Connie frowns. “Did you get to read it?”
“No, it’s in evidence, but the officer summed it up. Ted said he had to leave town, but he would come back for me someday. He signed it ‘your prince in shining armor.’”
Her face scrunches up. “Shining armor? What the hell? Was that some kind of personal joke you two had?”
I frown. I have no idea why he used that line. It’s become clear that I didn’t really know him.
One thing that has made me feel better is that no one suspected anything was off about Ted. The police have interviewed a few other computer science professors and his teacher’s assistant. Liz called and told me everyone is talking about it, and no one suspected he could do anything like this.
Everyone is talking about it. Ugh. Maybe it was for the best I haven’t been around this week. I glance around. The bar is a typical college-town pub.
“I don’t care if you see students you know, we are not leaving,” Connie says firmly.
I laugh. “It’s fine. I don’t plan to get drunk, so no worries.”
“I understand wanting to look professional, but you are on your own time now.”
I shrug. “Problems of living next to a college town.” I take a sip of the large margarita Connie ordered for me and focus on what’s really on my mind. “I know I keep saying I’m not ready to talk about Cody, but I think I finally am.”
“Did you decide what you want to do?” she asks.
I suck in my bottom lip, nervous to hear her opinion. “Well, I was going to tell my father to back off so that Cody and I could be together. Now that he’s gone, there’s really no reason we shouldn’t be together. I’ve worried that he’s controlling, but now that I’ve had time to think, I think I may have overreacted. I don’t think he’s controlling so much as he is trying to keep me safe. It was just the idea of another man trying to control me. I couldn’t take it.”
Connie grins.
“What?”
“I’m glad you reached that conclusion.”
“You are?”
She rubs my arm. “Sweetie, I’ll admit, when I first heard Cody was in town, I didn’t like it at all. I remember how you were freshman year. But when I saw how you were around him—and more importantly, how he was around you—I realized you two are meant to be together. I’m so sorry your father interfered. But there is still time to fix it and make things right.”
“I’m not so sure. You should have seen how hurt he looked when I told him I turned to my dad for help.”
Connie winces. “Yeah, I doubt that went over well.”
“It didn’t. And with everything that has happened, he has every reason to not want to pursue something.”
“Has he called?”
I nod. “He’s left a few messages. I haven’t responded yet. Honestly, I don’t know what to say.”
Connie grabs my hand. “You need to call him back. Say something that will sweep him off his feet.”
I laugh. “Yeah, no pressure there.”
She frowns. “I forgot for a moment you don’t watch romantic movies. You know, you should because they are full of ideas.”
I roll my eyes. “You know I don’t believe in that fairytale stuff.”
“Why don’t you invite him here so you two can talk?”
Invite Cody here? Now? I begin to sweat, imagining Cody here at this table. I take a gulp of my margarita as my mouth runs dry. I want to see him, but I’m afraid he’s going to say I’ve done too much damage to us. Connie is staring at me.
“I can’t, I’m out with you. Besides, did you forget the part where I’m not sure what to say?”
“It’s not that hard. You tell him you were wrong, you’re sorry, and that you still love him.”
