Chapter 32
Kylie
My hand slipped off the desk as I stared down into the microscope. I was in the chemistry lab finishing up my midterm for that semester. I was the only one there since I had several midterms so close together, and the professor let me come in on an off time. I had straight As in his class, so he knew he could trust me to do this and do it right without him constantly staring down at me. He poked his head in the door and looked in on me from time to time, but the place was dead silent otherwise.
“You are doing okay?” The professor stuck his head in like he could read my mind.
“Yeah,” I smiled. “Just a little tired, that’s all.”
“You’re almost done,” he said with a nod.
“Yep,” I said, shaking my head and looking back down at the last question.
I scribbled down the answer and walked the paper over to him, putting it in his hand. He scanned it quickly to make sure I had completed everything. I glanced up at the clock and realized it was afternoon, and they would be announcing the new dean at any moment.
“Looks good,” he said. “Good luck on your other midterms.”
“Thanks,” I smiled. “I’ll clean up, and lock the door when I leave.”
“Perfect,” he replied, walking around the corner.
I started to clean up my mess, hoping I would escape the campus before the announcement was made. I didn’t know, with the hormones raging through me, that I could keep from crying if Ben was announced. I was a mess, and I knew it, but I also knew things would get better as time moved along. I put the microscope back in its place and wiped off the counter before grabbing my bag and heading for the door. As I reached up for the light switch, the loudspeaker overhead crackled. They rarely ever used the thing, but I already knew what they were going to announce.
“Attention, students and faculty,” the voice said. “We would like your attention for just one moment. In light of recent events, we have hired a new Dean of Students to oversee the campus for this year and beyond. We are pleased to announce that Doctor Ben Ross, a former professor with us, will be taking over the position. If you need to see the dean, all steps to make an appointment still apply. The dean will have limited availability until he has become accustomed to the position. Please take this time to congratulate the youngest dean in our school’s history.”
The loudspeaker shut off, and I stood there with my hand shaking over the light switch. The sound of someone in the hall startled me from my thoughts, and I switched off the light and shut the door, making sure it was locked. I was happy for him, truly. He had kicked ass, taken names, and worked himself to the top really fast. This was a huge deal for Ben, but it was also a huge deal for me and the life growing inside of me. I knew what this meant. It meant Ben would not be part of our lives anymore. My heart felt like it was breaking as I walked to his class, wondering if he would actually be there after news of the new promotion.
I stood outside of the auditorium watching the other students file in, talking excitedly about the announcement. Part of me wanted to run, go home, and just cry, but I knew I had to carry on. The announcement was not a surprise, and I should have been prepared for the news. The last thing I wanted to do was sit there, staring at him and knowing he wouldn’t be in my life anymore. I turned and walked away, down the hall and out of the building in the courtyard. I sat down on a bench and thought about everything from the baby to me finishing my degree. I had to keep it together. I was almost done with school, and I had to know I could support myself even though Grant was going to be there. I wanted to be strong and self-sufficient for this child.
I sat there for the entire three-hour duration of the class, gathering my things as the students exited the building. I walked back in with my head held high, ready to congratulate him and move forward with my life. My hands were shaking as I walked down the steps of the classroom, watching him packing up his things.
“I guess I owe you some congratulations,” I said, mustering the best smile possible. “I knew you would get the position. This is a really big deal. How does it feel to be the youngest dean in school history?”
“Kylie, you don’t have to do this,” he said putting his things down.
“I do have to do this,” I said dropping my arms. “I have to do this for me. I have to do this for my child and the future that I now have to let go of. Don’t stand there and act like the good guy now. It’s too little too late. I am happy for you, truly. I’m just here to tell you that since this will be the end of this chapter of your life, me, the baby, and maybe Grant included.”
“I mean you don’t have to do this now,” he said. “We need to talk. There are some things Grant said to me that make a lot of sense. I want all three and a half of us to sit down tonight. All the professors will be leaving the apartment complex for a dinner that I’m not attending. Come over to my place tonight.”
“Grant will be there?”
“Grant will be there,” he said with a smile. “I already set everything up with him. You don’t have to be nervous. We will talk about anything you want to, and Grant and I will tell you about what we have come up with. Take a deep breath and know that I may have come off selfish, and my thoughts may have been misguided, but I really do care about you, and everything I have done, I have done with you, Grant, and the baby in mind.”
