Page 29 of The Scientist

Lex stayed with me until all the Ts were crossed and the Is dotted. Rodrigo handed me the keys to my new, used car. I’d miss Marge, but I thought Agnes and I were going to get along just fine.

Together, Lex and I walked over to the Impala. Once we were out of earshot, I turned to him and said, “So I guess you speak Spanish, too?”

He smirked. “Didn’t I mention?”

I chuckled. “What were they saying?”

“They were just talking about what price they thought the dumb Americans would go for. They settled on $5,000 before I jumped in.”

I shook my head, grinning. “That was amazing.”

“It was nothing.”

I was so filled with gratitude that I threw my arms around him before I had the chance to think about what I was doing. He made an “oof” noise as I hugged him tightly, his arms pinned to his sides.

“Thank you, Lex,” I said sincerely. “I mean it. I don’t know what I would have done without you today.”

He patted me awkwardly on the back before I finally let go and wiped a tear that formed in the corner of my eye. My emotions were hardwired to my tear ducts. I had to stay somewhere between a four and a seven on the emotional scale. Too happy and I’m blubbering. Too sad and I’m sobbing. Couldn’t really manage to get embarrassed about it anymore. I just had to go with it as one of the many character flaws I possessed.

“You’re welcome. Glad I could help.” He put his hands back in his pockets, his cheeks burning a bright shade of red.

“I guess I’ll see you later then?” I sounded a little more hopeful than I intended.

“Yeah, see ya,” he said before turning and practically sprinting to his car.

I got into my new-used car and continued to wonder all the way home if Dr. Alexsander Strovinski really even liked me at all.

Chapter 8

Iwas enjoying my third cup of coffee and scribbling down lesson plans for next week’s classes the following morning when there was a knock on my door that sounded like“La Cucaracha,” so I had a pretty good idea of who I’d find there.

“Mon chéri. Please forgive my absence yesterday. That Thai food performed the second coming of Chernobyl on my intestinal tract,” Stuart said, bowing in front of me before handing me a long-stemmed pink rose that looked awfully familiar.

“Stuart,” I said, taking the rose from him and bringing it to my nose. “Did you take this from Professor Dunbar’s yard?”

“Oh, so what?” he said, making a swatting motion in front of him. “He’s got plenty and knows exactly how to grow more.”

I chuckled. “Well, thanks.”

“As part of my apology for missing yesterday, I’d like to make it up to you and invite you out to lunch today. I can show you around the area like we talked about. There’s this amazing Mexican restaurant that I just know you’d love.”

“And how would you know that?” I asked.

“Because who doesn’t like Mexican food?”

He had a point. “Can’t argue with that.”

“Great. You want to leave in an hour or so?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.” I was already picturing the chips and salsa. “Are your intestines up for Mexican, though?”

“Oh yes. Completely emptied, as a matter of fact.”

“Shouldn’t have asked,” I mumbled to myself. “Is Lex joining us?”

I probably shouldn’t have cared, but I was hoping we’d made some progress toward building a friendship, or at the very least,not having him look as if it were a razor-scooter-to-the-ankle type situation whenever I was around.

“I planned on asking him, but I think he’s out on one of his runs. If he’s back before we leave, I’ll see if he wants to come along.”

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