Chapter 17
17
“It was 1998 when I went to Big Bear and met Ben.” Rose sat at the table, speaking into a recorder while Tovah wrote down the pertinent details. She’d promised to help with her grandma’s book project over the winter holidays. “Your Grandpa had been gone for about two years at that point. It was the first real trip I’d taken since he’d passed, and I honestly wasn’t expecting to have such a good time. A really good time as the case happened.”
Tovah glanced up and smiled. “I take it things progressed with Ben.”
“We were only in our fifties at the time. Still young enough to get it on without breaking a hip.” Rose made a face. “Though Ben, bless him, was in great physical shape, he wasn’t that great between the sheets.”
Tovah laughed. “Grandma.”
“Well, it’s the truth.” She waved the comment away. “I mean, he got the job done, eventually.”
“Slow and steady wins the race, they say.” Tovah typed a few things into the computer, careful not to use Ben’s name. She simply wrote B.
“Well, sure. As long as the slow and steady is done with good technique. Doesn’t matter what it is, from painting to pleasure, a sloppy job is still a sloppy job.”
And just like that a memory of how good sloppy could be hit Tovah like a dart to a bullseye. She picked up the notebook in front of her and started fanning herself.
Was she too young to have hot flashes?
“You’re thinking about Zach,” Rose accused.
Trying to act nonchalant, Tovah dropped the notebook. “What makes you think that?”
“Child, at my age, I can tell when a man has it where it counts. That man promises to know the way around a woman’s body.”
“I’m neither verifying nor denying that statement.” Tovah pointed at the recorder. “Continue with the story about Big Bear.”
Beside her, her phone buzzed, and she glanced down to look at the number. It looked familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she’d seen it before. Tovah held up her finger to stall her Grandma’s tale. “Hello?”
“Tovah? Wow, I didn’t think you’d answer the phone.”
Her blood ran cold, and she took the phone away from her ear. What was Vincenzo doing calling her? First instinct was to hang up on him. Second, was to figure out what the hell he wanted and how he’d gotten around the blocks. She put the phone on speaker and made the quiet gesture to Rose.
The last few times he’d tried to contact her, she had refused the call. Left texts unread. Hadn’t he gotten the message she didn’t want to speak to him.
“An oversight,” Tovah explained. “I recognized the number, but not from where.”
“Oh.” A few beats. “Don’t hang up. I wanted to talk to you about something important. Is there a chance you can meet with me tomorrow. We can meet at Shay Café for coffee.”
Rose’s eyebrows rose as she recognized the voice. She shook her head.
“I don’t even live in town anymore. I moved almost five months ago.” Not quite that long, but he didn’t need to know. “So, no. I can’t meet you at Shay Café.”
For that and so many other reasons. Thank God her family hadn’t told him that she was with Rose. Then again, knowing Vincenzo, he was afraid of Rose.
“I…hadn’t heard you’d left town.” Another few beats of silence. “Where are you?”
“Just tell me what you need to speak with me about.” Tovah used the track pad on her laptop to save the work she’d helped Rose complete during this particular session.
“It’s nothing I want to talk about over the phone.”
God in heaven had he made another huge mistake?
“Clean up your own mess this time, Vincenzo. I’m not even a part of the company anymore, so making me the scapegoat isn’t going to work.”
“I’m sorry how things went down.” A huge exhalation. “This isn’t about that.”
Tovah raised a brow though he couldn’t see it. “Then what?”
“It’s your cousin, Daphne. She…I don’t know…she’s…”
“I’m going to hang up. I don’t want to get into a discussion about you and my cousin. It’s none of my business. I told Rose to pass on my regards on your upcoming nuptials. That’s all I’m going to say on the matter.”
Her finger hovered over the end button, when he yelled, “Wait!” As if he knew she was about to disconnect.
“No. This is a highly inappropriate call. If you’re having trouble with Daphne then you need to speak with someone who is close to her, or better yet, take your concerns directly to her.”
“I can’t. The problem isn’t with her. It’s me…”
“Vin…”
“No, listen. I’m having trouble…”
Oh, shit. Tovah picked up the phone again and took it off speaker. “What kind of trouble?”
“I can’t seem to get…you know…excited about her.”
Tovah rolled her eyes heavenward, looking for salvation. “That sounds like a medical issue. Have you spoken with a physician?”
Rose made a speculative expression with her eyes wide. She didn’t leave the room or give Tovah privacy for this unwanted phone call confession.
“No. I don’t think it’s medical.” An aggravated sigh. “I think it’s you.”
“Me?” Shock had her voice going up an octave and several decibels. “How can this possibly be my fault? And if you say I’ve used witchcraft or anything else idiotic, I’m hanging up.”
“No. It’s not that.” The beat was longer this time. “It’s just you. When you wrote that brief and salty resignation letter at the board meeting. Wow. I just…”
“This is over my form of resignation?” Confused and more than willing to fist pump in victory that someone had taken her seriously, she refrained from doing so.
