Jeff shot Maria a reproachful look and Maria had the good graces to look properly chastised.
“Nothing’s wrong with it, but we can do better,” Jeff reassured Mel. “Remember when you let me pick out your outfit for Bobby’s end of winter break party last year? You looked hot as hell that night.”
He was right. Min had long ago given up on putting together the perfect outfits, settling instead for ones that didn’t make her feel so self-conscious about her weight, hiding herself under layers of loose-fitting clothing that wouldn’t cling to the parts of herself she liked the least. But Jeff somehow always managed to make her look good andfeellike she looked good. He pawed through the rows of hangers, squinting at the fabrics as he considered his options.
“Fair point,” Min smiled. “You’ve yet to lead me astray.”
“And I never will,” Jeff replied.
Maria wandered to Min’s desk where a neat row of three empty Starbucks cups sat, each with a message from Dr. Jacobs scrawled beneath the paper sleeves. Min held her breath as Maria fingered the edge of one cup with disgust. “Ug, why are you saving this trash?”
“I’ll deal with it later. Who else is coming?” Min asked, a clumsy attempt to change the subject.
“The usuals. Bobby and Phoebe, Lucy,” Maria rattled off the names as she plopped down on the edge of Min’s bed, the Starbucks cups forgotten.
“And Henry,” Jeff added.
“Who’s Henry?” Maria frowned.
“The cute freshman Jeff’s got his eye on,” Min teased. Jeff threw a black lace peplum top with a deep v-neck at her, the throw just aggressive enough to let her know he didn’t appreciate her editorializing.
“A frosh?” Maria repeated, wrinkling up her nose. Maria always had an opinion, especially about her roommates’ love lives.What would she say if she knew about Dr. Jacobs?Min didn’t even want to think about it.
Jeff avoided looking at Maria as he compared pants, finally selecting a pair of dark wash skinny jeans. His stiff shoulders and the color high on his cheeks were a dead giveaway – he was embarrassed. And maybe even a little nervous. Maybe Henry would be the boy who could break Jeff of his commitment phobia.
“Be nice, Maria,” Min said. “Henry’s a sweetheart.”
Jeff smiled gratefully as he handed Min the jeans and a pair of red kitten heels. “Get dressed, doll. We leave in half an hour and you, my dear, need eyeliner.”
∞∞∞
Liam stood alone in his office packing his scores in his leather briefcase – more operas to consider for the winter production, all strongly suggested by the dean and Mr. Dietrich for consideration. He clenched his jaw at the sound of a knock on his office door. One more thing to slow his exit.
“Come in,” he called without looking up.
It had been a long week. The stack of empty Starbucks cups tucked into the corner of his desk, sleeves still in place, were a constant reminder of the dangerous path he was headed down. Each message was more intense than the last. He should have thrown them away. He should have stopped replying with messages of his own. But then he’d picture Min poring over her copy of Neruda’s poems – the copy he’d given her – as she tried to select a line of poetry for the next message, searching for just the right sentiment, and all his resolve would fade.
Every time he jerked off that week – and it had been more times than he cared to admit – he would imagine her lips, her tits, her thighs wrapped around his waist. And then he’d picture the way she looked at him on that rooftop in Florence, her voice when she told him she wantedeverything, the light in her eyes when she sang for him, and he would come so hard it left him feeling empty. Only to clean up and start all over again. He hadn’t been this horny since he was a teenager. It was damn inconvenient.
And there was only so much longer they could continue with just coffee cups…
“Dr. Jacobs?” Bobby pulled the door open and poked his head in, breaking Liam’s train of thought.
“What can I do for you, Bobby?” Liam asked with a sigh.He’s a good kid, Liam reminded himself. The fact that he had a history with the woman Liam couldn’t stop fantasizing about was not Bobby’s problem, and Liam needed to remember that.
“Some of us are headed to Micheletti’s tonight to celebrate Lucy’s birthday. There might even be an alum or two. I know you’re trying to find some alumni to donate to the program. You should come by.”
It had seemed so odd to Liam when he took the job at Burnett University that the music faculty and students socialized outside of class and rehearsals. A little over a year later, however, he couldn’t imagine it any other way. They weren’t just faculty and students – they were colleagues, a company of musicians. Of course relationships were going to form beyond the bounds of the classroom.
“I’ll see if Dr. Van Aller is free tonight,” Liam said.
While Noah and Liam used to spend Friday nights together – and yes, sometimes at a bar with their students – lately Liam had been flying solo while Noah dated his way through the adjuncts on campus. But he wasn’t sure he could handle going alone. He wasn’t sure he could sit in a bar with Min and resist the urge to drink the wine straight from her lips.
“You should come either way,” Bobby said. “I mean, if you want to.”
“Thanks. We’ll see. I might lay low tonight.”Read a book. Listen to some Verdi. Jerk off to thoughts of Min a time or three. A typical night. Fuck.
“Well, if you change your mind, we’ll be there around 9.”
