“Ex.” I grab my keys and head for the door. Ted follows as we walk down the empty hallway.
“Oh, I guess that explains why he looked at me like that.” Ted opens the door to the computer lab.
“He’s probably just worried about me. I had an incident with a student today, and he helped me out of it.”
“Is that what he means by ‘be careful around Randy’?”
“Yes, one of my students was, uh, I’m not even sure. Flirting or coming onto me? Anyway, he wasn’t taking no for an answer. Fortunately, Cody walked into the classroom at the right time.”
Ted stops. I turn to see his face flushed.
“What’s Randy’s last name?” Ted’s voice is tight.
“Sinclair.”
He blows out a breath. “Yeah, I know that rich prick.”
“It’s okay,” I assure him. “Cody told him he was my boyfriend and intimidated him enough that he’ll leave me alone now.”
Ted nods. “Are you sure?”
“Totally.” I flash Ted a smile and hope like hell I’m right.
CHAPTER5
Cody
A few dayswith Joseph turns into a long week. If I have to hear him tell me how great he is one more time, I might harm the man myself. I stare out over the campus as I stand outside the administration building. I haven’t seen Lucy since the confrontation with that Randy kid.
That fucking self-entitled asshole.
Yeah, I know his type. I went to high school with many like him. I want to track him down and teach him a lesson, but I know he’ll just find some way to take it out on Lucy.
And then her douche bag date. At least that’s what it looked like. The man looked like another rich asshole with his button-down, dress pants, and Rolex watch. But yeah, I might be a little biased.
I run my hand through my hair, trying to forget that guy. Maybe it wasn’t a date.
I have other problems anyway. Over the course of the week, Joseph has become jumpier, and I’m not sure why. He doesn’t know that I followed him that night to the food bank. He pulled the same thing last night and, sure enough, ended up there again.
I need to know what is going on at the food bank, but I can’t leave Joseph.
Maybe Hawthorne will agree to send someone to relieve me so I can look into it.
When I call him, I’m surprised he answers on the first ring.
“Cody! How’s it going?” Hawthorne asks.
I fill him in on Joseph ditching me two nights this past week, and something not being right about a food bank in a rich town.
“What do you need?” he asks.
“Another guy. Someone who can stay with Joseph in the evenings so I can check out the food bank.”
Yeah, I should ask for someone to investigate the food bank, but damn it, I need a break from this guy. In the evenings, he won’t shut up. Every. Damn. Night. Apparently, he never tires of talking about himself.
“Did you ask Trip to run a background check on the food bank? Hawthorne asks.
Trip is our go-to guy for anytime we need to learn more about someone. He has resources that can find just about anything. I’ve never met the guy but from what I understand he only communicates with a phone call or text. He doesn’t do in person meetings. No one seems to know why.