“Yes. It was so out of the box and badass of you. I never would have expected it. Frankly, it turned me on. I can’t seem to forget it. Or the look on your face as you walked out.”
“And this has cooled your ardor for your new prospective bride?”
“Surprised me, too.” He gave a nervous laugh. “When I’m with her, I keep seeing your face, and thinking about you. I know I screwed up, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Tovah blew out an exasperated breath. “Well, try.”
He acted as if he didn’t hear her. “I know this is a big ask, but wherever you are, I’ll come to you.”
Wait. What?
“Um, what for? You need a doctor or a therapist. I’m neither of those things.”
“That’s not what I need. I need you. Let me prove to myself that I’m able to get excited about someone.”
“Nope. Not happening. I’m sorry you’re having confidence problems, but that’s not on me. And I won’t be able to solve this for you.” Not to mention this was some major psychological issue that needed untangled. Even if she did agree to meet him and try to get him off—if that’s what he was asking—there was an entire full bag of shit for him to unpack.
“Please, you’ve got to.”
“I don’t got to do nothing.” She used her best colloquial speech. “Besides, I’m seeing someone and I’m not going to cheat because you finally saw in me the person I was all along.”
Rose silently applauded at that.
And he hadn’t apologized for letting her take the damn fall for his mistake. Saying he was sorry for how things went down was a far cry from taking responsibility for his actions and mistakes.
The fact of the matter, she wasn’t truly beholden to Zach. Yes, they’d slept together, but he hadn’t made an effort to woo her since. The itch had been scratched and she’d been dropped like it was December 11 th .
Vincenzo, however, didn’t need to know that small fact. As far as he was concerned, she was unavailable and would remain so for the foreseeable future.
The entire situation was insulting in the least. Complicated and outside her area of expertise at the worst. What did he think he was going to do, come here, fuck her, then go back to her cousin? The entire situation contained so much ick, she was going to have to go shower and brush her teeth to feel clean again.
“Think about it, at least.”
“There’s nothing to think about. Goodbye, Vincenzo.”
She disconnected and blocked the number. Hopefully, this time it would stay blocked and he wouldn’t find a way to find a work around. There’d be no more of that conversation. Ever. No matter how desperate she was for a lover. The fact he had somehow blamed her for his problems, didn’t even make sense. He hadn’t even liked her.
So weird.
“I gather he was having trouble of a romantic nature?” Rose had the hint of a smirk on her face.
“I wouldn’t call it romantic, but yes, that’s the gist of it. I think. He blamed me for it because of my manner of exit from the company. All of which I don’t really understand. He said he can’t perform for Daphne and intimated he wanted me to heal him.”
Rose shook her head. “More like he wanted a chance to sleep with you before he said his vows so he could pretend he wasn’t cheating by calling it a mission of mercy.”
“You’re probably right.” Didn’t make her any more likely to take him up on the offer. “I think we should gather information on doctors who specialize in his particular problem and send it all to him with our deepest regards.”
Rose cracked a hoot of laughter. “You really are learning, my girl.”
The summons came while Zach was entering final grades into the computer program. Dean Stokes wanted to speak with him on a matter most urgent.
Seriously. Was he going to have to teach another class on his regular nights at the shelter? Damn, he’d have to permanently switch it.
When he arrived, Mathilda was at her desk looking grim. Immediately thinking it had to do with her husband, he hurried to comfort her.
She shook her head when he approached. “I want you to know, I don’t believe a word of it.”
A cold chill moved down his spine. “A word of what?”
She looked in both directions and lowered her voice so no one could overhear her. “You and a student. A complaint was lodged with the Dean and administration.”
His heart stuttered before it started working properly again. That didn’t take long for retaliation.
“At least those are charges I can answer with a clean conscience.” He squeezed Mathilda’s hand.
“I knew it had to be a misunderstanding.”
“No worries. I’ll take care of it. Even if it gets messy, I want you to know you can depend on me for anything. You know that, right?”
She nodded and wiped at a tear, then jerked her head to the Dean’s office. “You better go in. They’re waiting for you.”
They?
The distinct sound of a boot hitting the ground filled his head. This wasn’t going to be one of those days, was it? Damn it.
He knocked on the door and when Dean Stokes said to enter, Zach walked in with confidence and as if he had nothing to hide, because he didn’t.
They indeed .
Stokes was joined by the university president, Dr. Angela Combs, and Dean of Students, Dr. Kyle Guthrie.
“Have a seat, Dr. Quinn.”
Oh, shit. They’d gone formal on him and used his credentials. Zach sat in the chair in front of them. The way the office had been arranged, had him seated before them, while they were behind a credenza like a panel. Why they hadn’t decided to do this in one of the board rooms, he had no idea. However, he decided to go with it. He had done nothing wrong. Had used a buffer while grading papers and hadn’t touched Tovah until after the final.
