Not only doI not show up for class, but I also skip my usual coffee this morning, which may not have been the best idea, but all I care about is getting to school. I had another sleepless night per usual but was able to get in a few hours of shut eye this morning.
“Someone is fidgety this morning.”
Luca is standing behind me smiling in a pink coat with his black and pink checkered pants peeking underneath. “I think that outfit should be enough to separate you from the guy who pretended to be you yesterday.”
He laughs. “How do you know it wasn't me?”
“Because I know you Luca, and you would never do something like this. You and me against the world remember?”
“Forever and ever, babe,” Luca says, lightly punching me in the shoulder. “Let's get this shit over with, I want some French toast.”
I laugh, throwing my head back. Luca always knows how to make me feel better on the worst days. Not many people can, and that's how I knew I didn't want Jamie to be someone temporary in my life because he has become another bright light that makes the darker days easier to bear.
We hurry through the hallways and rush up the stairs. Instead of complaining about not taking the elevator, Luca calls it his cardio for the day. A secretary with a name tag that says Brenda smiles from her cubicle, asking my name, and when I tell her, she gestures us into an office behind her.
“Mr. Jenson, I'm glad you could make it this morning. Who's your friend?” Mr. Tinsley asks with arched brows.
“This is Luca, remember? You said he came to talk to you yesterday.”
Mr. Tinsley shakes his head in confusion. “I don't believe this young man and I have met before. Are you sure this is Luca?”
I nod, grabbing my phone from my pocket. “I think I know who my friends are. I believe this is the man you talked to yesterday.” I hand him my phone with a picture of Rhys on it. “This man's name is Rhys, and he is Professor Castro’s ex-fiancé.”
Mr. Tinsley's eyes go wide the longer he stares at the picture. “This is definitely the man who came by yesterday, no mistake about it.”
Luca pulls something from his coat pocket, holding it in the air. “This is proof I am me in case you need it. I've known Tay here a long time and I would never come down here to speak on his behalf. If I was worried about him, the only person I would reach out to is him.”
Mr. Tinsley stares at the photo ID and then back at the photo on the phone. “Well, this does change things a bit. I do have a few questions for you regarding Professor Castro. Your friend is free to leave, and I appreciate him coming by.”
Luca slides the card back in his pocket, nodding. “Good luck,” he whispers in my ear before heading out the door.
I take a seat in the chair after putting my phone away. “What kind of questions do you have for me? I can promise you Professor Castro hasn’t done anything to harm me in any way.”
“He isn't blackmailing you or didn't ask you to send him videos in exchange for grades?”
I laugh, reaching for my phone again. “I have a feeling I'll be pulling out my phone a lot today so I might as well keep it out. I promise any conversations or exchange of pictures between us has been done willingly, and very mutual.” I pull up our messages to each other and set it on the desk. “I normally wouldn't show anything so private to someone else, especially not someone from school, but if proof is what you need to clear Jamie, then here it is. I sent that video without him asking. Jamie ended things with me in fear of losing his job once he found out I was in his class. But it was hard to go from us being together previously to a regular teacher and student relationship, which is why he agreed to speak with you about it yesterday. Seems like someone had already beat him to it.”
He grabs my phone and reads through the messages with focused eyes. “I'm not seeing any blackmail here. Did you ever consider dropping the class when you found out Jamie was your professor?”
“Yes, but I would lose my scholarship, and all the other chemistry classes that meet my schedule were full. I even submitted a drop form. You can check if you want.”
“But you still remained in the class after submitting the form.”
“Yeah, Jamie didn't want me to fall behind so he talked me into staying and said we could keep things professional between us while I was his student. But it was hard for me to do, and I'm sorry I got Jamie in this mess. Jamie is a good person, and he doesn't deserve to lose his job, not over some small misunderstanding like this one. My feelings for Jamie are genuine and have nothing to do with grades. I've always been an A student on my own—you can check my transcripts if you want. Check all the work I’ve submitted to Jamie, but there hasn't been much since we’re only three weeks into the semester.”
He nods, handing me back my phone. “I think I've seen everything I needed to see. Thank you for stopping by today, Mr. Jenson. I'll let you know if I have any more questions. As for now, I don't recommend you miss anymore classes. I think it's best you still don't contact Professor Castro in any way until I take some time to decide how I wish to proceed with this whole thing.”
I nod, hating that I can't speak to Jamie and imagining what must be going through his mind right now. “I understand and thank you for letting me explain my side. I think it is clear your visit from yesterday came from someone who did it out of anger and jealousy.”
He nods. “From everything I've heard today, it would appear that way, and I am sorry for all the misunderstandings and confusion this has brought on. I do hope the rest of your day goes well and hopefully this whole case can be closed soon.”
I stand up from my chair not feeling much better than I did before I entered. I still can't see or talk to Jamie and it looks like it will be another year alone on Valentine’s Day for me.
23
Jamie
My boss askedme to meet him in his office. I was up all night tossing and turning, debating on showing up to the gentlemen's club to ask for Jamie's friend, but Johnathan talked me out of it. The only messages I had in my inbox came from Rhys. He even flooded my email with apologies, begging me to answer him. I'm ready to close that chapter in my life for good.
