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‘Send me the bill.’
‘Other than that, are you alright, Jack?’
He’s known me a long time. ‘I’m okay. Really. I’ve met someone.’
‘Is that right? Finally going to lay down some roots?’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t go that far!’ I feign insult, playing up my bachelor ways.
Kenny laughs.
I hang up and think about what he said, about laying down roots. Could I see myself doing that with Leyna? I’d never even considered it with anyone before her. But then, everything with Leyna is different. The thought of coming home every day, of seeing her every night in our own place... My heart starts to do odd things and I quickly brush the thought away. But that feeling of coming back to a warm home and a beautiful woman every evening stays with me for some time.
I have completely given up on trying to get any work done today as I can’t seem to focus at all so I text Dalton.
Me: Fancy a pint?
Dalton: YES! Meet you along the way.
That’s exactly what Dalton always replies. He only lives around the corner from me and this is what we often do, start walking to the pub and invariably catch up along the way.
As we’re walking into the centre of the town Dalton says, ‘I haven’t seen you around much lately. I hope that means you’ve taken my advice and finally shagged that mystery woman you were so keen to hide.’
Christ, straight to the point. ‘Erm...’
Dalton roars with laughter and pats me on the back. ‘Well done, mate.’
‘We were away last week. I took her to the cottage.’
‘Really? That’s quite a step forward for you. This must be serious then?’
‘Not really.’ I feel guilty for saying that. ‘I mean, I’m not sure. It seemed like the right thing to do, to get out of Castle Eden for a bit.’
‘Can’t fault you for that. We all need a break once in a while.’
‘It wasn’t that exactly... It’s just that, with her being the departmental secretary, we thought it might not be seemly to be seen together...’ I felt like an idiot saying that out loud. Did anyone give a shit about propriety anymore?
‘I gave up on social mores a long time ago. Best thing I ever did!’ Dalton declares. ‘When you stop caring about what other people think about you, it gives you the freedom to live your life any way you damn well please.’
Dalton makes a good point, I couldn’t deny that. But this isn’t just about me. Arguably, it’s not about me at all. The English Department is filled with arseholes, people I’d really have to think twice about throwing a lifeline to if they were drowning. This is all to protect Leyna. ‘It’s not me I’m worried about—it’s her. She doesn’t have the protection I have. She could be fired without—
‘Come on, Jack. That’s never going to happen.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Because first of all you are both consenting adults. Secondly, it would have to come from the Head of Department and if I’m not wrong that’s still Bryce McCann, isn’t it?’
I nod.
‘I’m a couple years older than you and I have unfortunately sat on several faculty-level meetings with Professor McCann and let me tell you, he is selfish and lazy. He doesn’t take on anything that doesn’t benefit him directly in some way—like most of the academics around here, I’d wager. I can’t quite believe he took on the role of HoD but there you have it. Firing a member of staff would be ahugedeal. It almost never happens, mainly because there’s such a high turnover rate and so long as you wait long enough, it’s easier to just let people move on without the hassle of going to the bother of getting them fired. Anyways, Brycie would never take that on. Never. Your girlfriend’s job is safe. I wouldn’t worry about it.’
That was the thing about Dalton—you could easily pigeonhole him as someone who was slapdash or haphazard, but he was clever and savvy, not just book-smart clever but he was streetwise. You could present him with a situation, and he could run through all of the scenarios—he probably should have become a barrister.
Continuing my train of thought I ask, ‘Why did you become a history professor?’
Dalton laughs. ‘I think I might lose your respect if I tell you.’
‘Go on then.’
