s so nice to see you.” Dr. Matthews smiles at the faculty secretary, who looks a heck of a lot more frazzled than the calm and sweet Amelia.
“Hi, Dr. Matthews. Dr. Belanger just got off a call so you should be good to head in.”
“Thanks.” She motions for me to follow her and heads toward the last office on the right, which has “D. Belanger, French” carved into the nameplate on the wall next to the door.
She knocks and pokes her head in, checking to make sure he’s ready for visitors. I stand behind her a few feet, waiting to be welcomed in. The professors greet each other and then Dr. Matthews pushes the door the rest of the way open and tilts her head inside. I walk in behind her.
“Dr. Belanger, this is Aurora Gilmore, my new TA who will be grading for your classes this year.”
I step out from behind Dr. Matthews as a tall man wearing tailored trousers and a button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeveswalks around his desk. His long hair hides his face as he cleans his glasses with a cloth and puts them back on.
“I apologize for the clutter. Hi, Aurora —” Dr. Belanger looks up and we make eye contact. He freezes. My eyes go wide.
No, no, noooooo freaking way. No way is this happening.
Dr. Belanger and I have met once before.
Last Friday night, to be exact.
At a club.
Sitting at the bar.
Where we exchanged phone numbers and kissed and he made me all tingly in my lady bits.
Up until this point, however, I only knew him as Sexy Dexy.
SIX
Alis
My inner monologueis getting a kick out of this.Plot twist!If I could punch my inner self in the face, I would. This isnothappening.
He coughs and continues his introduction. “Hi, I’m Dexter Belanger.” He extends his hand and I take it, lady bits reigniting when we touch.Cool it, vag. Now is not the time.
I plaster my most professional smile onto my face. “Hi, Dr. Belanger. Please, call me Alis.”
“Right. Alis.” He nods and releases my hand, his eyes full of confusion. “Is that a middle name?”
I swallow and shake my head. “No, not a middle name. Alis is the nickname my grandmother gave me as a child. It stuck. Aurora is a mouthful and growing up in the age ofGilmore Girls, I wasn’t about to let people call me Rory.”
Dr. Matthews laughs at this revelation. “How did I miss that?! Rory Gilmore. I love that show! Watched it religiously in college.”
Dexter looks between us, completely lost. “Never seen it,” he interjects.
Dr. Matthews smirks at him, playfully. “Well, considering youweren’t a high school or college-aged girl when it aired, I wouldn’t think so.” Dexter just nods.
Not skipping a beat, Dexter diverts from TV talk and gets straight to business. “Dr. Matthews, thank you so much for bringing Alis down to meet me. Would it be alright for me to sit down with her for a bit? I’d like to walk her through my syllabi and better prepare her for the semester.”Nope, nope, nope. Don’t leave me here alone. Please, don’t leave me here.
