Brody laughs and kicks a pinecone off the walking path and into the grass. “Ok, Miss Badass. I think you underestimate how difficult grading for a foreign language prof can be. I graded for Dr. Morales before he retired and working through student translations was exhausting. Don’t come to me for help mid-French translation because I can’t even count to ten.”
“You speak Spanish?” I ask, readjusting my messenger bag strap so it doesn’t cut into the side of my neck.
Brody shrugs his shoulders. “Kind of, yeah. I’m not fluent or anything but I can read it well. I’ve never been able to hear it, you know? So conversational Spanish is a no-go. As long as you can read French, I’m sure you can pull off grading for Belanger.”
I don’t want to lie and pretend like French is a challenge for me, but I also don’t want to embarrass Brody by brushing off his encouragement as if I’m somehow better than he was as a foreign languages grader. I settle for a middle ground.
“I should be good then,” I say and smile up at him. I elbow his arm playfully. “I’ll definitely vent to you if it turns out to beune prise de tête. Misery loves company and all.”
Brody chuckles as he shakes his head. “I have no idea what you just said, but I’m assuming it’s French.”
“I’d hope so, otherwise I’m grading for the wrong professor!”
We laugh and talk some more, eventually making it to the Languages and Literature building. Just as I’m about to pull open the door and bid farewell to Brody, he reaches around and opens it for me, ushering me in before closing it behind himself.Oh, so when he said he’d walk me he meant all the way to Dr. Belanger’s office.Just what I need — to show up with another man.
As we enter Pod A, I find Deborah kneeling in a supply closet behind her desk. I don’t want to startle her, but by the way she’s huffing and talking to herself I deduce she needs help findingsomething. I set my bag down with a thump to signal my presence before speaking.
“Do you need help finding something, Deborah?” I ask. She sits up suddenly, smacking the top of her head on the shelf above her. So much for not startling her.
I rush around her desk and squat next to her inside the closet, placing my hand on her arm while she rubs her head with the other. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry I caught you off guard. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Oh, Aurora. It’s so nice to see you again. I know I have a package of paper plates somewhere in this closet, but they seem to have sprouted feet and walked away.”
“Paper plates? Do you need them for a meeting or something? I can grab some from the store after my meeting if you need them today,” I offer. “And please, call me Alis.”
“Alis, yes. We should contact IT and have them change the name on your student email account so it’s easier to remember. And you are so sweet for offering, but I actually need them for your lunch meeting that starts in,” she looks down at the watch on her wrist, “four minutes.”
As I help Deborah back to her feet, I hear Brody’s voice just as he presses up against my back and reaches over my head to a higher shelf. “Found ‘em.”
He grabs the unopened package of paper plates and hands them to Deborah before the three of us exit the walk-in supply closet.
“Oh! Brody! So nice to see you.” Deborah beams at him affectionately. “How are you, dear? How’s Rebecca? I haven’t seen that girl since before summer break. She didn’t graduate, did she?”
Brody rubs the back of his neck, suddenly looking very uncomfortable. “It’s nice to see you, too. I’ve been good. And no, Rebecca won’t graduate for another year and a half. I actually haven’t spoken to her in a few months, but I assume she’s well.”
Deborah gives Brody a sympathetic smile and pats his arm. “I’m sorry to hear things didn’t work out.”
Before Brody can respond, Dexter walks out of his office and seesour trio talking in the waiting area. More specifically, he zeroes in on Brody standing to my right. He tightens his jaw before forcing a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
Walking toward us, Dexter extends his hand in greeting. “Brody, I didn’t expect to see you today.”
Brody accepts his hand and offers a warm smile. “Dr. Belanger, it’s great to see you, sir. I was just showing Alis around campus when I found out you commandeered my lunch date for a work meeting.”Seriously, Brody? Date? Why the heck would you say that?
I laugh, awkwardly, not sure what to say in response to Dexter’s penetrating gaze and quirked eyebrow.Even his frustrated face is hot.
Brody releases Dexter’s hand and turns to place a hand on the small of my back.We’re touching now. Why are we touching?Quirked eyebrow gone; I feel the full force of his glare.Still hot, though much more intimidating.
“I’ll see you later, yeah?” Brody slowly moves his hand, grazing his fingers a bit before completely backing away. He no doubt felt how my body tensed as soon as he made contact. I try to smile at him and nod, but I’m pretty sure I just look constipated.
“Um, yeah. See you later.” I grasp my messenger bag strap tightly, rotating my grip back and forth to channel the nervous energy into my hands instead of my words. Brody winks at me before saying goodbye to Deborah and heading out of the pod and back into the hallway.
I look up at Dexter, and he looks pissed. He has no reason to be. We aren’t dating — he’s one of my bosses for crying out loud. He’s a professor, and I’m a student. And if I decide to date anyone else it’s really none of his business. I thought I drew the line in the sand and he had decided to respect my boundaries. Based on the possessive, jealous look in his eyes, I was mistaken.
Awesome. This meeting should beloadsof fun.
SIXTEEN
Dexter
