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Facing forward again, I sigh. “I’m on at three, why?”
Jeff shrugs. “No reason.”
Before I have a chance to question him further, our professor walks in. Class goes smoothly and by the time it ends, I’ve got several pages of notes written. When we’re dismissed, I quickly gather my things and hurry out of the room so I don’t get stuck talking with Jeff.
I spend the time between class and my shift at the library, my head buried in books on Vikings and Valhalla. A sense of calm washes over me while I’m engrossed in such a beloved subject, and when my phone beeps letting me know that I’ve gotta work in a few minutes, I sigh.
“I was wondering if you were ever going to stop reading.”
I chuckle at Debbie, one of the librarians, when I join her behind the counter. “I learned my lesson,” I say. “I set an alarm on my phone today, otherwise I’d never stop.”
She unlocks the cabinet under the desk and grabs her purse. “Well, you’re here, and that means I can go home. I’ve gotta pick up the kiddos from school.”
Debbie is a single mother of three little girls, and I have no idea how she does it. She works here at the library most days and third shift at a twenty-four-hour diner where all the college kids like to hang out when they’re drunk.
“Have a good night,” I tell her.
“I will.” She grins. “I’ve got the night off for once so we’re going to watch a movie and eat popcorn.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“If I can stay awake, it will be.”
After Debbie leaves, I work on scanning books that have been returned and putting them back on the shelves in their proper place. Once that’s done, I return to my research in between assisting students when they need my help.
“You don’t quit, do you?”
I lift my head and see Jeff leaning over the counter.
Great, just what I need.
“Can I help you with something?”
He shakes his head. “Nah. Just thought I’d stop in and say ‘hi’.”
“Jeff, the last time we talked before today, you called me a bitch and hung up on me,” I remind him. “Now you’re just stopping by for a friendly visit? I don’t get it.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I was having a bad day.”
“You were…” Now it’s my turn to shake my head. “Having a bad day doesn’t give you the right to be a jerk.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t. Which is why I’m apologizing.”
He seems genuine, and for a moment, I wonder if I’ve got him all wrong. Maybe he isn’t such a dick. Maybe there’s more at play behind the scenes, so to speak.
Signing, I give a cut nod. “Fine. Apology accepted.”
Jeff releases a breath as if relieved. “Good.”
“So, is that all you wanted?”
“Actually, no.” He straightens, and his friendly demeanor slips slightly. “I wanted to talk to you about our thesis topics.”
“Jeff, I’m not changing mine.”
The good guy facade falls away completely. “C’mon, Mak. I need you to back off on Valhalla.”
“Why is this so important to you?” I ask, knowing there’s no way I’m going to back down.
