Page 69 of When Darkness Calls

“Yeah, um…her class ended a little bit ago, but I got here a little late. She, um, she texted me and said she was talking to someone...um, about a project? So, I have some time. Um, but, but what about you? How has the semester been going? Any good prospects this year, sir?”

Please, God, let him believe me.

“You know, there are actually a few I have my eye on. I think one has caught the eye of my assistant as well. She has a lot of potential to be something great. Quite like you did, Grayson.”

My ears perk up. “Yeah? Someone as good as me? Professor you wound me.” My hand clutches my jacket and he shakes his head.

“It is the way of life. My assistant in Foundations has been speaking with her one on one.”

That definitely piques my interest. Wait, didn’t Dani say she had been talking to Logan’s TA?

The nervous energy rolling through my body heightens. Fuck, has she been talking talking to this guy?

Does she like him?

“It seems they might be working closely together. She had come to him asking for some more individualized guidance on her portfolio. So, I am quite excited to see what she brings to the table with him overseeing her work.”

I nod along, but deep down the jealous rage boils. This fucker has been twisting the whole situation. Has he misunderstood the conversations she said they had? Is he just stringing her along?

Has she been texting him and having “accidental” lunch dates, thinking that he wants more, and he’s just turning around making it seem like she’s completely helpless in that class when I know damn well, she’d most likely be a better TA than whoever this fuckwit is.

There is absolutely no way Dani would want to work with him. That girl would rather walk through burning glass barefoot than ask for help. Dani prefers working through her problems on her own, especially those that deal with her craft. Which is one of the very admirable traits that she has.

“That’s great, sir. So…Who is the unlucky guy that got saddled with you?” My smile is like brittle plastic and he chuckles.

“I think you may remember him. He was in the class you assisted with. Ethan Cochrane. He is a fifth-year senior. Why do you ask?” He raises a thick graying brow. I nodded to say that I do remember, but really, I don’t. The name doesn’t even sound familiar at all.

“Just curious is all, sir. Wanted to know who my competition is for the best assistant you’ve ever had.”

He snorts at the joke. “I doubt that would be a very close competition, son. He seems to be…having issues with taking on the mentor role.” I nodded in understanding.

Probably because he’s not taking the shit seriously and using the position to be a little fuckboy.

Logan snaps his fingers, pointing it in my direction with a gleam in his eye. “Perhaps we could arrange a little meeting between the three of us. It could be really good for him to speak with someone one on one who has experience, but who he has also seen in this role personally.”

“Oh. Um, I’m not so sure that—”

“It wouldn’t take up too much of your time, Grayson. Just impart some guiding wisdom and advice for how he can improve.” He eyes me, hope pouring from his words.

“I—…yeah. I’ll think about it, sir, and I’ll let you know.”

Logan beams, reaching out to grasp my hand again, shaking it enthusiastically.

“Thank you, my boy. That’s wonderful. I do hope to hear from—” he stops jerking on my arm, letting go abruptly and staring at the watch on his wrist. “Shit. I have to go. Caroline’s going to have my neck if I’m any later to pick up the grandkids. It was so great to see you, Grayson. Please, feel free to stop by my office any time. Especially on the days you’re waiting around for this lovely girlfriend of yours.”

I say my farewell, chuckling quietly as he bustles through the back parking lot like a hurricane. That man hasn’t changed at all.

He sidles up to a car beside a dark gray van, quickly opening the door and collapsing in the driver's seat. In moments he’s peeling away, throwing a small wave at me as he passes.

It’s warm today. The sun beats down, the heat broken up by the fluffy clouds that pass overhead. If not for the constant, thick breeze rustling through the tree branches, I’d think it would be more like an early June day instead of mid-September. Despite the weather being warmer than I’d hoped this time of year, it’s the only thing that’s keeping the full force of fall at bay. Leaves billow from the tree tops, falling into small piles that have started to form around the base of the trees in various shades of greens and yellows. A couple of orange ones sprinkled in, but I think it’s still a little too early to have the whole array of fall colors.

I can’t wait. I know Dani can’t either. The later half of the year has always been my favorite. I love the foggy, rainy mornings where the sky is gray and the mountains loom like dark giants sleeping in the distance. The chilly evenings when the sunset bleeds into a starry sky glittering bright and the smell of campfires fill the air. Those quiet late nights when the snow blankets the world and peace settles in your bones.

It’s the time of year when things feel like they will be okay. It reminds me of my sister, my mom, Marlene, and everything I have lost, but also of everything I have gained and fought for.

It reminds me of Dani and the uninhibited joy she had when we were decorating, the sparkle in her eyes when she’s watching the old horror films, how she hangs on to every word when she hears someone telling a ghost story.

The holidays spent with her and Cade and the guys making cookies and baking pies with Marlene. Of nights filled with classic Christmas songs on the radio and all of us arguing over who would put the star on top of the tree—spoiler it was always Dani.