“I’m going,” I say, shaking my head. This isn’t going to get any better. Mom pulls me in for a hug before I can get away.
“We just love you, honey,” Mom says. “We want the best for you, and you deserve a person who understands all the amazing qualities that make you who you are.”
As we drive away, I feel like I’ve ingested a rock.
“Well, that didn’t go as planned,” I say. I give a little laugh, like it wasn’t so bad but it’s at least fixable. Jackson keeps his eyes on the road. “You don’t really have to go to the office, do you?”
“I do have a big meeting tomorrow.”
“You have big meetings every day,” I say. Jackson sighs. God, are we fighting? Or about to fight? I reach across and put my hand on his thigh. “Should we at least hang out at your place for a little bit?”
He takes my hand and kisses my fingers like he does. Like I love.
“How about this,” he says. “How about I take you out to dinner tomorrow night? Wherever you want to go. Pizza, lobster, steak; South End, Downtown, Back Bay. Your choice. Whatever you want. Sound good?”
“Yeah,” I say. A swelling is caught in my throat, so I clear it and try again. “Sure. Sounds good.”
When he drops me off at my apartment he gives me a kiss on the cheek before he speeds off down the street. Like he can’t get away from me fast enough.
Did I make a huge mistake by introducing him to my family? Did I scare him off?
I think back to what Mom said: He’s nothing like us. She’s right, and I’ve always known that about him. Maybe the differences are starting to divide us. I work hard at school and my job but I also understand the importance of spending time with family and friends (even if I’m not the most social person around). Is Mom right? Do I really know so little about him?
I do what Jackson is doing—I bury myself in work for the day. I have a lot of reading I can catch up on, and some research I can do at the library for one of my classes.
The library is fairly busy. Most seats are full, but it’s quiet aside from the turning of pages and light tapping of fingers on keyboards. I find a spot at a large table in the center and spread my books and notebooks out.
“Hey, Emily,” a voice says quietly. I look up—it’s a girl named Kera from my School Law class with Professor Stanwick…and Brent. She looks down at my books and sees I’m studying for our class. “What are you studying that for?” Before I can answer she says, “I heard you’re sucking dick for grades now.”
“What?”
“That’s what I heard. That after you bombed the last paper you offered Brent a blow job for guaranteed better grade.”
“Are you kidding me? Do people actually believe that? Do you believe that?”
She shrugs, indecisive. “I just thought you should know what’s being said.”
“It’s not true,” I say. “And you can tell that to anyone who believes that. It’s not true.”
After that, the day is a wash. I can’t concentrate.
I call Natalie on my walk home.
“What else is Brent Fuller saying about me?” I ask.
“Well…” she begins, and it’s clear she doesn’t want to say.
“Nat, tell me,” I press. “I need to know.”
“I didn’t hear him say it, but I heard from someone else that you’ve been spending a lot of time in his office. And that one time, when you were coming out, your skirt was on backward or inside out or something.”
“I haven’t been in his office in forever,” I say, fuming.
“Someone else said you’ve been going to his apartment.”
“I don’t even know where he lives!”
“I’m sorry, Em,” Natalie says. “I told those people the stories were bullshit. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“It’s fine,” I say, even though it’s not. What a petty little weasel Brent is.
“Are you going to tell Professor Stanwick?”
“Tell him what? That I heard his T.A. is spreading rumors about me? I have no proof.”
“Just keep your distance,” Natalie says. “Don’t give anyone any reason to think something is going on by staying after class or going to his office.”
“Do you actually think I’d go to his office after this?”
“No, I don’t,” Natalie says.
“Sorry,” I say. “I don’t mean to get snippy. I just don’t need this right now.” With things with Jackson feeling tangled up, I don’t need school in a knot either.
I stick to my word and Monday after class, I shoot out the door. I do not want to be seen by anyone to be lingering around. Besides, I want to get home and get ready for dinner with Jackson.