Page 57 of Switch
Then I zip my pants and throw him a wink, because I know it’ll make him choke on his spit.I am not disappointed.
I glance back at Fallon.“Come on, babe, let’s get you some water and something to eat.You need to hydrate after all that activity.”
ChapterSeventeen
Fallon
PJ:Can I see you this afternoon?I’m dying to put my mouth on you again.Also, I have something I want to talk to you about
Fallon: I was hoping so.The security guy you recommended is coming over.I’d like you to be there.
PJ: I’ll be there.Need to make sure my baby stays safe
I roll my eyes as I cross the BAU campus on the way to the Littman Language Arts building.After getting wrapped up with PJ and taking care of Bruiser these last couple of weeks, the fear over that greeting card has almost faded into the background of my mind.
Nothing came of my visit to the police, nor any further poking around at the card shop or the flower shop.With no further avenues to pursue and the knowledge that nothing happened after the previous cards appeared, I decided for my sanity’s sake to let it all go.
Still, PJ’s been insistent that I meet with Everett Cartier, the security expert his friend recommended, to be on the safe side.A few cameras or motion sensors or whatever couldn’t hurt.The pressing issue for the moment, though, is throwing myself into the beginning of a new school semester.
Fallon: I’m looking forward to seeing you, Keeper.
So what if he’s younger?He makes me happy.What else matters?
To be honest, I can think of a few things that matter.Still, I’m falling hard for this guy.I want so badly to believe that anything else can be overcome.Like my family.They didn’t love Marina either, but we all managed to get along.
I smile as I approach the building and slide my phone into my pocket so I can pull open the heavy door and find my way to my classroom.My logical brain keeps telling me it’s a little silly, letting a much younger man dominate me, but I can’t deny that I’ve felt more alive and more focused since PJ entered my life.He’s been good for me.
The classroom is buzzing when I walk in, the hundred-seat auditorium slowly filling up with freshmen who may or may not be interested in literature but are being forced to learn anyway.
There are both pros and cons of teaching a required course.Job security, for one, and not having to worry too much about whether the students like me.They’ll do the work or they’ll take the class again next year.Nobody wants that.
When the hour strikes, I pull out my seating chart template and a stack of syllabi, which I pass to a student in the front row.“Send these around, would you?”
The young man, dark-skinned with wire glasses, seems startled by my speaking to him, but does as he’s told.You can always count on the kids sitting in the front row.They’re the ones who got straight A’s in high school and are bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to do the extra credit.
“Okay, everybody, listen up.”I wait for the murmurs to die down and most eyes to be on me.A few students are still on their phones, but that’s to be expected.I don’t make a huge deal about it.These kids are adults now, whether they like it or not.
“Everybody, please take a moment to decide if you’re happy where you’re sitting.If you want to move, do it now.University policy requires that I track attendance, which is a massive pain in the ass in a classroom this size.”
There’s some snickering around the room.
“Rather than waste my time and yours, I will take attendance once, today, and then I will rely on a seating chart so that I can see easily who is missing.So, again, anyone who wants to move, please do so now.”
A couple of girls who had trickled in late move from the back to farther up front, but otherwise, people remain where they are.
“Good.”I proceed with taking roll, carefully mapping each student as they raise their hand to the little boxes on the paper in front of me.After a semester of wasting time taking roll every class, this solution has worked best with my visually oriented brain.At the end, only two students are missing, which isn’t bad.Mala Patel and Philip Jeffries.
Another upside of teaching a required course.You don’t have to worry too much about fluctuating rosters.Most of the kids stay, because they have little choice.
“All right, a few more housekeeping items before we get into the material.At least fifty percent of your tests and quizzes will come from class notes, so take good notes.If those of you in the shadowy seats at the back are thinking I’m not likely to notice if you miss a few days, you might be right.However, your quiz grades will let me know.If you need to miss class for a legitimate reason, send me an email and I will do what I can to work with you.And because I get this question far too frequently, I’ll go ahead and spell it out for you.A doctor’s appointment is an excusable reason to miss class.A hangover is not.”
More snickering.
“Any questions?”
Approximately two hundred pairs of eyes stare at me as if they’re a gaggle of deer and I’m bearing down on them with blazing headlights.
“Good.Now, let’s get into the syllabus.”
