Page 55 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Not directly,” Rod sighed. “Though I have no doubt she encourages Stella.”
“What did Stella pull this time? Given the timing, I’m guessing it had something to do with our weekend.” I poured from the martini pitcher. The ice crackled as the liquid flowed over the cubes in the glasses.
“Bingo.” Rod shook his head. “This morning, she hightailed it to the HR office and told Rosemary I spent the autumn break with a student.”
“What the fuck?” I plunked the glass pitcher onto the bar. Stella’s antics irritated me, especially when it meant trouble for my man.
“Your secretary?” Walt asked. “Why would she do that?”
I handed a glass to Rod and one to Walt.
“She thinks I’m turning Wyl gay and is trying to discredit me so she can pursue Wyl.” Rod patted the seat next to him.
I picked up my martini and moved to sit on the loveseat next to Rod. “Rod and I figure Mitzi thinks if I marry Stella, she can ask Stella to fund her trips to Europe, new cars, cushy apartments, and so forth.”
“Shit!” Walt gasped before taking a hefty gulp. “The bitch is trying every angle she thinks of.”
Rod shook his head. “As I said, Mitzi may not be involved in this particular situation. Stella likes to stir the pot. She likes to eavesdrop.” Rod took a sip. “We’re not sure how, but she eavesdropped on Wyl and me making plans for the long weekend.”
Rod's Adam’s apple bobbed as he drank. Not that I paid attention.
“We were in my empty classroom discussing the trip to Kerrville.” Rod took another gulp. “A noise caught our attention, but we thought the water fountain kicked on. I’m guessing it was Stella.”
I laughed. “The way you two are sucking down those drinks, I’m glad we buy Tito’s by the case.” The ice in my glass clinked as I took a sip.
“I remember a full-figured gal sitting in an office near yours,” Walt said. “I assume she is Stella.”
Rod nodded. “You assume right.”
I set my drink on the coffee table. “So, what happened?”
“Dr. Waverly called me to her office this afternoon. The HR Director told her I took a student to my place in Kerrville during autumn break. Based on the information, Dr. Waverly thought I took an 18-year-old boy with me.”
“Really?” I found the assumption incredible. It was hard enough for me to crack his shell. Rod had no intention of doing anything with a teenage student.
Rod took my hand. “I had a lot of trouble with our developing relationship for the same reason, Walt. I kept telling myself to avoid getting close to Wyl because he was a student of mine. I never considered any physical encounter with a younger student.”
Walt hummed. “Your reluctance kinda explains the attitude when I called you to come to the ranch. You were disappointed with Wyl’s lack of contact and struggled with entering a relationship with a student.”
I stared at Walt, open-mouthed. “Since when did you study psychology, little brother?”
“You know better than that, Wyl. Your obvious hurt meant Rod was hurting, too. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure you each were dealing with the same issues from different perspectives.”
I shook my head. “You’re impressing me all over the place, Walt.”
“Yeah, Walt,” Rod said. “I never thought of it that way, but you’re right. Wyl and I each had issues we were trying to work through. Thank goodness you intervened and pushed us back together.” He took another martini sip. “Anyway, when I explained to her that the student I went with was a man in his 40s and the trip was consensual, she was visibly disturbed. Rosemary gave her incomplete and inaccurate information.”
“So, you’re okay?” Walt asked.
“Yes, but she brought up another more disturbing situation.” Rod took another whopping gulp of his Tito’s, emptying the glass.
I sat forward. “What situation?”
“An instructor claimed he saw you and me kissing in the courtyard.”
“What?” I gasped. I grabbed my drink so fast the liquid almost sloshed from the glass. One hefty gulp later, I raised my voice. “That’s a lie!”
“I assured Dr. Waverly that the allegation placed the incident during the two weeks you were off campus. As soon as I learned of the rumor, I talked with fellow division chair Janice Cartwright. I told her that unless the offender retracted the rumor, I would file sexual harassment charges against him. During my conversation with Dr. Waverly this morning, the rumor came up. She called as I drove to the ranch to tell me she had summoned the parties to her office minutes after I left, and the situation was handled. Believe me, several campus employees, including Stella, are now regretting their involvement in this fiasco.”
