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“Hush it, you two.” Octavia winks at us, taking another sip of her drink, and I do the same with mine, needing it more than I care to think about.
“In all seriousness, what will you do?” Stella’s girlfriend, Delphine asks. “Stella told me about the state of your apartment.” Her dark eyes meet mine, her lips dipping down into a frown. “I’m so sorry. I feel like we just moved you in there and now this.”
“That’s because youdidjust move me in there. It’s only been two months.”
“Damn.” She shakes her head, her tight black curls springing around her face. “You know you’re always welcome to stay with us.”
“I offered that… what?” Stella looks mockingly at me, her head tilted making her impossibly long blonde hair tickle around her butt. “Ten times yesterday? It got to the point of begging.”
I roll my eyes at my friend and give her hair a tug. “You did beg, and it was very sweet if not a little desperate.” She gives me an elbow jab and I kiss her cheek. “Seriously though, I appreciate all of your offers, I truly do, but I can’t camp out on your couch, and I can’t let you buy me an apartment. I’ll move back in with Meils and Oliver and the girls until I can find something new closer to school. I still have my old room there. It’ll be fine.”
Octavia shakes her head ever so slightly, pursing her lips to the side. She’s upset that I won’t let her drop a couple of million on an apartment for me, but thankfully she isn’t pressing it any further.
“Are you doing okay about your professor?” Octavia questions, changing the subject.
“Grandma!” Keegan yells from the top of the waterslide. “Watch me!”
“I’m watching, baby,” Octavia calls out, waving at her. Keegan goes flying down, curving around in a loop before splashing into the pool feet-first, her wet, red hair flying around her as she goes. The twins are all Amelia, though they did get Oliver’s green eyes.
“I’m doing okay,” I tell her after Keegan comes sputtering up in delight, jumping straight into Oliver’s arms. “It was rough, and I’m still shaken up by the whole thing. Not to mention we have no idea who will take over teaching the course. The only good thing is that we’re on a summer schedule and the classes are shorter, and a lot of the work is done outside the classroom.”
“Well, I’m sure whomever they decide on you’ll love just as much.”
I give my grandmother a wan smile. Somehow, I doubt that.
5
“Oh my fluffing Christmas, did you hear?” my friend Murphy shrieks as she races toward me, grabbing my arm to stop herself as she skids on the floors.
“Hear what?” I demand as I help her upright so she doesn’t ass-plant.
“Thanks. Sorry. Did you hear who they named as the interim professor for this class?”
Reluctantly I continue to head toward our classroom. The last time I was in here I was doing CPR on our dead professor. I shudder.
Her brown orbs go wide when I shake my head. “Are you for real? Didn’t you read the group chat texts yesterday?”
“No. I was at my nieces’ birthday party and after I texted Friday about Dr. Lawrence and my apartment, I was sort of done. I needed the weekend to get my shit back together and besides, keeping up with the group chat is a full-time job.”
She cackles. “Truth. Okay.” She shakes my arm in excitement, forcing me to halt before we enter the class. “Listen to this. You’re going to pee yourself. I nearly did. The new guy is young.”
“Anyone compared to Dr. Lawrence is young.”
“Fine. That’s true. But this guy is not only young, he’s also like so freaking hot. And famous! Rock star famous. There’s already a bet going on in the class to see who will nail him first. I’m giving myself two weeks to seduce him. I’ve been obsessed with him forever.”
“What? You know him?”
She gives me a look. “Dude, everyone knows him. Because he’s famous.” She playfully smacks my shoulder. “Are you not listening?”
“I’m listening. It just doesn’t sound good is all. Is this person even qualified?” Half the time any hotshot, superstar doctor comes in here they’re all ego and little knowledge. It’s as if they think we’ll absorb their brilliance through osmosis, and they don’t have to teach. “Dr. Lawrence was the best professor I’ve ever had. Anyone they bring in won’t be able to replace him half as well.”
“Yes, but this new guy is an emergency room attending. He was also the favorite protégé of Dr. Lawrence. He’s legit. And hot. And famous. A rock star, Layla. I’m not even joking.”
“Great.” I don’t mean it. I don’t want anyone to replace Dr. Lawrence. Hot. Rock star doc or not.
We pull open the heavy door and enter the tiered auditorium-style classroom and my breath stalls in my chest when I see who is standing in the front of the classroom by the SMART board. My chest heats to lava decibels and my insides squirm like worms in the dirt.
Small pieces of what Murphy just said along with everything else from Friday night start shooting through my head like bullets, hitting a mass of targets.
