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The beginning of the week goes by fairly quickly as my students are submitting their midterm papers. The assignment they have is to watch a movie that features aparticular topic we cover in class. Most students decided to focus on trauma and connected it with war movies and some stretched it to horror movies. Other students who are studying education write about the connections within children’s movies. Most of my colleagues voice their complaints about grading at the monthly department meetings, but I find it fascinating. I check daily for early submissions and grade them as the students turn them in so I don’t get too overwhelmed. Thankfully, I wasn’t worried any of them would use one of Henry’s movies for their papers. No, jumping into my work has been a welcome break from thoughts of him.
Tuesday evening at the coffee shop is entertaining, as always. Mia goes on about the drama taking place in her office between various coworkers. Hannah shares a new recipe she wants to try for us. Finn and Oliver gush over their ladies as always. To my surprise, Henry selected the chair next to me even though he arrived later than the rest of us. Which I may have kept empty for him.
We don’t talk much. I assume there is still some lingering awkwardness between us from his walk of shame. I will never judge the actions of consenting adults, which he and his lady friend surely were. It does, however, hurt when the first man you’ve feltsomethingfor since your ex displays similar tendencies. Not that I would accuse Henry of cheating or deceiving women without evidence like the parasite. But it does appear that he enjoys the company of many women.
He is an adult and has every right to do so.
Henry lost the guessing game for my current book, and his sons didn’t let him lose discreetly. He confidentlyguessed that I was readingPersuasion, which they immediately mocked him for after. Finn tells him, “You’ve already lost.”
Henry argues, “How can I have lost? She was just reading that less than forty-eight hours ago.”
So, I was correct in assuming that the new number belonged to him in our group chat.
Mia jumps, “Yes, and she probably finished it that night.”
Then Oliver says, “Rookie mistake.”
Hannah and I keep quiet with smiles on our faces.
Ten
LUCY
Wednesday’s workday is coming to an end, and I find myself with an unplanned evening with endless potential. Ellie and I had scheduled a chat tonight, but she needed to reschedule. Something came up with her baseball team’s trading deal…or something. I don’t follow baseball, but I know she can get busy in the office, even during the off-season.
There is something special about knowing someone since you were a kid and watching them grow and mature into a professional. The pride for them is unexplainable. Ellie is very passionate about keeping the fans engaged in the off-season. Last year, she said, “It’s easy during the season to connect with the fans, but in the off-season, that’s where it takes creativity to keep those fans engaged.”
I’ve finished my lectures for the day, and now I’m sending out reminders that Friday is the deadline to submit midterms to those students who haven’t already sent me their papers. I can’t blame those who are waitinguntil the last possible minute. Who hasn’t submitted papers at 11:59 p.m. on the due date?
My phone buzzes next to my laptop. It’s the unknown number from the group chat, Henry. I forgot to go back and save his number.
Henry
Hi. Having a good day?
This is extremely odd, but I’m too intrigued to ignore it.
Lucy
Yes, thank you. And you?
Dots pop up under his name. My mouth falls open to see him typing his response immediately.
Henry
It’s waiting for you if you can sneak away from your desk.
Under his text is a photo of a cold brew coffee next to what I can only assume is his hot coffee in a mug on a dark wooden table that looks very familiar. A particularly sweet gesture from a man who is the opposite of sweet. I sit back in my chair and take a few moments to decide how to proceed.
Lucy
Is this a trap? Are you trying to lure me out just to lecture me on the negative points of Mr. Tilney?
Although, how could he argue Mr. Tilney? Not only isthe leading man of Jane Austen’sNorthanger Abbeyperfect, but Henry himself directed Max in the role and knows there is nothing bad to say about such an admirable character.
Henry
I have your number now, Lucy. I don’t need to trap you into coffee to discuss the ridiculousness of the fictional men you are so infatuated with.
