Page 157 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
Gabe
Okay?
Luna
I told you- you can’t just text that one word!
Gabe
Maybe I was hoping you would call.
Luna
I would but Kriz is doing my hair and Chloe’s snooping
Gabe
Hi to your friends.
I can’t wait to see you later.
Luna
Me too! This is it!!!
Gabe
I’m so proud of you, Luna.
For almost nineyears, I had been going to Sterling University in different capacities—a graduate student, a graduate teaching assistant, lecturer, and adjunct professor. As a visitor? This was a first. And I couldn’t say it felt comfortable.
“Professor Martins!”
I glanced behind me at a student I vaguely remembered from two years ago. I nodded, expecting that to be the end of it.
Instead, she lingered, eyeing me from head to toe. “So the rumorsaretrue? You’re dating a student?”
I raised an eyebrow at her and said nothing—not because I was ashamed of Luna but because it was none of her business.
“Martins!” Max strolled toward me, wearing a knowing grin. “There you are.” Glancing at the student, he said, “Congratulations. Shouldn’t you join the rest of your class?”
“Right. Thank you, sir.” After glancing between the two of us, she hurried to a group of students in the far right of the squad.
I wondered where Luna was but resisted the urge to search for her. Instead, I told Max, “Thanks, doc.”
He shrugged. “Anytime. How does it feel to know your girlfriend’s graduating?”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” I corrected him.Girlfrienddidn’t encompass who Luna was to me. “She’s my partner.”
Max elbowed my arm. “There’s that progressive perspective again. I love to see it.”
“Gabe!”
Turning, I found Tala walking toward us with Jason and Alonzo on either side of her. As expected, Jason’s presence attracted plenty of attention because people still considered him a local celebrity.
I hugged Tala and exchanged what Luna called a “bro hug” with Jason. To my surprise, Lonzo stepped in for one too.
“At least now I can’t bug you about dating a student anymore,” he said as he slapped my back.
