Chapter Twenty
Tenn
Greer asked me to move in. It still hadn’t completely sunk in. Sure, we were living together now, but it was temporary and by necessity. This was so much more—it was—everything.
I walked around my tiny apartment, trying to decide what should stay and what should go. The practicality of the task kept me from texting Tenn every five minutes while he was trying to work. There was not much I needed to come with me furniture-wise for sentimental purposes, but with the damage to his home meant there some practical things we may or may not have needed.
I was so fucking proud of him. From owning a cafe that almost closed, to the thriving business it had become was mind-blowing. He had told me once he wouldn’t be so successful if it weren’t for me, but that was hogwash. All I did was meet and flirt with the sexiest man I’d ever come across.
And by some miracle, he was now mine.
After checking the clock for the five thousandth time, I decided to check my work email. I’d just posted grades for their midterm and had been dreading the inundation of emails questioning how they could possibly not have earned 100 percent. Sure enough, as I logged into my school account there they were.
One by one, I gave the students the same exact reply, that my office hours were Tuesday and I would love to discuss their exams then after they were returned and they’d had a chance to look them over. Getting their grades before the tests were returned was not ideal, but college policy dictated they be posted, so posted they were.
As I reached page two of my emails, I saw one labeled confidential from a small university in Mapleville. Having never gone nor worked there, I assumed it was a letter of recommendation request from a former student, which I still got from time to time. When I opened it, my jaw dropped. The dean of English had seen my work getting my class ADA compliant and wanted to discuss a new position they just had approved for their university.
I shut the computer down without replying. I had so many questions and feelings, I needed time to sort them out.
Sliding my keys into my pocket and grabbing my phone, I headed out for a walk. The air would do me good, and not having access to my computer during the conversation I was about to have might be in my benefit. Chances were great Mom had her hands in the mix when it came to the job offer or possible offer, that part had been unclear.
She answered on the second ring. “Hello, Son, what has you calling this fine day.”
She knew all right.
“I was wondering what you could tell me about Mapleville University.” I stepped around some dog shit on the ground and reached in my pocket to see if I had a spare bag left from when I walked Gizmo earlier, and luckily I did. People tended to be so rude.
As I picked it up, I almost let a chuckle escape at the irony of me picking up shit as my mother was about to pile shit on.
“A fine institution. I hear they are looking for someone to head up their new program for students who may need accommodations to be successful in the collegiate environment.”
I threw the shit away. Not all of it, for my mother was still on the phone spewing it.
“I see. And you suggested me for said position?” It wasn’t a question, yet I posed it as one, playing the game that was necessary to get the information from my mother.
“Hardly. I simply groomed you for it with your current position and possibly mentioned your name in passing to Dean Parker.”
I stopped walking, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath as I formed my words. Her goal was to goad me into an argument over the grooming-without-permission malarkey. I knew this. She knew this. It was her way.
“I appreciate that. Thank you.”
She inhaled sharply, and I was far prouder of myself for catching her off guard than I ought to be.
“So you are taking the opportunity, not running off to some other nation to do goodness knows what.” I could envision the purse of her lips and scowl on her face. She’d never changed and probably never would, but that didn’t mean I needed to stay the same. I wanted to be better than I was the day before and the day before that. I had been under no illusion that I was perfect the way I was, unlike my dear sweet mother.
“I will need to discuss the opportunity with the dean first.” And Greer. Mostly Greer. We’d just made a huge life decision, and this had to fall in my lap. Even six months ago, I’d have jumped at it—probably. But now? Now the thought of being not here with Greer was nauseating.
“I will forward you a housing option I think will be your best choice.”
I will not lose it. I will not lose it.
“It is probably better to hold off on that. I still need to inquire about the position and see if I meet the qualifications and exactly what they are offering before I decide to move there.” I pressed the button for the walk sign. I’d inadvertently been heading toward Greer. He was like a magnet to me—to everyone actually.
“I will forward it. It’s not like you have anything here.”
And that was where she was more wrong than she’d ever been.
“I have Greer.” And he was worth more than a stupid job. I’d talk to him about the position because that was what partners did—discuss things—but my mind was made up, had been from the beginning if I was honest. I could find something else here when my position expired. It might not be prestigious, but I had skills and would provide for my omega.
“The omega fling you told me about? Hardly worth losing your career for.”
The light switched, and I crossed the street, not responding to her comment right away. I’d told her at the time he was special, but she’d decided he was not important. I tried to find the words to help her see her error, but ultimately gave up. She was not worth my time, not with Greer only a block away.
Sirens screamed in my ear and I ran the last few steps to the curb to get out of the way.
“Goodbye, Mother,” I called into the phone, opting for the easy way out.
“Don’t you—”
“Sorry, Mom, too many sirens.” I hung up. One more block. I had one more block until I could see Greer.
But when I got to Just One Lick, I was greeted by Jarmin looking far too pale and no Greer in sight.