Shawn studied him for a moment. He got out of the bed and padded to him.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to,” he said, buttoning the rest of the buttons on Rutledge’s shirt.
Rutledge looked down at Shawn’s fingers, his expression grim. “I want to.”
Chapter 19
Professor Bates was a dick.
At least that was what Shawn thought as the man ignored Shawn and continued walking.
“There’s nothing to discuss, Wyatt,” Bates said sharply, walking faster. “The assignment was due yesterday. I won’t make an exception for you. It’s your own fault. You’re irresponsible! Thermodynamics is the most important branch of the science and you don’t understand it. If you fail my class, which is looking increasingly likely, it will be deserved.”
Shawn grimaced. Yeah, it really was his own fault. He shouldn’t have spent so much time studying for his Fluid Mechanics paper, trying to impress Rutledge. He hadn’t exactly impressed him, anyway.
“But—”
“Stop trying my patience, Wyatt,” Bates snapped, shaking his head. “What’s wrong with students these days?” And Bates started ranting about students’ sense of self-entitlement, lack of focus, and lack of humility,looking more annoyed by the minute, and Shawn realized there was no way Bates would give him extra time to complete the assignment.
“Eric,” came a familiar voice from behind them.
Shawn tensed and didn’t look his way. Dammit. Rutledge was the last person he wanted to witness this.
“Is something the matter?” Rutledge said.
“This boy is lazy and irresponsible!” Bates said. “He doesn’t do his assignments on time and now he asks me to give him a few more days! How is he going to be an engineer when he cannot even manage to pass the core courses?”
Shawn wanted the ground to swallow him up. Rutledge was the most intelligent man he’d ever met. He probably thought Shawn was dumb as a rock. Not that it mattered what he thought. Except it kind of did. It mattered. Too much.
“I was of the same opinion as you, Eric,” Rutledge said, his voice indifferent. “But Wyatt has shown some improvement over the past few weeks. Give him a day. If he’s late again, fail him.”
Shawn’s gaze snapped to him. There was no way in hell he could do it in one day.
“Good idea,” Bates said. “One day, Wyatt.”
“But—”
Bates glared at him. “One day.”
Pursing his lips, Shawn nodded and left.
His feet brought him to Rutledge’s office. The door was unlocked, and he let himself in.
Shawn leaned his hip against the desk and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
He didn’t have to wait long.
Rutledge didn’t look surprised to see him, but he seemed busy, carrying a stack of papers.
“You shouldn’t have done it,” Shawn said. “There’s no way I can get it done by tomorrow.”
“Why?” Rutledge put the papers on the desk and took his seat.
Shawn shrugged, looking at his boots. “I’m dumb.”
“You’re a scholarship student.”
Shawn’s lips twisted. “Yeah. I used to think I’m pretty smart, but… but I’m not. Most of the stuff Bates and you teach goes right over my head. One minute I think I understand thermodynamics, the next, I have no fucking clue what’s happening. I really must be dumb.” Shawn gripped the edge of the desk. “I feel like such a loser sometimes, you know? I can’t find a decent-paying job, I can’t buy the girls the things they need, and now this. I feel so useless—and stupid, and—I just—I just… Never mind.”
