Page 23 of Ruined Vows

“But some do, don’t they? Some professors?”

“I mean, sure, I guess it’s not unheard of.”

“Did you ever, with any of your professors?”

“No!”

“Not even the incredible Dr. Ezra?”

She laughs in my face. “Are you kidding? Have you met him? He’s so… God, he would never.”

I don’t know. If I had a pretty, young graduate student like Kira working for me, I’d be tempted to cross a few boundaries.Twenty-two. Jesus.

“But he’s young, right? And he teaches the serial killers class?”

“Oh my god, don’t even go there.” She leans in and hisses like she’s afraid someone will overhear, “Dr. Ezra is not my stalker.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I do!”

“But how?”

“I just do!”

“Can I meet him?”

“No!”

“Why not?”

“Because I have no doubt you’d embarrass the hell out of me. It’s bad enough having you here.”

I pull back and make a face. “Red, you wound me.”

“Stop calling me Red.”

“Nicknames are fun.

“Then call me something I actually like.”

“What nickname would you actually like?”

I think as I clutch my leather teaching portfolio to my chest, purse swinging over my shoulder. “I don’t know. My name is so short; why not just call me that?”

“Bor-iiing,” I sing-song. “Besides, nobody gets a nickname they actually like.”

“Ugh. Fine. What’s your nickname then?”

“Easy. Dump Truck.”

She huffs out a laugh. “Lemme guess. Because you’re such a giant?”

“Sure. We’ll say that’s why.”

She looks intrigued as we push out of the psychology building, turning to glance at me as the warm fall air hits us. The heat has lasted longer than usual even though it’s almost November. It’s still in the high eighties, though the wind is starting to smell a little crisper.

“What’s the real reason why?”

---