Page 5

"Kevin?" I call out as I hurry to his side on the corner.

He cranes his head around, surprised to hear his name. "Mary! You having a late start too?"

I notice how timidly he’s holding out his hand. "Are you trying to get a cab?"

"Yeah, I’ve been trying for like five minutes now." His eyes drift back to the street, focusing on another cab that ignores his timid attempt.

I can’t help but laugh at the sight of this broad, well-built man unable to hail a cab in New York City. "Not like that. You’ve got to put your back into it."

I lock eyes with the driver of another cab, step confidently into the street, throw my hand up like I’m swatting a basketball from the sky, and shout, "Taxi!"

Obediently, the cab pulls to the curb, and I bow, displaying my handiwork. Kevin’s eyes widen, clearly impressed. "Wow, you’ve saved me twice now! I thought I was going to be late to my adjunct gig up the road."

"Adjunct gig? Where at?"

"I got hired to fill a temp position at Columbia."

My own eyes go wide as I shoo the cab away and grab his hand. "Don’t you know anything? No one takes a cab in New York unless they want to be late or physically can’t walk!"

I drag him by the wrist down the street until he finally gives in and jogs to keep up. We ignore crossing signals and weave around construction barricades like Olympic athletes tackling an obstacle course. A few blocks later, we reach the University. I'm still painfully late, but at least now I have a good deed under my belt.

As we cross onto campus, I glance back and try to point out the cab he almost took, now several blocks behind. "Rule number one for getting around NYC: cars have to obey traffic signals. People don’t."

He just chuckles at that. "Alright, I'll consider you my official NYC mentor. Now, not to be rude, but can I have my wrist back?"

My gaze drops to my hand, still gripping his. Realizing I’ve dragged him along for blocks, I let go as if burned. "Oh God, I’m so sorry."

"Don't be; you saved me forever in getting here. And I didn't have to pay anyone," he says as his eyes scan the names of passing buildings.

"I never said you didn’t owe me."

His head snaps back to me with a grin. "Alright, well, since you unfortunately know where I live, I trust you'll have plenty of time to come up with some idea of payment before you come to collect."

He turns away, slipping through a door and leaving me alone at the top of the steps. Only after he’s gone do I realize I was flirting, and how natural it felt. It never feels that easy; in fact, I can’t remember the last time someone found my forward nature charming. He did find it charming, didn’t he?

"Hey Mary, aren’t you late for your lecture?" Carol chirps as she jogs past, glancing back at me lingering on the steps.

My stomach drops as my priorities snap back into place. I reach the lecture hall twelve minutes late, just late enough to feel guilty, but early enough that my students couldn’t walk out after waiting. Fortunately, it’s a light lecture on burial rites, and thanks to my new hobby, I can improvise while still sounding prepared. The best part is I don’t have to think too hard, so my mind is free to replay my conversation with Kevin again and again.

After class, I retreat to the shared research pen. Not to work or obsess over any curses; I promised myself I’d stop that. I just need time and space to decompress after this hectic morning. And to charge my phone. But even with a cup of tea in hand, sanctuary eludes me as soon as Terry arrives.

"So, how was the date?" Terry asks as he focuses on putting his laptop on his desk.

"Good," I mutter into my tea, clicking through emails. Still nothing from NYU. The whole time, my mind churns, trying to recall the details of yesterday’s lie.

"You guys go anywhere special?"

"No, actually we stayed in."

"Really? I thought you’d want to take him to the museum," he says, amusement coloring his voice.

"Would you lay off about my research?" I groan.

Terry turns, concern replacing his earlier indifference. "Hey, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant your exhibit, right? That weird canopic jar."

I gulp down a mouthful of scalding hot tea. "Oh, yeah, right."

"I'm sure whatever y'all did together was great; I really didn't mean anything by it."