“What if I don’t want to be dean?” A bold question. One I still wasn’t sure was true. My heart raced as I waited for her response. I had never spoken like this before.
“Oh Cerise, honey.”Here it comes, I thought. “You don’t know what you want. That rogue professor has you confused. But I’ll be here when it falls apart and you realize what you truly need.”
Wow. I swallowed, turning back to the window. I had nothing more to say to her. I thought perhaps I was getting somewhere. That she was going to open up to me in some way. But it seemed I had been mistaken.
She viewed me as a rebellious child who was lost and would eventually find their way back to the ‘straight and narrow path,’ and come crawling back to her, telling her she was right all along.
What was I trying to do? Heal our relationship? That would never work, I knew that. With a sigh I felt deep in my bones, I closed my eyes and tried to take a nap so I wouldn’t have to speak to her for the rest of the trip home.
Chapter 36
My Beloved
Liam
Things had been going…well. Though Cerise and I hated being apart, when we did travel to see one another it was incredible. We would spend our time exploring the town where each of us lived, then fall into bed, spend all night continuing to learn each other’s bodies and fall asleep in a haze of pleasure.
It was everything I could ever want in a relationship. And I wanted that with her and only her. The sole thing causing any challenges was the distance. And though I wanted to move to her city, I didn’t think she was ready to hear that yet. It had only been a few weeks, everything still new and fresh.
A knock sounded on my office door. I looked up from my desk, twirling a pencil in my hand. “Come in.”
Coen entered, grumbling under his breath as he sat in a leather chair across from me.
I leaned back, propping my feet on my desk. Coen gave me an offended glare, looking at them with disgust. I shrugged. “What’s wrong with you? I’ve barely seen you since the gala, you’ve been so busy. You’re even more surly than usual.”
“Rosebud’s retiring.”
I adjusted my glasses. “Really? I never thought I would seethe day. I assumed he’d remain dean of the botany department until he had a heart attack from smoking too much spiritweed.”
“That was the hope.”
“That he would drop dead?”
Coen crossed his arms. “No, you imbecile. Just that he’d be around a while longer.”
I chuckled. “Why are you so upset about it? You hate Doctor Rosenshield.”
Coen crossed an ankle over his knee. “That may be true but he left me alone. I don’t need some micromanaging asshole to replace him.”
“I feel terrible for whoever they do get to replace him. I wouldn’t wish being your boss on anyone.”
“Ha. Ha. Funny.”
“Why don’t you go for the job?”
Coen shook his head. “I’d rather be fired than be a dean. Managing other colleagues? Horrifying. And can you imagine the endless meetings? Kill me, please.”
“Good point. You wouldn’t be able to hide in your lab. Any idea who the candidates are?”
“No clue.”
“I’m sure whoever is hired will be just fine.”
He grunted. “How are things with you and Cerise?”
“So far so good. I hate being so far away but it’s working. For now.”
Coen gave me his version of a smile—that was more like a grimace hidden behind his neatly trimmed beard. “I’m happy for you. I’ve never seen you so enamored with someone. You deserve it.”
