Page 12 of The Last Trip

“We don’t have to if you don’t want to, but I think it could be nice to sit down with her for a quiet lunch, figure things out. Decide what our next steps will be.” I lower my voice, trying to sound like him as I tease, “Make a plan.”

“You know I love plans.” His lips twist in thought as he looks away from me before finally nodding. “If you’re sure about this, I think it could be really good, actually.”

“I’m positive.” I kiss his lips, a feeling of dread in my stomach surprising me.At least, a second ago I thought I was positive.

CHAPTER TEN

HIM — BEFORE

I’m at my desk when I hear a knock at the door. Assuming it’s a student, I hardly look up from the essay I’m grading as I wave the person inside. “Come in.”

Slowly, the door opens and closes, and when I hear a man clear his throat, I finally look up. Squinting at the man standing at the far end of the classroom, I close my laptop. “Conroy. What can I do for you?” I fold my hands together under my chin, grinning at Conroy Langdon, my colleague.Friendwould be too nice. A lie.Acquaintanceis a bit too formal.Colleaguefits. I see him around campus, and we’ve worked together at a few functions, but he’s not someone I talk to regularly.

He takes his time descending the stairs toward me, his sweater vest and glasses making him appear as if he’s a movie version of a professor compared to my button-down and jeans. He’s not quite as cool as I am, and the students know that.

Pushing his glasses up on his nose, he calls, “I thought I’d stop by and see how things are going.”

We both know it’s anything but that. He isn’t exactly thestop bytype, and the tone of his voice alone tells me there’s more to it, but I’ll play the game. “Things are going well. How are things with you?”

Finally, he reaches my desk, crossing his arms as he stares down at me like a disappointed parent. Lord knows I’ve had enough of looks like that in my day. I stand so he has to look at me directly. He’s no better than I am. “Oh, they’re all right.” His eyes drill into me, clearly waiting for something, though I can’t for the life of me decide what it might be.

“Can I…help you with something?” I ask, cocking my head to the side. “Or were you just planning to continue to stare?” My tone is playful, casual, though I’m feeling quite the opposite. Where does he get off coming into my space, my kingdom, like he owns the place?

His lips press together, as if he’s physically concealing whatever might leak out, then he finally says, “The professor you replaced, Professor Lee, did you ever meet him?”

The question comes from so far out of left field, it may as well pop me in the head. “Um…no, why?”

There’s a shrug, a look of nonchalance, but none of it does anything to make me think there isn’t a point to this line of questioning. Sweat gathers at the back of my neck as my heartbeat picks up in my chest.Where is he going with this?

“He was a good guy. Great professor. The kids loved him.” He pauses, but it’s clearly pregnant with secrets ready to burst. “He loved the kids, too. Maybe a little too much.”

I quirk my brow. “What are you talking about?”

“He had a thing with a student, probably more than one, honestly, but he was caught. The girl’s parents were furious, caused a big stink with the dean, and Professor Lee was let go the same day it all came out.” He shakes his head, clicking his tongue. “He was a good guy, you know? She was nineteen. Legal, for all intents and purposes. Didn’t matter. It was against the rules, and they fired him for it.”

I let out a soft hum as if this isn’t interesting to me in the slightest. “Riveting bit of history, but that’s more yourdepartment, isn’t it? Why are you telling me this?” I press, folding my arms across my chest.

“I just…” He looks away, rubbing his lips together. “I wanted you to know what happened. No one here is above the rules.”

“Your point?” A muscle in my jaw twitches as I stare at him.

He takes a step back, shaking his head. “Friend to friend, okay? I’m just letting you know.”

A deep chuckle escapes my throat. “Why would I need to know that?”

His expression says it all. He knows something or thinks he knows something, but what? And how? Did Tyler tell him?

“I just thought you might find it interesting, I guess.” With that, and before I can ask any further questions, he jogs back up the stairs toward the door.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

HER — PRESENT DAY

The next morning, Cal’s plan is in motion. He’s confirmed that his daughter will arrive here at noon, made sure she doesn’t have any allergies or food preferences, and is now preparing a big pot of chili. I’m hoping the meal will warm me. I’ve felt entirely too cold inside and out from the moment Cal made the call.

I have no right to be upset about it. It was my idea in the first place, but my emotions are waffling all over the place. One minute, I’m fine. The next, I feel completely alone. Part of me worries I’m about to lose the only family I have left. That Cal is going to want to spend more time with her and less with me. After all, the hard part with that one is done. He’ll get the fun years without any of the struggle—the potty training and late nights. Here she is, arriving at our doorstep, as if she were a mail-order child, parenting not required.

Bitter, and angry with myself for being bitter, I fill the freestanding tub with water that is warm—but not too hot, per the doctor’s and Cal’s orders—and bubble bath from my bag. As I slip into the bath, my stomach rolls with the baby’s movement. She seems to like water as much as I do.

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