Page 29 of The English Professor

Chapter 19

Leyna

It’s that time of theweek again and I must admit, I’ve been looking forward to it. Not just looking forward but counting down the minutes.

I’m sitting in the Dark Horse Pub, one of our favourite places in Castle Eden, not too far from the university, and waiting for Candace to show up. Normally she’s here before me but I suspect my eagerness has got the better of me.

Then I see her walk in, curly, black hair springing and a winter scarf pulled right up over her chin. ‘It’s bloody freezing out there today,’ she says before she even sits down.

‘It’s that northeast wind.’

‘It ismiserable. Why on earth did I move to the coldest part of England?’

‘To be close to me?’

‘That definitely wasn’t it, love.’

We laugh and give each other a quick hug, now that she’s peeled all her layers off, before sitting back down. I’ve already bought her a drink.

‘Oh that’s perfect,’ Candace says as she takes a sip. ‘What a week. We had four, FOUR, shipments come in and while that’s great, it completely changed everything. Laurent, that lazy wanker I have to work with, was off sick again. And before you say, oh but he could be sick, he’s not sick. He’s not even smart enough to not post on his socials while he’s off work. Ugh. So, while Laurent is living it up, I had to find someone else to cover his duties. It was utter mayhem.’ She takes another long drink.

Candace works at a drug discovery company, and she’s poured her blood, swears, and tears into it. It’s a start up and as one of the early employees she actually has some shares in it. The company won a North East business award last year, and largely thanks to Candace’s work, it has gone from strength to strength.

‘It’s amazing what you’ve managed to do with that company. You should be really proud of yourself.’

‘What’s this?! You are not allowed to make me cry on our Friday night out. But thank you. Now what about you? How has your week been?’

I pause. Where do I start? ‘Not bad. I decided against the live modelling for the evening art classes that I’ve been doing...’

‘Really? Last time we spoke you had me convinced this was a new career track. I thought you were really invested that.’

‘I was. And honestly, it was fine. It was more than fine, I truly did enjoy it. Added some spice to my life.’

‘Cinnamon was living her best life.’

‘But I guess my insecurities about someone finding out who I was got the better of me. You know the old saying,You don’t shit on your own doorstep.’

‘What!? I’ve never heard that before.’

‘Are you kidding me?’

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