Perfect Fit(15)

LEAVING MY NIECE’S birthday party early to attend an alumni mixer at the university was not my idea of a good time. Holiday break was supposed to be just that – a holiday. Instead I found myself surrounded by stuffed suits all peddling to important alumnus who had deep coffers filled with money they could donate to their beloved alma mater. I would have preferred to be wearing a party hat and be mauled by the tiny heart snatchers that were the fruit of my brother’s loins.

Unfortunately, my attendance was required as I was the mastermind behind the joint campaign between Georgetown University and The Smithsonian’s Mayan exhibit, even though my department head, Micah Halverston, took all the credit. I wasn’t exactly sure why he needed me to be in attendance; oh yeah, in case someone had questions that he couldn’t answer because his interest in the project was next to nil until articles praising the exhibit began cropping up. Quite honestly, I was tired of saving his lazy ass every time something like this happened, although it had never before happened on a national level.

The blowhard wasn’t able to answer one too many questions and the biggest alumnus in attendance, Senator Baxter Thompson, narrowed his shrewd, gray eyes at Halverston before turning his attention to me. “I think you and your students did an amazing job, Dr. Brexler, and you should be very proud of the positive press the archeology and anthropology departments have received.”

“Thank you, Senator Thompson, for acknowledging the dedication of my students to see this exhibit become a reality. They worked tirelessly to make it all happen.” I had to admit that I was just a little bit of a fan boy of Senator Thompson, who was openly gay and a champion for LGBT rights, not to mention an extremely handsome devil. He was one of the brightest to attend Georgetown Law, as well as one of the youngest members of congress, and he had people fawning all over him all night long.

“It sounds like they had some amazing instruction.” The senator turned his full charm on me and I felt myself turning a little pink under his perusal. He smiled charmingly and I smiled in return. I half expected an invitation to get to know him a little better, but his attention was suddenly diverted. “It has been lovely getting to know you, Dr. Brexler, but I see an old acquaintance and I need to say hello.” He shook my hand in a hurry and made a beeline for someone in the room behind me. I was curious to know who he was talking about and turned to watch his progress, but then I wished I hadn’t.

I watched as Jag waved in the senator’s direction. A huge smile split his face and I found an unfamiliar feeling burning in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t like Jag smiling at Senator Thompson like that and I certainly didn’t like the hug they exchanged. I knew right then what kind of acquaintance they had been and understood the senator’s burning desire to reacquaint himself with Jag. I sure has hell had spent several nights tossing and turning with a burning rage of desire that I started to suspect only Jag could put out. Fuck, I wanted to reacquaint myself with his skills.

The fiery sensation intensified until I could feel it burning a path up my esophagus and taste my jealousy on my tongue. There was a part of me that wanted to stomp over there and break up their little bromance before anything could get started, but I held myself back. I made a big enough asshole of myself the last time I saw Jag and gave into my newfound jealousy, I refused to do so again.

Dr. Halverston began to yammer on about this alum and that alum, but I tuned him out and focused on the two gorgeous men engaged in a conversation full of smiles and laughter. It was during this intense scrutiny that I noticed that Jag’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. My jealousy faded somewhat as I remembered the times I saw the smile in his eyes when he looked into mine. Okay, so we were either playing basketball, fucking, or sucking each other off, but still… I had been on the receiving end of his genuine smile. The urge to see it again struck me between the eyes hard enough to make me dizzy, causing me to blink several times while I gathered myself.

“Are you okay, Miller?” I heard the concern in Dr. Halverston’s voice. “You’re not intoxicated are you? That would make the department look really bad in front of such an illustrious group of graduates.”

“Too much birthday cake at my niece’s party this afternoon, sir. I think my blood sugar dropped suddenly and left me a little lightheaded. I’ll just go grab a bite to eat from the buffet and I’ll be just fine.” I kept my voice modulated so as not to show my disdain for the man who thought I’d get tanked at such an important event. Some people could be so fucking intelligent, but didn’t have an ounce of common sense.