Page 63 of Teach Me Your Ways

“Cece,” I started, my voice softer now, “I’m not trying to control you. I just…” I hesitated, searching for the right words.

“Bullshit! You are absolutely trying to control me. You don’t know what it’s like to try and get ahead in this field as a woman. Add in the fact I have a daughter and it’s even harder. And that’s fine. I know what I signed up for. But I never expected someone like you to punish me for having a kid.”

“I’m not punishing you. I’m protecting you and your kid.”

“And tell me, Professor Stone, what would you do if someone told you the Guatemala trip was off because you had a kid and there was a chance you might stub your toe or get bit by a snake?”

I took a deep breath. “That’s why I don’t have children. So I don’t have to make that choice. It’s a conscious decision.”

Her breath cut out of her in a sigh so soft I barely heard it. “You’re being weird.” She waved her hand like I was offensive. “You’re being… a jerk. A pig. A fucking dick, if I’m being honest.”

I swallowed. “Maybe.”

She backed off, took a deep breath. “Why, Grady?” she asked softly.

“I told you why.”

“Yeah, and your answer sucked. I can’t fucking believe you right now.”

My heart pounded—but I dared not look at her face. I had said what I said. I had made my decision and I wasn’t going to change it. She could be as pissed as she wanted to be, but one day she would thank me. Or her daughter would.

“Fine,” she said in a low voice. “Make your choices. But don’t you dare pretend you’re saving me or protecting me because that’s bullshit. I’m not broken. I can swim in choppy water. I can do my job. So don’t hand me reasons that aren’t real.”

I opened my mouth, but there was nothing to say. She pivoted and stormed off back toward the parking lot. “This is why we don’t get involved with our TAs,” I said softly.

Felix strolled out from behind the bar. “Everything alright?” he asked.

I didn’t respond right away. He had obviously heard some of the conversation. “Let’s talk in the office.”

I followed him back there, my stomach in knots. He closed the door behind us and leaned against the desk, arms crossed, giving me a look that said he already knew I’d screwed up.

“Alright,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “What just happened out there? It didn’t look like an argument over the syllabus.”

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the small space. “It’s complicated.”

“Then uncomplicate it for me,” he shot back.

I stopped pacing and leaned against the wall, crossing my arms defensively. “Cece⁠—”

“Your teaching assistant,” he said.

“Right, her. We crossed a line.”

Felix raised an eyebrow. “Did you two kill a drifter or something? What kind of line?”

“The kind that could get me fired,” I admitted, my voice low. “We slept together.”

He let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Jesus, Grady. Why couldn’t it have been a drifter? The Board probably wouldn’t even care. But fucking your TA? They’ll chew you up and spit you out for that.”

“I know,” I said miserably. “It wasn’t planned. It just happened.”

“It just happened?” Felix repeated, his voice rising. “My god, Grady, for someone so smart, you sound like a real fucking idiot right now.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Hey, I thought we were friends.”

“We are, and that’s why I’m shooting you straight. If I didn’t give a shit what happened to you, I’d just lie and go on about my day.”

“Well, that’s kind of you, I think.”