Page 12 of Falling for Mindy

“I’d ask that you not use the term postmortem so flippantly, Ms. Sayers. Since the facility is adjacent to a shelter for domestic violence survivors, a bit of sensitivity would not be misplaced in your word choice,” he said.

I nodded, a little embarrassed.

“Sorry,” I said, “that’s a fair point. Let’s say we’ll meet and debrief regarding my first assignment at the placement center.”

“Better. The words we use matter and can hurt someone carelessly. I have behaved with less grace when called out for insensitive language. Mr. Chambers, you’d do well to follow her lead in such matters.”

I was stunned at his praise, at his simple acknowledgement that I could take correction without being defensive. He told Jeff to use me as a role model, for goodness’s sake. The guy who was so annoyed he practically huffed and puffed like the big bad wolf when he saw me was heaping compliments on me in his office. It was disorienting, and kind of hot. Like, I wanted to fan myself with a folder or whip out a lace fan like a Southern belle and bat my eyes at him.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Jeff cleared his throat. “I’ll see you Wednesday then.”

We both got up and left. As we walked down the hall, Jeff elbowed me, “Teacher’s pet,” he laughed. I rolled my eyes, but I knew my cheeks were pink.

I messaged Katie on the way to my next class, telling her we needed to stop for a drink later. I needed a margarita the size of my face after this day.

CHAPTER 8

KYLE

This bar was a lot more my style than the club we went to before the semester started. The guys and I had settled onto stools at the bar at Jim’s, a local dive a few blocks away from campus—far enough it wasn’t full of students but close enough for convenience. I knocked back a beer, feeling my tension unwind a little just being here with my best friends and relaxing with a drink.

“So what’s up?” Hamilton asked after he finished an email on his phone. “Is it already that bad only two weeks into the semester?”

Aaron chuckled and cuffed me on the shoulder. “Yeah, man, you miss us that much? You gotta call an emergency meeting? Maybe I’m not training you hard enough.”

I rolled my shoulders back, a little stiff from the hour and a half of circuit training I did earlier. I was content to let them joke around for a while, as I was a little preoccupied. As much as I’d wanted to gather them here for a drink to discuss my problem, I hesitated. If I could sit here, listen to them give each other hell for an hour while I drank a few beers, I’d be content.

But no such luck, because Drake, his detective past rearing its ugly head, narrowed his eyes at me, “What’s really going on, Kyle?” he said.

I set down my empty bottle and made myself admit it.

“Nothing helps,” I said, feeling myself sag on my stool, “the blonde I ran into at the club right before the semester started, the gorgeous one I couldn’t get off my mind,” I paused. Aaron nodded, not laughing for once, because he knew already.

“What about her? Is she a psycho stalker?” Rick asked.

“Worse,” I said grimly. “She’s a student. Sits front row center in my 8:30 on Monday morning.”

“First thing in the morning, ugh,” Aaron said.

“Missing the point,” Drake said to him. “You’re attracted to a student. As long as you’re not acting on it, you follow the rules, you’ll be fine.”

“There’s more,” I said with a groan.

“You fuck her already?” Rick asked.

“You are the poet of the club, aren’t you,” I replied wryly. “No I did not fuck her. And I’m not going to.”

“You said there was more,” he reminded me. “What, is she trying to sell you essential oils or diet tea or something? This better be good. I have an early class in the morning.”

“Calm your tits, Rick,” Hamilton said. “Let the man speak. Something’s bothering him.”

“Fine,” Rick said, “go ahead.”

“Well, Dr. Amboy, the vice chair of my department, asked me to take over and serve in the capacity of advisor to the interns at the women’s shelter job center.”

“Ok, and?” Rick prodded.

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