Page 59 of Because of Dylan

I sigh. “There’s nothing, River. As soon as the lockdown was up, he kicked me out of his office. It was so awkward.”

“Of course it was. He’s a professor, and you are a student. He has to tread carefully.”

“Jesus! Sometimes you’re like a dog with a bone, you know?”

“No. It’s more like Professor Dick is the one with a boner.” She cracks herself up with the joke.

“Lame, River. So lame.”

She goes quiet again. “It would be a nice change, you know? Date a real man instead of those boys you pick up. You deserve a guy like him.”

My head is shaking with each word she says. “You know a guy like him would never be with me. He’s far too classy for the likes of me. He probably has a super smart girlfriend too.”

“What do you mean the likes of you? You’re smart. You’re pretty. You can be classy too.”

I laugh at that. Me? Classy? I’m white trash. My mother is white trash. She’s a slut, and I guess I’m not much better than her. She uses men to get money and get high. I use them for a different kind of high. I’m exhausted from the roller coaster of emotions I’ve been through in the last hour alone. I’m blindsided by my own feelings. It’s like an upper cut to the soul. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. And he’s a professor. I’m a student. That would never happen.”

“You’re nothisstudent. And you’re both adults. You can be discreet. No one has to know.”

“I’ll know. And he will know. Do you really think a guy like him would break the rules for me?”

“Yes, I really do.”

My phone vibrates with a new text message. Tommy. “Hey, River? I’m getting a ton of texts. I have to go. Glad you and your sister are okay. Call me later?”

“Yes, coward. Go. But I’m not dropping this. There’s more to this story, and I know it.”

River hangs up before I say anything else.

I tap the screen and open the text message app.

Tommy: Hey. My brother said he saw you and you’re okay. But talk to me. I want to make sure.

Becca: Yes, I’m fine. I was nowhere near the Austen building. Crazy stuff. What about you?

Tommy: I’m okay. I was in my dorm. Crazy for sure.

Tommy: Want to hang out tomorrow morning? We haven’t done that in a while.

Becca: Can’t. I’m at the hospital in the morning and have work after.

Tommy: Hospital?

Damn it. I’m too distracted. I didn’t think. I don’t like telling people about my volunteering at the hospital. There are always questions.

Becca: Yes. I volunteer there sometimes. I gotta go. Talk later?

Tommy: Sure. Don’t ghost me. :)

I shove the phone under my pillow and drift off to sleep.

* * *

Loud banging on my door has me nearly jumping out of my skin. How long did I sleep for? There’s light coming in from the window still, so not long. My heart is racing, and my groggy brain is trying to catch up. The banging comes again.

“Becca? Are you there? Open the door.”

I shake off the last hint of sleep and stumble to open the door. “Who is it?”

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