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“Have you talked to Garcia yet?” Beau was standing next to me. It was the first time I had heard his vo
ice. He sounded impatient.
“No.”
“Are you going to tell her about the research or did you already tell her?” He had worked his arms through the straps on his backpack and he was edging toward the door. It was hard not to admire his chest as his T-shirt pulled against his torso.
“I wasn’t in class Tuesday.” This was harder than I thought it would be.
“So you’re telling her today that we’re handing over the research?”
“Yes. I’m going to talk to her once everyone clears out.” I glanced around at the partners filing out of class. It was difficult to watch my classmates who had clearly become couples through the course of the semester. Why couldn’t we have been assigned Island Fever or The Lion’s Den?
“Ok. Cool. Thanks. I wasn’t here Tuesday either. Didn’t know if you talked to her yet.” He turned to leave.
Nina had told me no matter what he said or did I was not to ask him about the next Love Match date, but he was walking away. How did she think this was going to go? Did this mean he had given up on the entire project? My eyes were starting to sting, and the farther he got, the more the hole in my chest burned. This was not working—at all.
“Oh yeah—we need to plan date seven for this weekend, don’t we?” he asked before reaching the swinging door.
“I guess so.” I stood, facing him and those smoldering eyes that almost made me forget what had happened.
“Did you watch the show Monday?” he asked.
My chest relaxed. He hadn’t given up on the project.
“I did. What about you?”
“Yeah. I saw it. What date do you want to try?” His voice sounded warmer. At least he was tuning in to the show.
“You choose. Whatever you want to do is fine with me. I’m going to talk to Professor Garcia now.” I pointed over my shoulder at the cowboy-boot-wearing academic.
“Right. Ok. I’ll just text you or something.” He pulled his earbuds out of his pocket.
“Sounds good. See you later.” I turned to catch Professor Garcia’s attention before he made it to the door. I didn’t want to watch him walk away.
Nina would be proud. That went exactly how she predicted. I was glad I didn’t cave to the desperation I felt. If only my conversation with the professor would go the same way, I’d be on my way to making all of this right.
She was shuffling a stack of folders into her briefcase. “London! I’ve been meaning to email you, but I had this darn cold-flu and I was lucky to get my cats fed, if you know what I mean.”
I smiled meekly. “Sorry you were so sick. That sounds awful.”
“I might have caught it from Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome, so it was worth it. You kids aren’t the only ones who have your fun on spring break.” She laughed as she pressed a tissue to her nose.
Did my professor just tell me she hooked up with someone and caught a cold? “Um, so I wanted to talk to you about the research. Can we maybe sit for a minute?”
Professor Garcia nodded toward the front row stadium seats. “You look a little worried. If it’s about the conference, there is nothing I need for you or Beau to do. I’ll handle everything.”
My hands were starting to get hot. I shook them next to my side and took a deep breath. “I’m not sure how to say this.” I closed my eyes and thought about what I almost had with Beau, what grade I almost had. This lie had cost me too much; it had to end. “Professor, Beau doesn’t know what I’m getting ready to tell you. He thinks I’m going to hand over our research.”
“And you’re not? I’m quite confused right now.” She was so still not a single bangle on her wrist moved.
If I didn’t spit it out, I would never have the strength to tell her. “We were together—Beau and me. We have been dating for the past few weeks. I was with him all through spring break and I didn’t tell my parents or my roommates. And when he wanted to tell you that we were together, I stopped him because I really need this grade. It’s the only class left for me to graduate and my parents aren’t going to let me move to L.A. if I don’t have an A. But Beau broke up with me during our argument and so now we’re not together.”
Professor Garcia sat with a stunned look on her face. “Oh my. That’s a lot to take in.”
“I know and I’m so sorry I lied to you and to the class and to everyone who read the blog. I didn’t know I wanted to be with him; it just sort of happened. And now everything is such a mess between us.”
“Hmmm…so let me ask you something, London. If you had met Beau out of this class and he had asked you on a date, would you have gone out with him?”
