Page 79 of Bad Professor

“Nine, but who’s counting? Dexter certainly isn’t.”

“What kind of name is Dexter?”

That’s when Dexter walks into my mess.

43

Dexter

“Hey.” I glance warily at Carlos. I heard the shouting as I came down the hall toward Tilly’s apartment, and almost broke down the door, trying to get inside to make sure she was okay.

But it’s worse than I expect—I recognize her ex-husband right away.

He doesn’t seem her type. Slicked back hair, still wearing a nice suit at eight o’clock at night and with no hint of warmth in his expression.

I knew as soon as I laid eyes on him that this man would do everything he could to dim the light in Tilly because that’s what he had been doing for years.

“Everything okay?” I ask, skirting around Carlos and moving to Tilly’s side. I put my hand on her lower back and feel the tension.

“This him?” Carlos spits, mouth twisted with contempt.

“This is Dexter.” Tilly’s voice is shaky with anger. “Dexter, this is Carlos, my ex-husband. He’s leaving now.”

“You’re making a mistake.” Carlos points a finger at me. “You’re ruining her life. Her reputation. Can’t you keep it in your pants, man?”

Tilly makes a growling noise that I can’t believe came from her. “What did I just say, Carlos? Stop being such a fucking hypocrite!”

From the look on his face, I think that might be the first time Tilly has said the F-word in front of him.

“What’s going on with you?” he asks with disbelief. “I’m trying to help.”

“It’s none of your business, because I am none of your business!”

“You’re my business as long as I’m paying for your tuition. I thought you were an idiot wanting to go back to school, but you insisted and I went along with it.”

“Hey…” I want to interject, but this isn’t my fight. Tilly’s doing okay on her own. I have no idea what this fight is about really.

But I have a bad feeling it’s about me.

“Because you felt guilty about cheating on me,” she accuses. “You throw money around to make yourself feel better.”

“No, I do not. You’re the mother of my children—” Carlos takes a deep breath. “I’m not here to recap our divorce. You obviously still have some unresolved feelings toward me—”

I catch Tilly around the waist before she can lunge at him. I’ve never seen her this upset.

“—but I came over tonight to tell you this is a mistake. This… this loser… you’re running around with is lying to you. Do you know this—” He points another finger at me and non-violent me is filled with the urge to snap off the finger. “He’s had relationships with three of his students, Tilly. He almost got fired for it. He’s about to lose his job and he’s going to bring you down with him. And your family.”

How did Tilly stay married to this man for this long?

And then I realize what he’s said.

Tilly looks up at me with confusion. There’s no hurt, no anger at me, just What? “You told me—”

“Tilly,” I begin.

“You said this was the first time you’ve gotten involved with a student.”

“I said this was the first time I fell in love,” I correct in a quiet voice.

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