Page 113 of Volik

The idea of Volik having to watch me age and die…

I rub my hand in a circle.

That’s not fair to him.

He’s spent so much time waiting for a mate. Waiting for me…

It just wouldn’t be fair.

I’ll ask him, but not yet. He seems sensitive when it comes to me. And it is what it is. That question can wait.

I roll my shoulders out, psyching myself up for my class that starts in thirty minutes.

Yesterday went okay. But these are my Ethics students again, whom I haven’t seen since the first day. Before…

I roll my shoulders once more, practice a big smile, then push my car door open.

My phone vibrates in my bag.

I pause, debate ignoring it, then dig it out.

I pause for another moment, not recognizing the number, but still accept.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” a female voice replies with an exhale. “Gods, I’m glad I caught you.”

“Jenny?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry, it’s me. I snagged your number from your employee file. I’d say hope you don’t mind, but you’ll be thanking me in a moment.”

I start to smile at her nonstop talking, but it falters. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re going to want to circle around and approach Bates Hall from behind. There’s a handful of press—reporters, whatever—out on the sidewalk in front of the school. They’re still on public property, so the dean can’t kick them out, but if you enter through the back, they shouldn’t be able to see you.”

“You’re right. I will be thanking you.”

Jenny snorts. “You’re welcome. Oh, and the dean is in your classroom.”

“What?” My heartbeat jumps, and I close my eyes, forcing it to relax.

“Nothing bad. He’s just checking attendance. Making sure you don’t have any trespassers.” Jenny snickers, then hangs up.

It rings twice before Jenny answers. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Hey, uh, I was wondering if you’d go with me to the commons?”

“You want to go back to the scene of the crime?”

“Hardly,” I huff. “I just want lunch, and I don’t want to go alone.”

“Fair, fair.” I hear her rolling her chair across the floor. “You want to go now?”

“If that works for you.”

“Sure. You good meeting there, or do you want me to come get you?”

It’s such a simple question but says so much about the type of friend Jenny is. “We can meet there. But thank you for the offer.”