“It has come to our attention that you’ve had an on-going, inappropriate relationship with one of your students.”
As Stokes droned on, giving the charges against Zach, he sat there waiting for the chance to give his side of the story. The facts. Not the twisted version they cited.
“The punishment in this case, is of course forced resignation.”
Boot two. Boom.
“Are you finished?” Zach finally cut in.
Dean Stokes looked at the others fully confused that Zach hadn’t said anything more. “Are you admitting to the charges?”
“When hell freezes over.” Zach stood. “I am, however, suing the school, citing each of you personally in the suit. I have done nothing wrong, and I will obtain a lawyer. You don’t get to fuck around with a man’s career and believe it will stick.” With that, he nodded. “Good evening.”
“Wait. Dr. Quinn,” Dr. Combs called after him. “We can settle this amongst ourselves.”
“No, we can’t. You already decided to force my resignation. That’s it. Right there. If you were interested in truth, you would have come to me and asked about the situation and investigated. Instead, you assumed it was true because of how I dress and the fact I refuse to conform. Now, you’ll be the ones that lose a loyal professor and gain a big, fat lawsuit.” He shot them a peace sign and left.
Anger made him see all shades of red as he left campus and hit the parking lot. What in all the hells? Who had ratted him out? Had it been Eloisa, with her gang of mean girls? Had to be.
Shitdamnfucksonofabitchcrap.
The fact they didn’t even try to edge him out according to the laws set down by not only the school, but the state. That just…it blew his mind.
And no. Even if he won the suit, or they settled, he wasn’t about to go back there now. Not even if they begged him. Well, he’d go back if they got rid of Stokes, Combs, and Guthrie. Then, maybe he’d return. If they offered him department chair.
Yes, he was going to ask for all that.
It was going to get real messy before it got better.
He started the motorcycle, wondering if it was the last time he’d leave this parking lot. This campus. Then he was riding through the winding hills as fast as he dared. Then, out to the interstate where he kicked it in high gear and flew down the roads, burning some of the mad off him while clearing his head.
Didn’t he have a right to face his accuser? To look them in the eyes and tell them they were full of shit?
As he navigated back onto the next exit and started down the backroads to his neighborhood, a horrible thought filled him. What if Tovah sent an anonymous message because he hadn’t spoken to her in a few days.
Shit.
His stomach dropped.
No, surely, she hadn’t done anything so low. Not to him. No matter how angry, he didn’t believe it. Yes, but that hadn’t stopped the thought from popping into his head.
Because he was used to finding betrayal at every turn.
The only people he’d ever been able to depend on were the brothers in the Tainted Angels, and his neighbors. Everyone else, they had no clue and even less care about him.
Well, now the university had fucked around, and they were about to find out. He needed a lawyer who was well-versed in contract and pedagogic law.
That might be a bit of a stretch. But he’d search. He had the funds.
By the time he arrived home, he realized he hadn’t cleaned out his office. He’d call the security office in the morning and ask them to allow him to at least take his personal effects.
He pulled off his helmet and started into the house, via the garage. His phone buzzed and he took it out of his bag and looked at the screen.
Another crotch shot. This one wet and ready for fucking. His finger hovered over the delete button.
Instead of getting rid of the picture he called Bach.
“What’s up?”
“I got another one of those texts.”
“Damn. Don’t delete it this time. I’m on my way over.”
“Wait, can’t I just send it to you?”
“No. I’m bringing you a new phone. You’re giving me that one.”
“Yes. All right.”
After they disconnected, Zach spent the time waiting for Bach by pacing around the house. This day ranked right up there of one of the all-time shittiest days of his life. Second only to the one where everything had exploded in his life, and he’d run away from home.
The part that pissed him off the most was that he’d worked so hard to build his world and ordered it the way he wanted it. He’d taken time and care in creating his career. Shaping everything so he had control.
It had all been an illusion. There was no such thing as control.
He sat down and put his head into his hands. Fuck! Everything was going to come crashing down and he had to do what he could to prevent it.
All because he had to fuck Tovah.
To know the bliss of being deep inside her. Of tasting her sweetness on his lips and tongue. And yes, he’d wanted to show her off to his friends at the Gus Stop. Why not? She was fucking gorgeous. A goddess come to earth to tempt men.
It had to be Eloisa. Who else had that much venom inside to do something so horrible? No one else that he knew of in any of his classes. He was so angry and wild, that he thought about calling her for half a second to take her up on her offer. Hell, if he was going to get accused of it, he might as well fuck her stupid and bust a nut in her.
He’d had pissed-off sex before. It was pretty damn hot.
Tovah’s face haunted him.
And that right there was the biggest reason why he’d never give Eloisa the time of day.
God, he needed Tovah right now.
No, not now. Wait until Bach left. Let him come pick up the phone and then, he’d call Tovah on the new phone and explain the past couple of hours to her.
She needed to be forewarned.