“What time?”
“Seven,” he said, tilting his head and looking at me.
“All right.” I nodded. “I’ll be there at seven. Text me if anything changes.”
I turned and started walking up the steps, curious, nervous, and afraid of what this conversation was going to consist of. I wasn’t going to allow him to be in this child’s life if he couldn’t even recognize me, but then again, I knew Grant wouldn’t come up with something like that. I stopped and turned back to him.
“Ben,” I said, looking at him as he glanced up. “I really am happy for you.”
I walked back up the steps, feeling a little better about everything. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew Grant had always had my best interest at heart, and maybe, even though I couldn’t see it now, Ben had too. I went out to my car and headed back to my apartment, walking in to find Piper baking cookies and giggling with a nice-looking man. I stopped and smiled, taking off my shoes.
“Hi,” I said with surprise.
“Oh, Kylie,” Piper said, rushing to my side. “I want you to meet Evan. He’s the guy I told you about.”
“Hi, Evan. It’s nice to meet you,” I replied, walking over and shaking his hand.
“You, too, Kylie,” he said happily, his wrinkle lines showing when he smiled. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s great to finally meet you.”
“You as well,” I said nodding my head.
“Evan, I’m going to talk to Kylie for a sec. I’ll be right back,” she said, pulling me off down the hallway.
We went into the bedroom and shut the door. I started to change my clothes, pulling on a tighter sweater and a pair of leggings. I grabbed some socks out of my drawer and sat down on the bed, laughing at how giddy Piper was. I hadn’t ever seen her this excited over a guy.
“He is so great,” she whispered. “He closed his office and surprised me, giving my mom flowers at work and then whisking me away to bake cookies.”
“Wow.” I giggled.
“Where are you going?”
“Ben wants to talk to me and Grant, so I’m heading over there,” I said.
“You okay?”
“I think so,” I said. “Yeah, I think I’m okay.”
“Good.” she smiled. “Tell me all about it when you get back.”
“I will,” I replied, watching her walk out of the room.
I smiled to myself and shook my head, glad to see someone with a simpler love life. I said goodbye to them and headed over to Ben’s house, parking on the street and taking the elevator up. Just like last time, the place was completely empty. Grant answered the door, kissing me on the forehead and leading me into the living room. The three of us sat down, and I listened to Ben and Grant start the conversation.
“So, when we were at the gym the other day, I told Grant something I hadn’t had a chance to tell you the other night,” Ben said. “I told him not being together if I made dean was only until you graduated. Then, Grant not so gently told me I had my head up my ass.”
“Well …” I said in a high-pitched tone, smiling over at Grant.
“I agree with him. There are other ways for us to stay together until you graduate,” he said.
“We have made up a schedule, and we will only be meeting at my house until you graduate,” Grant explained. “I live far enough away where no one will see us. It’s not abnormal for him to come to my house, and I’m going to look for a position at another college, maybe.”
“Wow, you guys have really thought this through,” I said. “But what about the baby?”
“We will be a family,” Ben said straightforwardly. “The three of us will be a family because you’re right, both of you. That baby is as much mine as it is Grant’s, regardless of DNA.”
“Really?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Ben had finally come around, and not only did he not want to stop seeing me, even as dean, he wanted to be a family with us. It was everything that I had wanted since I found out I was having a baby. I had the two men I was in love with telling me they wanted to be with me, and I had a beautiful child on the way that would be raised by three amazing parents.
“We have to be careful, though,” Ben said. “We can’t be caught in dumb situations, so until you graduate, let’s keep meetings in the office and time in the classroom to a minimum.”
“Agreed,” I said, tears flowing down my cheeks.
“I can’t tell if you’re happy or sad,” Ben said, looking at Grant.
“She’s happy.” He chuckled. “Those are happy tears, right?”
“Yes,” I said, jumping up and wrapping my arms around Ben.
I sat down on his lap and reached for Grant, pulling him into the hug. I knew it was stupid to be crying so much, but I couldn’t help it. The hormones and the happiness got the best of me. This was the perfect night with the men I loved so much, and I couldn’t imagine anything ever getting in the way of that again.