Page 7 of Meeting Melody
Or it’s the faculty meeting scheduled for the end of the day that’s been looming over my head. I got the email about it early this morning. It was sitting on my phone when I finally rolled over and checked it, once my heart rate returned to normal.
Just remembering twists my stomach into knots.
I don’t like unexpected things. The suddenness of it makes me think Jacob said something. He wanted me to lose control—but I don’t even know what that looks like. Would he put my job in jeopardy?
You hit him, Melody.
My phone rings on the way back to my office from my second class of the day. I have two hours before my next one, and then the meeting. Then I can go home and try to forget today.
I smile when I see the name scrolling across the top of the screen. Lucy Page. We went to high school together in New York, but it wasn’t until later that we became friends. She’s off living some lavish life far from here with a hot husband. Last I heard, they were traveling.
Enough gawking at my phone. I answer it swiftly.
“Melody!” Lucy yells. “You’ll never guess what I’m about to say.”
I chuckle. “Um… you’re pregnant?”
She chokes. “God, no. Although if I was, I’d name it Melody.”
“Don’t,” I joke. “Then I’d have to be the godmother.”
“Fairy godmother,” Lucy says. “With your singing voice? You’d be perfectly cast.”
“You’re ridiculous.” It gets me laughing, though.
“I’m in Crown Point. Well, I will be in about two hours.”
I stop in the middle of the hallway. “What?”
“Theo has a business dinner in town, and we’re making a vacation of it. We’re going up into Canada after. He’s going to be occupied tonight, though, so… what are you doing?”
This is exactly what I need. I continue walking and say, “I’m not doing a damn thing.”
“Perfect!”
I round the corner and stop dead.
Jacob Rhodes is leaning against the wall next to my office door.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter.
“You okay, Mel?”
I turn away from him to hide my grimace. To Lucy, I say, “Yeah, no. Just a student waiting for me when I have a million papers to grade.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about that.” There are voices in the background. “Theo’s telling me to get off the phone. See you tonight! I’ll text you—”
The line goes dead before she can say goodbye, and I roll my eyes. If there’s one thing she’s good for, it’s chaos.
For now, though… I’ve got to deal with the man waiting for me.
Boy.
Man.
God, I’m all screwed up about this.
I take a breath and consider just leaving entirely, not even turning around to look at Jacob. I’m already facing away, it wouldn’t be too much trouble…
