Before I can respond, the barista asks, “What can I get you today?”
Without even glancing at the menu, Leo orders for us. “One small black coffee with room for cream and a large white mocha with extra syrup.” He slaps me on the back and says, “He’s paying.”Of course, I am.
After paying I venture to the other side of the bar to wait for our order. Before Leo can continue his questioning about Alis, I divert his attention with questions about how his classes are going. He’s mid-complaint about some aloof freshman when the barista sets my coffee and his sugar-coma-in-a-cup on the pickup counter. I don’t know how he drinks that shit. It’s straight sugarbeforeadding extra syrup. The day he is diagnosed diabetic, I’ll remind him it was his own doing.
I’m glad he’s talking about his new students so I can just listen and sip my coffee as we walk to the auditorium where I teach my one undergrad course. The class is a Wednesday block, so this is my first time meeting the students. Based on Leo’s never-ending list of annoying behaviors from the freshmen in his college algebra class, I’m in for a treat.
We stop at the entrance to the building and I pat Leo’s shoulder before walking inside. “Thanks for the heads up, man. I get to spend the next three hours with those same freshmen.”
Leo calls from behind me, “At least you get it over and done with! I spend three days a week with them!”
I laugh to myself and walk into the auditorium, fortifying myself before facing the eighty students in this class.
SEVENTEEN
Alis
The next sixweeks fly by without incident, thank God. Dexter keeps our weekly meetings professional, but friendly, which makes me more drawn to him as time passes. I’m honestly surprised that he hasn’t asked me out or made any suggestive comments, nor has he shown any more jealousy toward Brody whenever he sees us together. Brody and I are just friends, but I neither confirm nor deny our lack of romantic connection to Dexter.
I’m careful not to let any conversations venture into my personal life because I know that will lead to knowing more personal information about him, which will in turn make me want him even more. I’m already using every ounce of self-control not to let my ever-growing feelings show.
That control tends to slip late at night when I’m alone in bed. Especially on weekly professor-grader meeting days. Spending time in his presence lights a fire in my core, and by the end of the day, I’m literally aching for relief between my legs. I swear, my vibrator has gotten more use in the last few months than it had the previous however many years.
I may not be an overtly sexual person by nature, but even I haveto get myself off every once in a while. (Read: daily.) I don’t know if some switch flips when a woman hits thirty or if it’s Dexter’s proximity, but my libido has become hyperactive since moving to Grand River.
I’m walking out of one of the campus coffee shops, heading to my Wednesday morning class, when my phone rings. I fish it out of my messenger bag and see a local number I don’t recognize. I keep forgetting to program Sunny’s school into my contacts, so I answer the call just in case it’s about her.
“Hello? This is Alis.”
“Hi, Miss Gilmore. This is Ms. Johnson from Peakside Elementary School.”
Good thing I answered.“Hi, Ms. Johnson, is everything alright with Sunny?”
“We’ve had a stomach virus spreading among our students and Sunny is showing symptoms. We’ll need you to come get her.”
Of course.I have to teach after this class. I can’t remember Skye’s schedule today, but maybe she’ll be okay to call out? It’s easier for her to miss a day of work than it is for me to get my class covered on such short notice. Not that her job isn’t important.
“Yes, I can do that. Will you please let her know that either myself or my roommate will be there to pick her up as soon as possible?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll let her know. I’m assuming your roommate is on Sunny’s approved check-out roster?”
“Yes. Her name is Skye Kennedy. She’s listed as an emergency contact.”
“Sounds good. We’ll see you soon.”
“Thank you, goodbye.”
As soon as I disconnect the call, I scroll to my favorites and call Skye.Please pick up. Please oh please oh please pick up.
“Sup, honey pot?” Honey pot? That’s a new one.
“Hey, are you busy right now?”
“If kicking ass and taking names barista-style is busy, then, yes. Why? What’s up?”
Thank God she answered even though she’s working. “Sunny’s school just called and said she caught some stomach virus that’s been going around. Someone needs to pick her up and take her home. I wouldn’t typically ask you to ditch work to retrieve her, but I’m teaching in a little more than an hour and I don’t even know where to begin to find a replacement. I haven’t met any of the other TAs in my department, and Dr. Matthews teaches another class at this time, so I can’t ask her.”
Skye pops her gum in my ear. “No problem. I’ll head out now. Is she puking? Do I need to bring a bag or something so she doesn’t puke all over my car on the drive home?”
