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‘That would be perfect. Actually, I have a little surprise for you.’
‘I hope it’s the kind that requires you sitting in my lap,’ I whisper so no one else can hear.
She gives me a look. ‘No. Although there’s no reason we can’t do that later.’ She winks at me and a dull ache starts to grow inside of me. I just want to wrap my arms around her and kiss her fiercely.
‘Seriously, it’s something I’ve wanted to show you for a long time.’
Crowds of academics are milling about, some have been here longer than others by the sound of them. I never much cared for these sorts of things. I can barely stand my colleagues during working hours, why on earth would they be more palatable out of hours? I can hear a chorus of laughter from a group of men in the corner. They’ve obviously had several glasses of wine. Then I realise I recognise the rabble rousers making all the noise.
Leyna and I walk over, hand in hand. ‘Hey guys.’
‘Jack!’ The usual cast of characters I hang out with are all here: Dalton, Gerik, Dom, Bruno, Anders, and a few others I recognise but don’t know so well.
‘I didn’t realise you’d be here, too.’
‘We’ve come for the intellectual discussion,’ Dalton says, trying to sound scholarly.
‘About Merlot and Chardonnay,’ Anders clarifies.
‘I should have known you lot would be wherever there was free wine.’
‘Hi Leyna,’ Dom and Gerik smile. ‘Hope you’re enjoying the evening. Just let us know if you need a top up,’ Dom winks and moves over slightly. As if on cue, Gerik moves over, too, revealing a hefty collection of assorted of wine bottles stashed away on a shelving unit behind them.
‘It’s thirsty work this academic life,’ Bruno quips.
‘I bet it is—’ Leyna is cut off by some loud noises coming from a man nearby. He’s clearly been here a lot longer than we have and judging by the red splotches on his mouth, he’s been drinking copious amounts of wine.
‘Jack!’
Christ, he’s spotted me. Of course, he has to be from the English Department. I notice other academics giving him a wide berth. He’s like the drunk uncle at a family reunion that everyone tries to avoid. The stench of stale alcohol seeps out of his pores.
‘Hello, Arthur.’ I don’t even want to make small talk with him. I hope that my greeting is enough to satisfy him and move on. It isn’t.
‘Jack Stanhope. Good to see you,’ he grabs my hand and shakes it forcefully. ‘Haven’t seen you since that faculty meeting a couple of years ago. Good points you brought up, young man.’ I haven’t been calledyoung manfor over twenty years and I’m not sure how he can remember the details of a meeting from two years ago. He must be off his rocker.
‘Thank you.’ I don’t want to engage him, but the silence is getting uncomfortable. That’s when he spots Leyna beside me.
‘Oh, and who’s this?’
‘This is my girlfriend, Leyna.’ I feel a pride in those words. It’s the first time I’ve ever uttered them and I look down at Leyna, lovingly.
‘Leyna, Leyna.’ He repeats the name over and over, like he’s trying to memorise her name. Or to remember something.
‘Leyna is an administrative assistant in the English Department, you might recognise her.’
‘Is she? That’s not it. Though, you seem very familiar.’ He wags his fat finger in her face and she recoils, still trying to maintain a polite façade. ‘Your hair is different but there’s something... something...’
I can feel Leyna stiffening beside me. I can feel the tension in her body and how she is leaning back ever so slightly, trying to get away from this man without actually running away.
‘Yes. Perhaps with different hair and—’ He stops. At this point, I can feel the stress coursing off of Leyna and I’m about to mention we should go when the old professor starts talking again.
Quietly he says, ‘You’re the one that gets her kit off all the time.’ But his voice is growing louder and it’s like a crescendo none of us can stop. ‘I can’t believe it, but I’d recognise those tits anywhere.’ He’s pointing at her like she’s an animal on display.
‘That’s enough, Arthur. I think you’ve had enough to drink,’ I say it forcefully, hoping he’ll move on. Dalton, Gerik, and Dom also chorus my objections, telling him to move along, but the bastard continues, oblivious to us all. Except Leyna.
‘Yes!’ His voice is booming now. I can feel the eyes of everyone in the room slowly turning upon us. ‘If anyone wants a good show, she’s the one to see. She gets her tits out, her ass, and anything else you might want. For a price. I mean, selling your body, that’s the oldest trade in the book, isn’t that what they say?’ He roars with laughter, his privilege ubiquitous and revolting. I cannot believe what I’m hearing. A part of me is so stunned that we all stand there in shock, shock that someone would actually say such horrible things out loud. Leyna is rooted to the floor beside me as a fury builds inside of me—she should not be subjected to this abuse. A rage I have never felt courses through my veins as I realise, he’s not stopping. This asshole is continuing on and Leyna shouldn’t have to hear any of this shit.
I raise my hand, ball my fist, and—
