The Pleasure of the Dean by Ann Marie Nelson Page B

up.   He was unlike anything she’d ever known
before.   Sophie wasn’t a virgin, but
she wasn’t very experienced.   Her
previous sexual encounters were mostly quick hook ups with fellow students.   Sophie’s studies were her life and
finding a boyfriend was low on her list of priorities.   

 
    Even still, Sophie enjoyed the experiences
she’d had.   Nice, safe boys her own
age that she’d had nice, safe nights with.   But those boys didn’t hold a candle to Cole.   Sophie started to worry.   Was she falling for him?   “No.   I need to finish my residency.   I’ve worked my whole life for it, “ she
thought.   “Sleeping with the Dean
was not part of the plan.   I have to
be smart.”

 
    As she walked through the cafeteria’s doors
Sophie immediately spotted Osmond.   She broke into a wide grin.   Oz was surrounded by three young female undergrads.   “Some things never change,” Sophie
thought.

 
    Oz was always popular with the ladies.   He had an easy, playful charm that women
instantly reacted to.   Of course his
taut, muscled body and long flowing dark brown mane of hair was a big part of
his appeal too.   Osmond sang and
played the guitar in a local band, the “Recombinants,” and he looked every inch
the rock star.   The contrast between
his work persona as a brilliant postdoctoral researcher with a promising career
in Infectious Diseases, and his rock and roll persona as a bad boy, tight
t-shirt wearing, sexy guitarist, was an irresistible combination to women.   Well, most women.   For some reason, from the minute Sophie
and Osmond met back in Chemistry 101, they knew they were only going to be
friends.

 
                They
were randomly assigned as partners for a lab experiment.   Oz, ever the player, looked her up and
down, smiled appreciatively, and declared, “You must be a science major,
because I am feeling some amazing chemistry.”

 
                Sophie
rolled her eyes.   “You must be a
History major, because that line is so old.”
    They
both burst out laughing.   From that
point on they were study buddies and best friends.  

 
                Oz
was wicked smart with an innate knowledge of the natural and chemical sciences.
It wasn’t surprising he decided to pursue a career in research rather than
practice clinical medicine.    Once Oz completed his two year postdoctoral
appointment in Infectious Diseases, he could apply for big money research grant
funding.   Sophie knew every research
institution in the world would be clamoring to hire him.

 
    “Sorry to break up the love fest girls, but I
need my lunch date,” Sophie said, interrupting their fawning.   “Noooo,” they moaned in unison.

 
                “Sophie!”
Oz exclaimed, turning his attention away from the women.   He gave her a warm hug.   While in Oz’s embrace, Sophie made a
shooing motion with her hand.   The
three ladies dejectedly wandered off together.

 
                “I
see you’re still being hounded by scrubs,” Sophie teased, using their nickname
for the young co-eds who hung around the medical center, hoping to score a rich
doctor.   Or a potentially rich
doctor.   “Are you ever going to grow
up?”

 
                “Grow
up?” Oz said in mock horror.   “Why
would I want to do that?   Why would
I want to trade in my life of easy women and rock and roll?   I’d only give it up if you’ve finally
fallen in love with me, like I’ve been secretly dreaming all these years.”   Oz clutched his chest and pretended to
swoon.   “Sophie, you know you’re the
only girl who can set me straight.”

 
                “Well,
I guess it’s a life of easy women and rock and roll for you,” Sophie
laughed.   “Let’s get some tacos.”

 
                They
got in the long cafeteria line and waited for their greasy, yet awesome,
tacos.   “How can