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“With that said, it was clear to me you didn’t incite what happened. It’s not a reflection on you, it’s a reflection on him. You have nothing to worry about.”
I sighed with relief. “Thank you, Professor.”
“No thanks needed. You’ll learn a lot more about this as the semester progresses. Just make sure to get here a few minutes before class if you don’t want to be in the back.”
I nodded. “Already noted and I’ll adjust my alarm as necessary.”
He smiled. “Good to hear. I’ll see you Wednesday morning.”
“See you then.”
I tossed my backpack over my shoulder and headed out of class. I felt good about things again. Good enough to not want to drown myself in coffee.
“Now, how’d I know you’d throw me under the bus like that?”
Scratch that. I wanted to drown a painful death in my coffee.
“Benji, leave me alone,” I said.
I whipped around and watched as he slithered away from the wall like the snake he really was.
“You could’ve defended me, you know. I’m hurt. I thought we were friends.”
I scoffed. “I’m late for my next class.”
“Here. I’ll walk with you.”
I hurried away from him. “No, thanks.”
I walked as quickly as I could, but I heard him hot on my heels. Taunting me. Calling me ‘Daddy’s girl’ and ‘bonnet lady.’ I think I heard ‘tightwad’ and ‘snitch’ at some point in time in there as well. I tried not to pay attention. All I wanted was to get away from him. As far away from him as I could.
“Why are you running, Daddy’s girl? I thought we could get to know one another!”
I charged out the front doors of the building before running into something hard. Something stiff. Something tall. I fell to the concrete steps and stared at a set of legs and knees.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. Are you okay? Are you hur--?”
A hand dipped down into my vision, giving me pause. I blinked as my gaze slid along the leather jacket. Up the proud chest. Over the broad shoulders and up the thick neck to the eyes of that man I kept coming into contact with. I heard Benji laughing behind me as he pushed out the front doors. But, when he saw who was standing there, he stopped. Almost instantly.
“Max? What the hell are you doing here?”
His name is Max?
I stood up straight as his hand fell back to his side. He quirked an eyebrow at me, his stare slowly dropping down my body. I shivered in my tennis shoes, my breath quickening as my cheeks reddened. I didn’t even realize I had dropped my backpack until he dipped down and picked it up for me.
Holding it out for me to take.
“Thanks,” I said softly.
He nodded, but he didn’t say anything. He simply stared at me, his eyes unwilling to let me go.
“You here to make sure I go to class or something?” Benji asked.
“No. I’m here to tell you about the new job.”
“Oh, shit, Max. This is gonna be awesome. I knew you’d finally give me a chance. A real chance. Come on. There’s this place that has the best fucking coffee. You’ll love it, dude.”
Max.
