49. Faith
CHAPTER 49
Faith
I checked my watch for the tenth time in the past five minutes. Murph usually stopped in our office around this time of day. I’d been trying to figure out how to handle the atomic bomb he’d dropped on Friday night at the poetry slam. He had to be the one leaving the pages for me. No one else would have had the opportunity to get near my laptop and copy the file.
It had to be Murph.
I’d just confront him, find out what he wanted, and ask him to stop. It had to be that easy. Maybe I could grade some papers for him or prep his next month’s lesson plans. Whatever he wanted, I’d figure out a way to fix this. The alternative wasn’t an option.
Just as I was about to give up on him making an appearance and make the mad dash to teach my next class, the doorknob turned. A shock of red hair appeared in the crack of the doorway, followed by the rest of him.
I squirmed in my chair as Murph entered the office, a giant smirk on his face. “Well, hi there, Faith. Or should I say Ms. Austen?”
I gritted my teeth and blew a blast of air through my nose. “Spill it. How did you get your hands on my stuff?”
He moved around my desk and plopped down in his chair, putting his feet up on his desk and leaning back with his hands behind his head. “It was actually quite easy with us sharing an office and all. You really should password protect your computer.”
“I did password protect my computer.”
He scoffed. “Yeah, but then don’t write your password down and keep it on a sticky note in your top desk drawer.”
I wanted to launch myself across the desk and strangle him, especially since he made a good point about my substandard method of securing my computer. But still, that didn’t give him any right to go snooping around in my stuff. Best to get right to the point.
“How long have you known?”
“I suspected. That day you left your computer here while you went to class? I did a little digging and came across the first manuscript.”
Hot pinpricks danced across my cheeks. “Go on.”
“But that day Dante stopped by with your lingerie…” He paused and let his feet drop to the floor. “When you stormed out and Dante followed you, I hit the fucking jackpot. I figured I’d be a nice guy and turn in your application. Imagine my surprise when I walked over to your desk to grab it and saw page after page of porn about you and Dante written on your screen.”
“That was private. You had no right to look?—”
“And Dante had no right to pursue you.” Murph leaned over his desk toward me. “I knew you were both lying. There had to be something going on between you. Did you think I was too stupid to figure it out?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why leave me the pages? What do you want?”
“You cut right to the chase, huh?”
“I just want to get this over with.”
He examined his nails. “I did have a little proposition in mind.”
“Like what?”
His giant mouth leered at me, his glowing white teeth on full display. “Like turn down the offer of taking over Middleford’s classes, and I give you back the flash drive holding all of your manuscripts and promise not to say another word.”
“The classes? You’ve been putting me through hell over taking over Middleford’s classes?”
“That stupid job is my ticket to reducing my student loans. Not to mention edging you out of the tenure track.” Murph crossed his legs and examined his thumbnail. “As of right now, you’re their top choice.”
“And if I don’t?”
Murph grinned. “I leak it to the paper. I’m sure everyone on campus would love to know they’re rubbing elbows with a bestselling erotic author, especially the President of the University. And what about all the moms and dads who are paying for their kids to get a Christian education? The Dante and Faith stuff is scorching hot. Oh, and I still have your mom’s email address. It was so nice of her to give me a card.” He sneered, waiting for me to respond.
“You’re an asshole.”
Murph shrugged. “It’s up to you. Tell you what, since I’m such a nice guy, I’ll let you think about it overnight. You can even drop by if you want. Say my place, tomorrow night, nine o’clock? You know how much I love that red lingerie.”
“Like that would ever happen.”
Murph shrugged his shoulders. “Fine. Stop by, email, call, text. You’ve got a lot at stake here. Your job, the reputation of your dear, loving mom and stepdad.” He lowered his voice, “Plus, you don’t want to be the one to break Dante’s heart, do you?”
My heart surged in my chest. What would Dante think when he found out? It looked like he’d moved on, but still, I didn’t want him to think I’d just used him. Sure, it had started off that way. But now? How exactly did I feel about him now?
Murph stood, grabbed his backpack, and leaned over my desk. “Nine o’clock. I’ll be waiting.” Then he opened the door and stepped out into the hall.
I jumped out of my seat and pushed the door closed behind him, then collapsed back in the chair and cradled my head in my hands. What should I do? Sure, the extra money from taking over Middleford’s classes would be nice, but was it worth it?
And what would prevent Murph from leaking it, anyway? He was enough of a slime ball to take the added classes and still smear my secret all over the paper just for spite. I wished I had someone to talk to, someone who could help me sort out the mess I’d made of my life.
I ran through the possibilities. There was Jess... but she wouldn’t understand what a big deal it would be for me to claim the identity of Chastity Austen. She’d think it was cool as hell. Dante wasn’t an option. Robin wouldn’t get it, either. Why hadn’t I tried harder to make more friends?
That just left one option. I gathered my things together and grabbed my bag. It was time to pull out the big guns.
It was time to call my mother.
I slumped in the corner of the couch. I’d put off calling my mother for hours, hoping I’d come up with an alternate solution. Procrastination had been good for my apartment—my kitchen sink sparkled, I’d cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom, and there wasn’t a single item of dirty laundry left in my hamper. But I’d stalled long enough. Sooner or later, I had to figure out what to do.
One hand held my phone to my ear, the other wrapped around a short glass about two inches full of peach schnapps. It was either that or tequila. Without a stocked liquor cabinet, my options were limited. I took another sip of liquid courage and let it burn down my throat while I waited for my mother to pick up. She answered on the third ring.
“Hello, honey. What a wonderful surprise.”
“Hi, Mom. Are you busy?” Please say yes.
“No, darling. Clem just sat down to watch the game, and I was about to dig into a new book. Why aren’t you out somewhere exciting tonight?”
“I teach an early class tomorrow.”
“I wish you’d have more fun. You’re so serious all the time, dear.”
I stifled a groan. “I have fun. I even went to a poetry slam the other night.” Not that it had been a fun evening out with friends. More like a personal attack by someone I thought I could trust.
“Well, good. I’m glad you’re getting out.”
“So, Mom, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something?” I took another small sip of my schnapps, attempting to tamp down the apprehension trying to claw its way out of my chest.
“Sure, sweetheart. What’s going on?”
I hesitated. Once I spilled my guts to my mother, there would be no turning back. But based on the way things were going, she was bound to find out sooner or later. It was probably best if she heard it straight from me.
I’d had all day to think about it, to try to get my thoughts in order. But now, with my mother waiting on the other end of the line, my mind went blank. All the bullet points I’d jotted down and memorized flooded from my brain.
“Faith? What is it?”
I let out a long breath. “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”