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I stare at him in astonishment. With my dyed hair, glasses, and makeup, in the dim lighting, he didn’t recognize me.
Not only that, he just used the most pathetic, least original, corniest line I’ve ever heard.
Across the room, I catch sight of the girl who was sitting on his desk the other day. She’s staring at me with an intense hatred. Marie, as I recall. Wow, is he a catch. He’s banging her but hitting on random chicks at the bar—well, at least he thought I was random.
The look of dawning horror on his face says he recognizes me now.
“Wow. ‘Do you come here often?’” I mock him. “That is special. That is original. Did you come up with that all by yourself, or did someone write it and email it to you?” Yes, that’s a plagiarism dig.
He splutters with rage.
I turn and make a big show of waving at Marie.
“At least I’m not putting on disguises and stalking you,” he snarls. “Do I need to get a restraining order?”
“Please try. We can talk about how you were taking your student girlfriend out on a date, and you ran into me and accidentally hit on me before you realized that I was your ex-girlfriend.” I raise my voice to be heard over the din of the crowd.
“Quiet,” he hisses frantically.
“Oh, no, I don’t think so. I’m done being quiet, Nass-hole. Also, I came here on a date with my boyfriend, and we aren’t in disguise, we just dressed up because we wanted to fit in and have fun.” I point at Paxton, who’s making his way towards us. “So, no, I was not stalking you. Don’t flatter yourself.”
Marie’s hurrying through the crowd to get to us. She looks so worried and angry and upset that I feel an unexpected burst of sympathy for her.
“What are you doing?” she huffs at him. “I’ve been waiting forever. Why are you talking to her?” She squints at me. “Hey, aren’t you that girl who came into his office that day that...” she trails off.
That day that I nearly interrupted something.
Paxton reaches us and puts his arm around my shoulders, glowering down at the professor, who takes a nervous step back.
“Marie, you have nothing to worry about. He’s all yours,” I tell her. “For now. You do know you’re just the latest in a long line of students he’s seduced, right?”
“I told you, you can’t prove anything!” Nass-hole barks at me.
Marie gives him a startled look. That’s as good as admitting it.
Sympathy swells up inside me. “Marie, you’re young and pretty, just the way he likes them. I mean, look at you, we even look alike. He has a type.” She stares at me and her eyes widen. It’s all becoming painfully clear to her now. “You could do so much better. Do yourself a favor and get out of this toxic relationship with a man who’s twice your age, while you’ve still got some dignity intact. And seek therapy. I’m going to.”
I am.
Dating someone like dweeb-face was a really self-destructive act, and I need to work on myself to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.
Marie hesitates. “Do you know a good therapist?” she asks me.
“Hey!” Professor Nass snarls. “Why are you listening to her? Marie, I’m warning you...”
“Don’t warn her,” Paxton says, with a smile that chills my blood. “Do not warn, threaten, or try to intimidate a woman in any way, not when I’m standing here.”
“I can find an excellent therapist, and I’ll give you a reference. Let’s exchange numbers. In fact, come sit with us! She can join us, can’t she?” I look at Paxton.
“Of course.” He nods.
“Marie...” The professor’s voice is a low, angry growl.
She looks him right in the eye. “That earring I found in your bed was not mine. It was a hoop, and I’ve never worn hoops. You had me almost thinking I was crazy when I tried to talk to you about it. So fuck off.”
“Girlfriend, we will talk about his gaslighting,” I assure her. “It’s a thing, believe me.”
“Gaslighting!” she gasps. “That is exactly the word I was searching for!”
