Discern (13 page)

“So anything new you would like to discuss?” I asked, eagerly hoping he would mention Evelyn Cardwell.

“Nope,” he said, popping his lips at the end of the word.

“That figures,” I mumbled frustrated.

“What are your plans for the day?”

“Well, I was going to stop by the dealership today, but if you aren’t there, then that wouldn’t be a wise idea.”

“Yeah, stay away while I’m not there. I want to be able to protect you from some of the creeps that work there.”

“So, yesterday I got my dress for Friday night,” I mentioned casually. This second attempt would surely corner him.

“I’m glad you remembered,” he smiled.
     

“How could I forget?” I grinned, knowing I truly had forgotten.

“And what color is it?”

“Gold.”

“I bet it will look beautiful on you.”

“Hopefully the alterations will be done in time.”

“They will be,” he grinned. “Well, sweetie, I better get going,” he said nervously, seeming to avoid any possible discussion of his relationship with Evelyn.

“Already?”

“Yes, I need to be there by noon,” he explained, excusing himself from the kitchen.

My second attempt also failed. “All right, see you later,” I frowned, but he didn’t notice my expression, as he was already half way out the door.

This was not going to be as easy as I had speculated earlier. Evelyn had to have spoken with him after yesterday’s interaction, but he didn’t leave much of an opportunity to discuss it. So much for the easy fix, and now I was also left with the not-so easy fix—Andrew.

There was a slight possibility I would run in to Andrew tonight, as he did have a Tuesday night class, but I doubted it since we were in different buildings. That was a relief with the way things had gone so far today.

The day passed by rather quickly as I cleaned out my closet, deciding to donate some clothes to the women’s shelter. Ryan had asked me to volunteer this upcoming Saturday, and I didn’t want to show up empty handed.

Opening up to Andrew about my mother was the beginning of my healing, which made it possible for me to even consider going through some old boxes in the basement. The fact that it would benefit women at the shelter was also helpful. I found a few nostalgic items that I decided keep, but the rest could be donated. My mother was never going to wear her clothes again, but at the time of her death, I refused to let go of any of her belongings. There were still boxes I was unable to open due to their contents—contents I couldn’t bring myself to look at yet.

I headed out to the garage to grab the unmarked box that I had stored my mother’s pictures in, deciding it was a good time to put them back out—if not for myself—than for my father’s sake. Maybe this would be what we both needed to really heal.

After meticulously placing each picture back where it had been, I remembered the golden colored book that I had taken to
California
with me. It had been my mother’s favorite book. She enjoyed mythology, which was what I happened to be studying in Andrew’s class. I swiftly ran upstairs. Retrieving the remaining piece of luggage that I purposely left unpacked when I had arrived back home, I pulled out the book and placed it on my shelf. I planned on staying home for a while—so it would stay here, where it belonged.

After returning the book to its rightful place, it was time to get ready for school. I jumped in the shower. As I headed out the door, I grabbed a quick snack.

Touching the screen on my phone, I checked the time, as I had decided to wait out in the parking lot to see if Ryan was actually going to show up for class this evening. It wasn’t long before he pulled up in his old truck, spewing a trail of exhaust smoke.

I stood, leaning up against my car, gazing in his direction. He slid out of the truck.

“Hey,” he smiled.

“You’re in trouble,” I joked.

“Oh no, what did I do?” he asked grinning widely.

“Skipping school is bad and forbidden.”

“I’m guilty,” he admitted playfully.

“What were you up to?”

“Didn’t you get my million calls and messages?” he asked confused.

“No.” I replied. My new infatuation with Andrew must have temporarily blocked out reality.

“Weird.” His forehead creased. “So how was your weekend?” he asked cheerfully.

“Same ole same ole,” I lied—but it was necessary—Ryan despised Andrew.

“Me, too.”

“Did you work?”

“Yep.”

“Speaking of work, did you still want me to volunteer this Saturday?” I asked hopeful.

“Of course.” He nudged his shoulder against my arm.

“I did some cleaning around the house today, and I have a couple boxes of clothing that I’d like to donate. Would that help?”

“Sure,” he smiled. “You’re pretty trendy, so I’m sure they will enjoy the selection.”

“Oh please, I’m not that trendy. It’s been awhile since I did any shopping,” I half-smiled. “Actually, some of it’s my mom’s.” My voice dropped ever so slightly.

“Oh.”

“I didn’t go through all of her stuff, but it doesn’t make sense to keep the clothes when others can use them.”

“That’s sure nice of you, Haley,” he said softly.

Ryan swung his long arm over my head as he reached for the glass door leading into the Literature building. The smell of school, which was hard to describe—kind of a mixture between pencil shavings and new carpet—filled the air as we walked inside. Ryan’s hand lightly brushed mine as we proceeded down the hall, but I didn’t feel any sparks, as I had with Andrew.

My feelings for Ryan were very different than my feelings for Andrew. Ryan was definitely in the friend category, but I still wasn’t decided where Andrew fit in. However, I was definitely certain it wasn’t in the same category as Ryan. We stopped in front of my Literature class. Ryan shot me an uncomfortable glance.

“What?”

“Please don’t be mad,” he begged anxiously.

“Mad about what?”

“Umm…I ran in to Stacey and Kelly the other day, and they mentioned seeing you at the bookstore the other night,” he explained nervously.

My face dropped, and I was certain he immediately realized it. “Yes they did.”

“Were you there with Andrew?”

