Page 69 of The Boy Who Loved Wicked
“Ah, sorry, Professor Wicked,” he said, his naturally tanned skin competing with his blush.
“Manners, Mr. Jamal. Next time say excuse me first.”
“Noted, sir.”
“So, are you clear on what’s expected from tonight’s assignment, Mr. Michaelson?”
“Yes, Professor Wicked.”
“Good. You boys enjoy your weekend.” With that he slipped past Safrin and his contrite wince.
We were fifteen minutes into the final lecture before the long weekend, and Sebastian hadn’t arrived. That wasn’t typical of him, and the other students were beginning to stir. Tapping my textbook with my pencil, I kept my eyes fixed on the door.
“What are your plans for the four-day weekend?” Safrin asked from beside me.
“I’m meeting up with my best friends. We’re camping.” We hadn’t seen each other since graduation, and I was anxious to get everyone together again. Safrin’s family were on the other side of the map. It wouldn’t be worth him taking the long trip home. He hit me with his puppy dog eyes, wanting to be invited, but I was looking forward to venting a bit about Sebastian. I could do that safely with my Six-Pack, but not with Safrin.
I was preparing to break his heart when Sebastian came breezing into the room, one side of his collar askew, and the other housed a dry white substance that looked suspiciously like spit-up. I grinned into my fist as he made his apologies and instructed us to turn our textbooks to page 125.
I waited until his eyes crossed to my side of the room, then I discreetly tugged at the neck of my own shirt, hoping he got the hint. He cleared his throat and began speaking as he subtly adjusted the cuff of his collar. Nothing could be done about the stain.
The class hour sailed by and with the remainder of classes cancelled for the day, we were officially free. Even with weekends and the days I didn’t have Sebastian’s class on my schedule, I’d never gone more than three days straight without seeing him since the school year started. That was hard enough, an extra day already felt unbearable. Maybe if I could talk to him one last time. About anything. Questions about homework, the upcoming midterm,anything.
My plan to hang back until everyone left was thwarted by Safrin reminding me that I’d promised to help him with an assignment due that day for one of his other classes.
It was still early, and Sebastian kept office hours until the evening. I’d help Safrin and then stop into Bash’s office with enough time to spare before Mason picked me up.
No one manned the front desk of the Philosophy department, and the first few offices I passed along the corridor were empty. Had everyone left early? My heart sank at the thought that I’d missed my chance to speak with Bash, then animated voices and laughter rang out from his office. I considered leaving since we wouldn’t be alone, but a baby’s coo reached my ears, and I couldn’t stop myself from pressing onward.
Sebastian held his son in his lap while the secretary and clerk fawned over him. And I was consumed with a weird mix of envy and joy. I wanted to meet him. I wanted him to gaze at me the way he gazed at them.
“Phoenix?” Sebastian stood, careful not to jostle the baby.
Everyone said their goodbyes, making Bash promise to bring the baby back some other time. And then the three of us were alone. “Come in, please,” he said eagerly, shifting the baby to one arm so he could move the baby bag off the chair in front of his desk.
“He’s real,” I said, swallowing the odd need to cry. I hadn’t understood what I was missing before then. Seeing Sebastian in the orbit of his son was like witnessing a shooting star while perched on a cloud. It was the best seat in the house, and the view was breathtaking. Twin smiles, twin dimpled chins, and matching eyes. How could I feel lost and found at the same time?
“Do you want to hold him?” He was taking the few short steps to me before I could answer. He touched down in my arms and offered me the biggest yawn-smile ever, and I replied with a watery laugh. “You’re beautiful,” I said touching his soft cheek, and he nuzzled into me.
“He likes you,” said Sebastian in a hushed voice while watching us, while watching me. “I knew he would.”
“You did?”
“There’s so much about you to like. To love.”
My focus stayed on the baby, not trusting what I might say to that if I looked at Sebastian. But his words were the equivalent of waking up in the morning and remembering that you were alive. Nothing else mattered. “How’d he get here?” Didn’t make sense that he’d go home to get him.
That cleared the trance we’d been in since I entered his office. He pushed off his windowsill. “Emily surprised me. She went over to the cafeteria to pick up lunch.”
“Then she’ll be back soon,” I said.
“Yes.”
I rocked the bundle in my arms, brushing a thumb over his fingers that wrapped tightly around one of mine. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. “What’s his name?” I asked, then angled my head up at Sebastian when he didn’t answer. “What’s wrong?”
“Caleb.”
“What did you say?” My tongue so thick the words came out garbled.
