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“I wasn’t. It wasn’t like that at first. I wrote this paper . . . and I wanted to talk to her about it.”
“A paper about what?” Dad asks.
“Does it matter?”
“Based on the way your leg is going a million miles a minute, I’d say yes, it does,” Mom points out.
“It was about childhood memories. I wrote about the carnival.” I keep my eyes on the dash and avoid looking at either of my parents. “Anyway, that’s not the point. We started talking.”
“About what happened to Lavender?” Dad asks.
I nod. “Yeah, but you’re missing the point. Clover was very clear about the lines. We had a history and chemistry, and she was my professor, so at first, I mostly kept my distance.” I don’t feel the need to go into the details of the sauna incident, or the drunk assholes who scared the crap out of her, or the self-defense lessons. “One day I was running by, and her ex was in the driveway. He seemed nice enough at the time, I guess. But when I think back on it, it was clear that Clover was uncomfortable with him being there. They weren’t married long before things went south. He was controlling, and he’s a manipulator, and from what I’ve seen, that hasn’t changed. He’s making it impossible for her to move on with her life.”
“Are you sure she’s being honest with you? She could be playing both of you.”
I shake my head. “She’s not.”
“How can you know for sure?”
“Because I sleep beside her almost every night.” I rub the space between my eyes. “Look, this is the realest thing I’ve ever had. And you saw my midterm grades this term. They were solid, and my finals are going to be just as good because she’s a positive influence on me, not a bad one. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I graduate, but I do know that I care about her. A lot. She’s important to me. Just please try not to judge her before you even give her a chance, okay?”
“Okay, son.” My dad drums his fingers on the center console. “I feel like it might be a good idea to take this to the police, though.”
“What are we going to tell them? That my girlfriend’s ex approached me in a parking lot and told me to stop sleeping with his wife? He didn’t throw a punch, and he didn’t threaten me. The only thing he did was allude to having done some research, which wouldn’t be all that difficult because I have a famous parent.” Although he is supposed to be going through her lawyer to speak to her, so that might be something. “I don’t want to draw more attention to Clover than I need to. It’s bad enough that it was in a public place.” I look over my shoulder and give my mom a look. “I can feel your judgment. You need to find some chill, Mom.”
“I just don’t know how to handle this,” she admits.
“Your son just came out and your daughter is going to be living in sin soon, I’m pretty sure you can handle me dating an older woman.”
“River being gay wasn’t a surprise to anyone, least of all me. You being involved with your professor . . . Maybe it also shouldn’t be a surprise, but it is.” She sighs.
I nod. “I need to check in with Clover and see how she’s doing. I don’t want her to be on her own tonight.” Might as well keep on with the honesty—and prevent my parents from inviting themselves inside to continue this discussion.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? So you can update me,” Dad says. “And if there are concerns about this husband of hers, please tell us so we can help.”
I nod once and let him pull me in for an awkward hug before I get out. My mom slides along the back seat and meets me at the side of the truck.
Her lips are pursed, and her brow is furrowed. She looks . . . tired and worried. She settles her palm against my cheek. “I feel like I’m missing a lot of pieces of this story. I’m worried about you for a lot of reasons.”
“I’ve got it handled, Mom.”
She stares at me. “I’m concerned that you’re giving me lip service to shut me up, and that I’ve been missing a lot of signs.” She steps in and wraps her arms around my waist. “I love you. Please be safe. And use condoms.”
I laugh.
She leans back and gives me a look. “I’m serious. I can handle a lot of things, but you getting your professor pregnant before you graduate isn’t one of them.”
“We’re safe, Mom. Don’t worry.”
“It’s my job to worry. Especially about you.”
I help her into the passenger seat and stand in the driveway, waving as they back out. I wait until their taillights disappear down the street before I pull my phone out and send Clover a message. My gut tells me not to go to her until I get the all clear. I don’t want to make an already-shitty situation worse.
Thirty-Two
The Crossroads
Clover
