Chapter 5
LUCY
“Lucy!”
I paused on the steps of the life sciences building, turning back to see Professor Alison Putrovksi clicking after me in her stilettos.
The professor taught my animal biology class, and although she’d never entirely warmed to me, I always showed up to lectures, studied my ass off, and got perfect scores on all the exams. I knew people thought I was a ditzy blonde party girl, but as a kid who’d been ignored by everyone but the family dogs—only to lose both to cancer—I was determined to become a veterinarian.
It was one of the hardest educational paths: vet school admissions were even more competitive than med school.
It was one of the reasons why I’d wanted to go to Reina originally; they had a much better pre-vet program.
Instead, I was doing my best here at Tabb, and praying that my grades, extracurriculars, volunteering, internships, and recommendation letters would be enough.
I doubted working for the hockey team as an assistant would do much, unless the admissions people were hockey fans.
“What did you need, professor?” I asked her when she reached me.
She seemed out of breath. “I have news—good news. Reina and Tabb are starting a joint pre-veterinary program, with shared courses and curriculum. The students who are accepted can be enrolled at either school, but they’ll have to take summer classes.
The competition will be fierce, of course: they’re only accepting five students from all four years across both universities. ”
My heart started beating a little dance of excitement.
“That sounds tough,” I said.
“Yes.” She looked me up and down. “But I think you have what it takes to get in.”
My heart did somersaults. I felt like I was going to throw up. “Really?”
“Really. Your grades and effort reflect that. All you need is to keep them up for the rest of the semester…and a hell of a recommendation letter. Which I’m willing to provide, as long as…” she hesitated.
“As long as what?” I prompted, my heart graduating to cartwheels.
“As long as you continue doing what you’re doing,” she finished, although it had seemed like she was about to say something else.
“I can make that happen,” I promised. “Thank you so much. You have no idea…”
“Well, you’re not in yet,” the professor warned. “So don’t thank me. But I have high hopes for you and your future, Lucy. Don’t let me down.”
“Of course.”
I turned to go, and she put a hand on my shoulder.
“I was wondering…”
“Yes?”
“Coach Samson is your legal guardian, yes?”
Oh god, was I about to get in trouble for something else?
“Yes,” I said. “He really doesn’t have much to guard now that I’m eighteen. Although you try telling him that.”
She blinked.
Whoops.
“He’s overprotective,” I explained.
“Oh,” she smiled. “That’s an excellent trait in a father figure.”
Trepidation filled my lungs. Where was she going with this?
“Do you…happen to know if he’s single?”
It was my turn to blink. My breath caught in my chest.
“He…is. Why?”
Although I already knew why. Blake was hot, wealthy from his pro days and from the hefty salary Tabb paid him, responsible…a real catch.
“My brother is his assistant coach, and I’ve met him a few times. He set us up, but I want to make sure I’m not wasting my time barking up the wrong tree.”
She laughed. It was a nervous laugh, and had it been in relation to any other man, I would’ve felt sympathy for her.
As it was, all I felt was rage and hurt.
Coach was going on a date with her? She was going on a date with Coach?
I’d never known him to go on dates, even though deep down I knew he must be having sex with someone.
But to be confronted with it, and for it to be my professor… what was he playing at?
“No,” I forced myself to say. Because why did I care? I wasn’t supposed to care. Not anymore. “No, he’s not dating anyone as far I know. We don’t really talk about that stuff, though.”
Relief spread across her face in a sweet smile. “Alright, thank you. Of course, since he’s your guardian and I’m your professor, I know that this is…a little awkward. You’re okay with it, aren’t you?”
No.
Absolutely the fuck not.
Stay away from him, bitch.
But I couldn’t say any of that, so instead I smiled back at her.
“I have no reason not to be. Have fun on your date!” I glanced down at my phone. “Oh damn, I have to go to a study session at the library, but thank you so much again for the information about the program, professor. I’m really grateful.”
“Of course, Lucy.” She squeezed my shoulder. “You’re a good kid and deserve the best of everything. And who knows, maybe we’ll be celebrating together one day!”
Because she saw herself as “part of the family.”
I kept the fake smile on my face as I walked away, only dropping it when there was no one in sight.
It was time to get over Coach Blake Samson.
And I was going to have to do it by getting under someone else.