“Yes. I was sitting with Andrew, but I didn’t go there with him,” I clarified. “We just sort of ran in to each other.”

“Is there something going on between you two?”

“No,” I answered slightly irritated.

“Don’t be upset, I was just wondering.”

“I’m not upset with you, but the fact that everyone in this town is so worried about what everyone else is doing.” I rolled my eyes.

“This is
Boulder
, and you aren’t just any girl.”

“I’m a normal girl,” I insisted.

“You wish,” he smiled.

“Ryan, there’s absolutely nothing special about me.”

“Haley, please, you’re wrong about that, and everyone around here knows it.”

“Well, I better get going,” I said, grabbing the doorknob, wishing to cut our conversation short.

“See you after class?”

“Yep, see you then,” I smiled, pushing open the classroom door.

I kept glancing at the clock every few minutes, as I sat through an excruciatingly long discussion of the book we just read. Like me, most of the other students were dumbfounded as to why this was a reading choice, but I just assumed Mrs. Langley, my Literature teacher, was dreaming of an affair with a mysterious stranger.

She assigned our new reading material, which seemed more appropriate for the class, and let us go forty-five minutes early, which was highly unusual. After waiting for the other students to file out first, I eventually made my way out into the hall. I glanced over at the bench where Ryan usually sat, as his teacher typically let out early, but it was empty.

An obnoxious laugh burst out from behind the adjacent wall. I turned my head to see what was happening. To my horror and shock, Camilla Callaway, Ryan’s ex-girlfriend and my biggest rival in high school, was standing up against the wall outside of his classroom laughing with an unfamiliar girl. There was no way I was waiting for Ryan now, she was someone I did not want to run in to. I searched for the nearest exit.

7

Calamity

My heart pounded as I snuck out the second story double door of the Literature building, figuring it was safer to take the outside stairs to the parking lot. I looked over at the History building and thought about Andrew, but decided against heading there, fearing I might seem too eager.

We did, after all, have plans tomorrow night, and the time apart might be good to clear my mind of all immoral thoughts—the ones that had been swirling in my head since Saturday. There was a light, cold mist in the air that lightly wetted my face. I nearly slipped walking down the stairs as I had worn a pair of boots that apparently did not have much traction.

An unusually warm, but familiar, hand caught my arm before I could tumble down the concrete stairs, surely injuring myself.
Sparks
emitted from his hand and throughout my body. There was no doubt to whom the hand belonged.

“Andrew,” I smiled, widely, elated to see his captivating face once more.

“A little slippery out tonight,” he commented, grinning lightly.

“You always catch me at my worst moments.”

He popped open a large, black umbrella and held it over us. “I like to believe I’m just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time,” he smiled.

“I’m not quite sure lucky is the word you’re looking for,” I laughed. “Maybe cursed is a better choice.”

“No, I still believe lucky is the word.”

“Did everything go smoothly with your brother?” I asked, remembering back to his earlier comment on Saturday about his relationship with his siblings.

“Oh, yeah, it did.”

“That’s good,” I smiled anxiously–hoping that tonight’s ending would be different than last night’s.

“How did class go tonight?”

“Boring, but at least we’re done with that book.”

“Good, well not for the boring part, but that you’re happy.”

“How was your class?”

“Also boring, the same old tales of ancient battles between Gods that despised one another,” he sighed, as he stared off into the distance.

“Even though they aren’t real, they’re still more interesting than a married woman having an affair,” I scoffed.

He looked back down at me. His lips parted as if he was about to speak, but he immediately stopped, pressing them firmly together. His face appeared pained, but only momentarily. “Any plans tonight?” he asked, now smiling again.

“Nope.”

“Did you eat before you came to school tonight?”

“No, actually I didn’t.” I smiled at the anticipation of spending more time with him.

“So would you like to go out to dinner?” he asked hopeful.

“Hold on a second,” I smiled, as I tilted my head toward him—waiting for a second.

He stood there with a blank look on his face. “Hold on for what?”

“I was waiting to see if your phone would ring,” I teased playfully.

“Oh,” he smiled. “Not a chance tonight—if my phone rings, I’m not answering,” he winked.

I liked the sound of that—just the two of us alone with no distractions—except for my inner struggle.

“I’ll take you anywhere you desire,” he offered graciously.

There were quite a few places I would prefer to go, but my earlier conversation with Ryan came to mind. If
Boulder
residents were beginning to talk about a chance meeting that I had with Andrew at the bookstore, then seeing us out together again at a restaurant would surely cause further gossip. I was more concerned about Andrew than myself, considering he was my professor and it might affect his job or reputation.

“There are several places that come to mind, but I think somewhere quiet and further out of town would be best,” I suggested anxiously, hoping he took no offense.

“Are you afraid someone might see us together?”

“I don’t want to get you in any trouble with the university,” I said softly.

“Haley, I told you teaching is merely a distraction. I would resign if they gave me any problems.”

“My company is not worth your job.”

“I beg to differ,” he smiled.

“The girls can be horribly mean and rude around here, and I don’t want them causing you any trouble,” I insisted. Our encounter at the bookstore immediately came to mind.

“If it puts your mind at ease, we can dine somewhere outside of town. As long as we can be together, I don’t mind the setting.”

My heart fluttered. No, it more than fluttered—it raced. Attractive men had come my way before, but none of them had ever been so gracious and alluring. Our bodies were only inches away from one another’s, but even without touching, I could feel the warmth his body emitted.