Page 21 of Love, Academically
“Personal experience?”
“We’re not talking about me.” But they would have to before family dinner and drinks.
Lila blinked a couple of times and wet her lips, deliberating. Rhys waited.
A soft sigh, and then she answered. “My absolute best, biggest dream job, would be lexicography. It’s—”
“I know what it is,” he interrupted. “Writing the dictionary, the history of words.”
Lila’s smile was small and hesitant, looking for approval.
“I don’t think it’s silly. Dictionaries are the cornerstone of the English language. Words are the basis of all learning.”
Her face lit up, a beacon of excitement and happiness.
“Yes, that’s it exactly,” she said, blue eyes sparkling. “The history of words, their etymology, bringing new words and usages into our everyday language. I love it. I can’t think of anything better.”
He drank in all her passion. That was exactly how he spoke about the Angevins to his father when he told him he wanted to pursue history and not corporate business anymore. Dreams deserved to be nurtured, not squashed. He knew how it felt to be disparaged for wanting to follow your dreams. The least he could do was encourage her.
“So, why aren’t you doing it?”
It wasn’t as easy as all that. There were always things that held you back, always things to overcome. You couldn’t just say to someone ‘just do it!’, because changing your life like that was hard, and it was scary as hell.
Lila looked around the waiting room, pale lips turning down at the corners. Her leg was a comfortable, warm weight across his thighs. Her eyes rested on her fingers, twisted together in her lap, before meeting his.
“I’m not good enough. I don’t have the right qualifications or experience.” Lila scrunched up her nose.
Rhys frowned and opened his mouth to say that she could getthe qualifications, she could get the experience, but changed his mind. Not everyone had the luxury of money or time.
“It’s just a weird, silly little thing that I like. That’s what Jason always used to say anyway.” Her knuckles were white in her lap.
“I don’t think it’s silly or weird and I’m pretty sure you would be good enough.”
It was the truth. She was meticulous and detail-orientated, if a little fluffy and glittery. He didn’t see why not.
“That’s kind of you to say,” she said, tilting her head.
“Not really, it’s just my opinion.” Rhys shrugged. “You should have people in your life who believe and encourage you, not people who put you down.”
“I’ve got Jas and Maddy. But no more men. I’ve sworn all of you off completely,” she said with a brittle laugh.
“I don’t blame you. Jason sounds like a right dickhead.”
Men like Jason gave the rest of them a bad name.
“Yeah, well,” Lila said quietly, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear. “But never mind about all of that.”
Rhys studied her. There was much more to his colourful Departmental Coordinator than met the eye, and he was surprisingly enjoying this little chat with her. She hated baking but liked the end result. She loved words. She’d had a not-very-nice relationship, and she was dealing with the aftermath. Lila was admirable. And yes, with her pink cheeks and elegant sweep of her neck, she was quite pretty.
Chapter 4
Cocksure(adjective) cock·sure
Feeling perfect assurance, sometimes on inadequate grounds
