TO PUSH OR PULL
Memphis
I pausewith my hand around the doorknob in the kitchen. The last thing I want to do right now is leave. I would much rather take my ass right back upstairs and help Waylynn in the shower, then take my time making her come before I claimed her.
I look over at the clock hanging on the wall, knowing I should have left twenty minutes ago. I’m barely going to have time to talk to Hilbrand now.Damn it.
The five-minute drive feels like it takes too long, but I actually make good time. Hilbrand looks up from behind her glasses when I enter her office. “Morning, Gravlin.” Her lips are a little flat, where before she used to be all smiles when I came in. It probably has a lot to do with my performance over the last few days. I’ve never bailed on my office hours. If anything, I’ve stepped in for her a few times, and she had to return the favor the last two days. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, but there’s something I need to speak with you about.” I set my bag on my small desk and face her.
“Okay.” Her tone is hesitant.
“I have an issue with one of the students in class.”
Her head falls back on her neck, and she lets out a groan. “Do I need to get the administration board involved this time?”
“No.” I wave my hand dismissively. I can handle a few emails that border on being inappropriate. “My brother is in the class.”
“Yes, Oswald.” Her brows furrow. “Is he having problems?”
“No, he actually has a girlfriend, Waylynn Graff.” I wait to see if she recognizes the name, but her face never changes. “She’s in the class too, and we’ve gotten pretty close.” I hate that I can’t just tell her the whole truth about Waylynn and me, but the only thing that would do is make things more difficult for both of us.
“I wanted to let you know, since I don’t feel comfortable evaluating her work because we spend a good deal of time together.”
“Oh.” She leans back in her chair, and her eyes grow a little unfocused. If she fights me on this, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Allowing Waylynn to drop the class doesn’t seem fair.
The longer she stays quiet, the more I start to worry, but I don’t let her see how uncomfortable I am. I keep my features and posture relaxed as her eyes pass over me in an assessing manner. “This is important to you,” she observes. “I have to say I’m curious, Gravlin. Why would you bring this to my attention at all? It would have been very easy for you to continue on as things were. Are you concerned you wouldn’t be fair to her, or are your personal ethics at play here?”
I hate the way she’s looking at me. I don’t want to give her any more of an explanation than I already have, but I will if I think it will help my cause. “I don’t want her having an issue later because of me.”
“Oh!” Her eyebrows rise well above her glasses, and the corner of her mouth curls into a smile. I gave her too much information. I should have just said it was an ethics issue.Fuck. “I see. Make sure you both follow the same protocols that have already been put in place for your brother. All assignments come directly to me. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you not to share anything with them that you shouldn’t, but I will anyway to cover our butts and I think we’ll call it good.” She adjusts her glasses on her nose, then looks down at her computer before adding, “I’ll delete her email if she’s going to return to class. I expect her to be caught up with work though.”
Her comment catches me so off guard, it takes me a second to form a response. I didn’t think she remembered Waylynn dropped, but she does have an unusual name. “Thank you. I’ll make sure she knows.”
“Of course, Gravlin. I’m happy to see you’re letting someone in.” Her remark bothers me. It implies she knows me, and she doesn’t.
After I lower myself into my chair, we resume our status quo, working in relative silence until it’s time for her first class to start.
Bates
The houseI’m working at is only a few blocks away from Waylynn’s, but it’s a shithole. The house has been divided into several small studio apartments that share two bathrooms and look like they haven’t been cleaned in years.
The company I work for has been hired to replace several of the outlets with plugs that have USB ports. The leasing company will probably up the rent by a hundred bucks a month and call it an improvement. It’s shit work. I hate being in the rooms if the resident isn’t there, and I hate it even more if they are.
I’m working with Michael. He’s twice my age and only wants to work half the hours we should, so I end up picking up his slack. I would rather do his job than listen to him bitch about his back and everything else. If he weren’t with me, I would have gone to Waylynn’s at lunch, but instead, we end up at a shitty drive-thru that I regret before my burger is even fully eaten.
We’re back at the shop by four. The only perk of working with him is getting off earlier than usual. As soon as I’m in my van, I send Memphis a text.
Me:You good if I stop by?
I kick on the air as I wait for his reply, which takes a few minutes.
Memphis:I’m stuck at school for a while longer.
Memphis:Waylynn is at home.
Me:I’ll stop by and see if her power is back on.
