“Well, great. He must have seen us together in the locker room. He’s going to fire us,” I begin to panic. Oh god, if he fires me, I’ll never be able to show my face again. I’ll be too embarrassed. I’d have to tell my friends and family that I was fired for fraternization with a coworker. Shit. I’m so screwed.
Jamie’s large hand lands on my thigh, causing it to stop bouncing. It’s supposed to be comforting, but it’s sending adrenaline straight to my heart. I can’t focus when he’s this close, especially when he’s touching me.
“Hey, he didn’t see anything. He’s not going to fire us, just calm down,” Jamie says, trying, and failing, to get my nerves in check.
Looking down at his hand, I swat it away. “Why else would he call us both in here then?”
“Maybe he wants to give us a raise,” he suggests. I glare at him. We both know Ashby didn’t call us here to give us a raise.
The door opens once again, and this time, the Dean walks in with a smile on his face. He takes a seat in his big, desk chair and folds his hands together in front of him like he’s about to discuss how both of us have broken some sort of rules and we’re both being terminated.
“Miss Monroe,” he nods towards me, his smile genuine. “Mr. Patterson. Thank you for joining me.”
We both nod, and I do my best to smile, even though I feel like my heart is about to pound out of my chest.
“I called you both here because there’s something important we need to discuss.”
Oh god, oh god, oh god. I brace myself for the bad news.
“Let’s get right to it then. This won’t take long,” he continues. “As you both know, we’re piloting a cross-departmental initiative to boost student engagement and donor visibility. Athletics and Arts. Funds have been kind of low since Mr. Steele went to… well, since he went away.”
No, no I did not know this. My stomach sinks. I have no idea where this is heading, but I know I’m not going to like it by the way Ashby is smiling.
Jamie shifts beside me. I don’t look at him. I don’t need to.
“We’ll be hosting a campus showcase,” Ashby says. “Performances, exhibitions, demonstrations. The hockey program will be featured prominently. Coach Patterson.”
Jamie’s jaw tightens.
“And Director Monroe,” Ashby continues, “you’ll be co-leading the coordination.”
He isn’t serious. This can’t be real. He’s already trapped us in the same house together, now he wants us to work together?
Jamie stares straight ahead, his expression carved from stone.
Co-leading. With Jamie.
“With respect,” Jamie says, his voice level but edged, “we weren’t made aware of thisinitiativeat all.”
Dean Ashby’s face flushes. I would definitely remember if he mentioned something about joining the arts and athletics departments. He never once mentioned that when he hiredme.
“Did I forget to mention that?” he asks, awkwardly chuckling. I can’t tell if he really forgot that he didn’t tell us, or if this was his plan all along. He doesn’t know our history, so there’s no reason he’s do any of this maliciously. I’m just not sure how he forgot to tell the two heads of each department that they’d be working together for an event.
Jamie nods. “Yeah, you did.”
Dean Ashby clears his throat nervously. “The expectation is that you’ll present a unified front. The arts and the athletes working together.”
He looks between Jamie and me with a stern expression. Can he see the tension between us? Can he tell there’s some sort of animosity there?
Jamie’s mouth turns into a slight smirk. Is he enjoying this? I thought he would be pissed. I am.
I’m supposed to be focusing on the play. I’m supposed to be keeping my distance. How is it going to be possible for me to keep my distance from the man if I have to work with him?
“Dean Ashby, I have so much to do for the play and—”
“I trust you’ll be able to do both, Miss Monroe. I know you can. Now, let’s discuss details.”
The meeting continues, the details blurring together. Dates, budgets, talking points, but I’m barely hearing them. I’m too aware of Jamie beside me. Too aware of how much effort it’s taking not to react to every shift of his body. To confused as to why he didn’t fight back more.
