I bark a laugh. “I know. I just don’t really pay attention to these things.”
She wrinkles her nose. “You need someone in your life who does.”
I give her a small smile. She doesn’t sound excited by the prospect. “Maybe so.” I look back down at the phone. “What are they saying? She’s my friend,” I add, like that explains my interest.
She shrugs. “Nothing bad. Just talking about how cute she is.” She pulls the phone toward her. “It made me like you more, actually. That you were willing to hire women for roles like this. It made me think marriage to you might not be terrible.”
Cute.
My brain circles that word, suddenly and violently aware that I am now sharing Katie with the world. These people know nothing about her. They don’t know how hard she fights for every ounce of respect, how hard she works forevery bit of her competence. She’s not cute. She’s a force of nature.
“She has tall energy,” I say more defensively than I intend.
Vanessa gives me another small, confused smile, and I don’t blame her.
My phone lights up. Katie’s name is on the screen.
“Excuse me,” I say, before I grab it and scan the message.
Katie
Tristan, help!
Sorry. Nothing is actually wrong. I just got a dick pic.
I compress my lips to stop from laughing, then tell Vanessa I’ll be back and stalk for the bathroom.
Tristan
Was it a nice dick?
Katie
Dicks aren’t that nice.
Tristan
Maybe you’ve been looking at the wrong dicks…
Katie
I came here for HELP, Professor.
Are office hours open?
Something light and fizzy spreads through me.
Tristan
Who’s sending youdick pics anyway?
Katie
A guy from the app. I was trying to see if there was chemistry.
A flame lights in my stomach.I’ll show her chemistry.I force my hand to relax.
Tristan
