straightened my shoulders and forced myself to ignore the what-might-have-beens and get my ass to the bus on time. I arrived moments before the bus did, and quickly took my window seat. It gave me the perfect view of Eric getting out of his car in the parking lot and heading to the building.
Typical.
Tuesday morning I couldn’t bring myself to come in early. I’d slept horribly again the previous night, without even the benefit of sexy Eric fantasies. Thoughts of the cards and Great Glenna’s words kept me from sleep until the wee hours. It had taken two full coffees to get me to the point where I could leave my apartment and recognize the right bus line to take. Which meant I was going to be useless all day.
I don’t want to be dramatic about the situation, but the main thing that kept me going was the hope of an Eric sighting. And if Great Glenna was out there pulling some cosmic strings for me, preferably a sighting of him with his shirt sleeves rolled up. When I stepped out into the hallway and saw the light from his open office door spilling across the tile, I smiled. Okay then, this was much better. A quick glance as I walked past showed three other professors crowded into chairs in the space, all leaning in and debating something displayed on his computer. Eric didn’t even look up as I passed.
Shit.
Frustration wasn’t a new thing for me, so I continued on about my day.
I sat down and stared at my computer before glaring back down the hallway. This sucked. I’d spent the night debating Great Glenna’s words and finally came to the tentative conclusion that yes, maybe, possibly I would bring the cards in on Friday and talk to Eric about them.
Maybe.
My e-mail blooped at me and I knew that the real world was once again at my doorstep.
To: O’Donald, Glenna
From: Social Committee
Subject: Welcome Back Social
Message: Staff. Don’t forget that this
Friday is our annual Welcome Back Social. We’ll be gathering at the alumni building for a barbecue and drinks. Please make sure you RSVP to this e-mail stating any dietary restric- tions you may have. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available. We hope to see you there! The Social Committee
The reminder got me excited and it wasn’t just for the chance to have some of Monique’s home brew. Jasmine was right that the barbecue was the perfect opportunity to approach him. I didn’t have to worry about him not knowing who I was any longer, so there was no reason to avoid him. Plus, Jasmine had been right that the event was perfect timing.
I wasn’t so dramatic to think that it had been fate that had put Eric in my path last year at the barbecue. It had actually been Professor Mickelson. He’d been showing Eric around and I’d been surprised when he’d stopped to introduce us. I still remembered the race of excitement when Eric had taken my hand and looked me in the eyes.
Nice to meet you, Glenna.
There’d been something about the way he said my name, the way he always spoke it with precision, that made me hyper aware of him. That was the only time we’d spoken for months. I saw him, but he’d still been getting situated with the college, his new course, his students. I didn’t mind hanging on the sidelines looking.
Maybe this year I’d do something more than look.
And the barbecue was on a Friday.
Maybe...
The rest of the week passed in a similar fashion, with each subsequent day bringing me closer to needing to make a decision. I hadn’t taken the cards out from their hiding spot, but every night when I got home from work I became acutely aware of their presence. It wasn’t until Thursday night, after I’d had my shower and put my hair into a long braid that fell down the middle of my back, that I sat on my bed and stared at the nightstand drawer.
He was curious about the cards.
He wanted to see them.
Tomorrow was the perfect time to approach him.
I knew that meant I didn’t have to bring them with me. I suspected
Typical.
Tuesday morning I couldn’t bring myself to come in early. I’d slept horribly again the previous night, without even the benefit of sexy Eric fantasies. Thoughts of the cards and Great Glenna’s words kept me from sleep until the wee hours. It had taken two full coffees to get me to the point where I could leave my apartment and recognize the right bus line to take. Which meant I was going to be useless all day.
I don’t want to be dramatic about the situation, but the main thing that kept me going was the hope of an Eric sighting. And if Great Glenna was out there pulling some cosmic strings for me, preferably a sighting of him with his shirt sleeves rolled up. When I stepped out into the hallway and saw the light from his open office door spilling across the tile, I smiled. Okay then, this was much better. A quick glance as I walked past showed three other professors crowded into chairs in the space, all leaning in and debating something displayed on his computer. Eric didn’t even look up as I passed.
Shit.
Frustration wasn’t a new thing for me, so I continued on about my day.
I sat down and stared at my computer before glaring back down the hallway. This sucked. I’d spent the night debating Great Glenna’s words and finally came to the tentative conclusion that yes, maybe, possibly I would bring the cards in on Friday and talk to Eric about them.
Maybe.
My e-mail blooped at me and I knew that the real world was once again at my doorstep.
To: O’Donald, Glenna
From: Social Committee
Subject: Welcome Back Social
Message: Staff. Don’t forget that this
Friday is our annual Welcome Back Social. We’ll be gathering at the alumni building for a barbecue and drinks. Please make sure you RSVP to this e-mail stating any dietary restric- tions you may have. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available. We hope to see you there! The Social Committee
The reminder got me excited and it wasn’t just for the chance to have some of Monique’s home brew. Jasmine was right that the barbecue was the perfect opportunity to approach him. I didn’t have to worry about him not knowing who I was any longer, so there was no reason to avoid him. Plus, Jasmine had been right that the event was perfect timing.
I wasn’t so dramatic to think that it had been fate that had put Eric in my path last year at the barbecue. It had actually been Professor Mickelson. He’d been showing Eric around and I’d been surprised when he’d stopped to introduce us. I still remembered the race of excitement when Eric had taken my hand and looked me in the eyes.
Nice to meet you, Glenna.
There’d been something about the way he said my name, the way he always spoke it with precision, that made me hyper aware of him. That was the only time we’d spoken for months. I saw him, but he’d still been getting situated with the college, his new course, his students. I didn’t mind hanging on the sidelines looking.
Maybe this year I’d do something more than look.
And the barbecue was on a Friday.
Maybe...
The rest of the week passed in a similar fashion, with each subsequent day bringing me closer to needing to make a decision. I hadn’t taken the cards out from their hiding spot, but every night when I got home from work I became acutely aware of their presence. It wasn’t until Thursday night, after I’d had my shower and put my hair into a long braid that fell down the middle of my back, that I sat on my bed and stared at the nightstand drawer.
He was curious about the cards.
He wanted to see them.
Tomorrow was the perfect time to approach him.
I knew that meant I didn’t have to bring them with me. I suspected
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