Before he leaves, he bites his lower lip, fear clouding his eyes. “What about Al—Professor Hilman said?—”
I take his face in my hands, kissing him softly. Luca sighs against my mouth, a dreamy smile tipping up his lips. “I told you, I’ll have a word with him. I promise, it’ll be okay.”
He bites his lip one more time, then nods. “Okay. If it doesn’t help, we’ll figure something out.”
“It’ll be fine, Luca. Now go. I’ll see you in a few hours.” Luca gives me one more kiss and leaves my office.
Now, I just have to wait.
I busy myself with grading papers and writing lesson plans for next semester. Mindless work that will keep me busy for a while. I have to be careful, though. Don’t want to miss my opening.
While I’m fiddling around on my computer, Crista comes in, a soft sigh leaving her lips. She saw me on Friday when I was flipping out about Luca and tried to cheer me up. I’m sure I look marginally better than I did then.
“He okay?” she asks, sitting across from me in a chair instead of on my desk.
“Yeah,” I say shortly. I want to tell her that I was right about Hilman, that he’s a fucking creep and tried to take advantage of my Luca not once, but twice.
She looks at me, expecting more, but that’s all she’s getting. She’ll find out more when this is all over.
“Okay.” She drags the word out. “You look better at least.”
“Thanks.”
Crista searches my gaze for a few beats, then nods. After trying to get more conversation out of me, she takes her leave with nothing.
I wait another few minutes then exit my office, my bag in hand, my shoulders hanging morosely.
Just as I suspected, Hilman leaves his office a few seconds before I round the corner. When he sees me, his eyes flash in triumph before he fixes his face with a placid expression.
“Levine. Why the long face?” he asks as he pulls his bag onto his shoulder.
I stare at him, but not in anger. I search his gaze and ask. “This is going to sound weird and out of left field, but… can I trust you? What with your dealings with him and all…”
His eyebrows shoot up, but he quickly says, “Dealings with who?”
“Luca.”
He sidles closer to me, dropping his voice. “What happened? Did he do something?”
“Not here.” I look around, then point to the door leading up to the roof. “Ever been up there?”
“A time or two.”
“I don’t want what I say to be heard by anyone.” I run a shaky hand through my hair, then scrub it down my face. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do. Luca… he’s finally… he’ll ruin my career.”
“Hey, hey,” Hilman says, looking around to make sure we’re alone. “Let’s go on up. We might have something in common, you and me.”
It takes all my self-control not to fucking rock his shit right now, but if I do, I won’t get what I want and Luca will still be in trouble. If I keep my cool, all of this will be over in a few hours.
Guess it’s a good thing I’m a theater professor. Acting is second nature to me.
We head up the stairs to the top of the building, four stories high. I click off the alarm as I push open the emergency exit door then walk over to the very edge of the building.
Releasing a long sigh, I plant my fists on the ledge, my shoulders heaving as I pant.
“What’s going on, Levine?” Hilman asks, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. “It’s something about Luca?”
I look over at him, picking up his faux concern and fighting to keep my scoff to myself. How does no one see through this façade? How can he fool so many people when I clocked his fake bullshit years ago?
