I can’t control everything life throws at me, but I can handle each hurdle to the best of my ability. Especially when I have a secret softie of a boyfriend whose first response to detecting something amiss in my life was to find me and all but smother me in comfort.
I pull back from the kiss to rest my head against his. “I’m better now,” I tell him honestly.
His fingers toy with my hair. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Someone did steal my work. But I’m not sure, even with the evidence, whether or not my professor will choose to believe me. I might be expelled this time next week.”
Isaac’s inhale is rough. “Could they really expel you on a hunch?”
I shrug. “I’m sure they could if someone wanted it done. But considering this is my first offense…” I chuckle when Isaac makes a disagreeable sound. “My firstallegedoffense, I would hope they’d show some leniency. But losing my credit in that course would be a given.”
Isaac is quiet for a moment, thinking that over. “But you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“The world doesn’t always operate on fairness. People often see what they want to. They form opinions based on their own experiences. Compassion is a choice. Not a given.”
“A poet and a philosopher,” Isaac mumbles.
I chuckle. “It’ll be all right, one way or another. Either I’ll be cleared of wrongdoing or I’ll be starting my business a little earlier than intended.”
“You’re too calm about this,” he says, voice sullen.
“Would you rather I shout and beat my chest?”
“No. But it would make me feel better if you, I don’t know, spouted off a bit like most people would do in your situation.”
Lips twisting, I reply evenly, “What woe has befallen me this dreary day? How shall I persist, knowing my good nature is under scrutiny by foul beings beyond my reproach? Hear now my decree. If found not innocent, a curse I will put upon all wretched souls who aim to place me in shackles not earned or fitting. Silent in my defense, I will not be.”
Isaac is shaking with laughter by the end of my short speech. “Have you been reading your new Shakespeare?”
“Are you accusing me of copying good William’s work?”
He snorts. “No, that was all your own. You’re really not upset about this?”
I blow out a breath as Isaac leans back, catching my eye. “I’m not happy about it. If this turns into a formal allegation, I’ll appeal as best I can. But this won’t change the trajectory of my life. I’m in charge of that.”
Isaac shakes his head a little, his gaze warm. “We should go out this week. Thursday, maybe, when you don’t have a shift at the bar.”
“To drown our sorrows?”
“No. To celebrate our accomplishments. And maybe you and Lumi can exchange notes on your acting careers.”
I raise an eyebrow. “So now I’m an actor in addition to being an inspirational video storyteller?”
“You’re a man of many talents,” Isaac agrees, stroking a hand over my chest, seemingly getting distracted as his fingers continue to wander in a slow path down my abdomen and back up again.
My lips twitch. “Do you like this sweater?”
He huffs in response, clearly not minding being called out. “Was just thinking.”
“About…my videos?”
“About you,” he answers before tilting his head and humming in a considering manner. “And your videos, yes. You know, if this were a porno, we’d absolutely be getting it on in this study room right now.”
“Would I be the student or the tutor?”
“You’d be whichever one is responsible for me getting railed on that flimsy table beside us.”
My snort has Isaac grinning to himself. “Is this a fantasy you want to live out?”
