Chapter 13

Kendal

I should have stayed home, but I wanted to see Eliza to have someone to talk things through with. After spending the day pacing the floor at my house, I'd finally resigned myself to needing to see Dana. I had to tell her what the hell was happening. At least if we met up at Damon's and things went to shit, I could get drunk and drown myself in the pool.

"One step forward and three steps back." I pulled open the door of the accounting building, praying like hell that I wouldn't run into anyone, especially not Mark. Heather was on leave for three weeks because of the trauma of everything. Fucking lying bitch. I should have put her in her place the first time she showed up in Mark's office. Now I was the villain.

It seemed like that was always the way my stories ended. Me holding the bag, broken hearted or the false villain who ruined lives and ripped panties. Crazy.

"Dr. Tarrington. You weren't in class today. Everything okay?" One of my senior students stopped me as I jogged up the stairs to the second floor.

"Yeah. Just had to deal with a few things in my personal life."

"Okay. Hope everything is alright." He smiled and jogged down the stairs as I continued to make my way up. There were many reasons why I loved my job, and I could fool myself all day long, but a huge part of me still loved my job. It was who I was at this stage in my life. I was an accounting professor. And in my early thirties to not be a husband, a dad, a t-ball coach... being a professor was all I had.

Luckily enough, I made my way down to Eliza's office without another interruption. She was typing away on her computer, so I gently knocked on the door. The look on her face told me that the staff was already privy to what was going on.

"Oh, Kendal. Come in. Jeez." She hopped up and walked toward me, closing the door behind me and letting out an exasperated sound.

"Now is a good time? I know you're-"

"Stop that. It's fine. Come in and sit down."

"No, I'm not staying long. I was just driving myself bat-shit crazy walking around the house." I put my hands on my hips as a million thoughts raced through my mind. "You guys know about Heather's claims?"

She nodded. "Unfortunately, their investigations always include taking witnesses from both sides of the story."

I snorted. "Heather has someone on her side of the story?"

Eliza pressed her hand to her face and glanced down. "Yes. Unbelievably so."

"Who? Eliza. What are you not telling me?" Sickness rolled around in my stomach as I moved toward her desk, but stopped short of reaching her. The last thing I needed was to have someone walk in and find me standing too close to another female professor, regardless of her age. I was a pervert. We did weird things.

"Daisy." She ran her fingers down her face. "I have no clue why. I guess she's planning something and thinks that Heather is an ally.

"What? That makes no sense at all. Heather is just like Mark. She's the viper in the bird’s nest, not the goddamn bird." My voice rose and Eliza lifted her hand to warn me. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I understand your frustrations. I'll keep my ears open and let you know if I hear anything. I'm planning on talking to Daisy tomorrow to see what she thinks she's doing. I swear someone just needs to blow the lid off on all of this madness."

"I should have done it while I had the chance. At this point, it will simply look like retaliation for getting caught with my pants down."

"You didn't-"

"No. Of course not, but you get the point. Now is the worst possible time I could bring all of this up. They'll crucify me. You know they will." I ran my hand over my chest, rubbing my heart.

"You okay?" She glanced toward my movement.

"Yes. Just trying to stay calm. There's only so much someone can take before they fucking snap, you know? I went through this same nightmare two years ago. I would never touch a woman without her consent. Hell, even then I probably wouldn't come close. I've been burned too many times."

"Don't say that." She walked around her desk and laid her small hand over mine. "Hold tight. It's going to get better. Just keep your nose clean and try hard to steer clear of all of them until we work it out. I'll figure out what's going on with Daisy and let you know. Maybe Heather went to her."

"I don't know. I hate drama so damn much. Just keep me in the loop." I took a few steps back and paused. "The other professors don't think that I... that I would..."

"No. Not most of them. The ones that do are just jealous."

"Right. Okay. Thanks, Eliza." I turned and opened the door, walking out and trying hard not to let my skin crawl. I'd worked so hard to redeem myself, but it didn't matter. It was taboo to date a student, even though I was twenty-five and Ana was twenty-two. That part was irrelevant. The college looked at it as if I were a pedophile. Everyone did. It would be no different with Dana now.

I kept my head up as I walked down the stairs and started for the door. I couldn't let anyone know how bad I was hurting. It wasn't their business anyway. Hell, it'd probably start more rumors or help in convicting me further.

"Dr. Tarrington."

I turned at a familiar voice. Bethany. I relaxed a little as she walked toward me, her smile warm and welcoming. She reached out and touched my arm. "Where were you today? Damon said you were coming to dinner tonight."

I pulled her hand off of me carefully. "Some shit happened yesterday and I've been asked to go on voluntary leave."

She gasped and reached up, pressing her fingers to her mouth. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I need to go, but I'm headed over to Kent's now. I'll tell you all about it over there."

"I'm done for the day. Let me just catch a ride with you. I'll get my car tomorrow."

I glanced around, not too sure that was a good idea. "I don't know. Might be best if we-"

"Kendal. It's me." She gave me a stern look. "Let me grab my bag and I'll meet you outside."

"Alright, but if they call you in as my next rape victim, you better tell Damon that nothing happened." I forced a smile and turned, trying to get away from the concern on her pretty face.

The idea riding with her to Kent's lifted my spirits, though it shouldn't have. Where she was quickly becoming a friend, it was a friendship that would have to remain secret much like mine and Dana's relationship. She was a student. I was taking a chance in having anyone see us as we left campus. It felt like a chance I couldn't afford.

I texted Damon so he could let Bethany know as I walked to the parking lot, got in the car and drove off. She'd understand. I'd explain myself at dinner. She'd have to. I didn't need someone else angry or disappointed in my life.