Chapter 15 Before
Before
The semester was finally over. Randy had invited her over and had promised to cook her a special dinner.
Annabelle used the last of her weekly budget to pick up an eight-dollar bottle of wine.
She hoped it wouldn’t give them headaches.
As she walked up the sidewalk to his house, she noticed two silhouettes standing in the living room.
Must be his roommate, she thought. It boded well that Randy was ready to introduce her.
She rang the bell, and the door swung open. Randy greeted her with a smile and a peck on the lips. She looked over his shoulder to see a nice-looking guy with blond hair and glasses watching them.
“This is James, my roommate,” Randy said, taking her coat and moving out of the way so James could shake her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Annabelle,” James said.
He held her gaze, and for a moment she felt strangely uncomfortable. “You as well,” she replied, dismissing the feeling.
They moved into the kitchen, where an open bottle of wine and two glasses were waiting on the island. Randy filled them and held his glass out for a toast.
“To not being your professor anymore,” he said with a laugh.
They clinked glasses and drank. The wine was delicious, and although she didn’t know much about wine, she could tell it was definitely a higher quality than what she’d brought. She looked at James. “Randy says you’re a doctor.”
“Resident. Finishing up my first year.”
“Is it as much of a slog as they make it look on Grey’s Anatomy ?” she asked.
He smiled. “Kinda. But the attendings aren’t as mean. And nothing is happening in the on-call rooms, sadly.”
They all laughed.
“Enough about me; Randy tells me you’ve got one more semester to graduate. Have you thought about what you want to do?”
“Something in marketing, digital strategy.”
“Any specific industry?”
“I like to change things up. I’ll try to get a job with an agency that represents a variety of clients.”
“She’s brilliant. Any company would be lucky to have her,” Randy said.
She shook her head. “Thanks, but you don’t know anything about my marketing acumen—only that I can ace my film exams.”
“I can tell these things,” he insisted.
“I think I’ll take off and give you guys some privacy,” James said. “Have fun. Hope to see you again, Annabelle.”
“Bye.” James’s last remark made her wonder if Randy had a parade of women coming in and out. Why would he have to hope he’d see her again? After he left, she decided to be up-front.
“Did you tell James that we’ve been seeing each other, or does he think this is our first date or something?”
He gave her a puzzled look. “Why?”
“I’m curious why he’d say he hoped to see me again. Wouldn’t he kind of figure I’d be around?”
Randy got up and walked over to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Of course. He knows I’m nuts about you. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it. And besides, you’re the first girl I’ve had over here since I moved in.”
She suddenly felt foolish. She’d never behaved so insecurely with anyone before.
She thought the university rule archaic and stupid, but she had to admit that there was a power dynamic inherent in it that favored the professor.
For the past two months, she’d allowed Randy to set the pace and call the shots.
Despite knowing there was a reason he’d kept her a secret, it made her feel tawdry.
“Yeah, okay, you’re right. I’m just glad we don’t have to hide it anymore.”
“Me too. Dinner’s gonna be ready in about forty-five minutes.
How about an appetizer?” He kissed Annabelle deeply, moving his hand to her breast and lightly caressing her.
Her stomach fluttered with butterflies, and she leaned into him.
He took her hand and they walked to the staircase.
But before they could ascend, the doorbell rang.
She straightened up, trying to regain her composure.
“Expecting someone?”
“Nope. Hold the thought.”
She waited by the staircase as he went to open the door. Her stomach dropped when she saw that it was another girl from her class, Darla, or Darlene, she couldn’t remember. But she’d noticed her—with her jet-black hair, short skirts, and killer body. What the hell was she doing here?
Randy seemed surprised to see her. “Darlene, what are you doing here?”
Darlene looked past him to Annabelle, and her smile was replaced by a frown. “Class is over, so I thought you might be able to come out and play. You said there are no rules against it now, but I can see you’ve already found someone else to play with.”
“I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, but…” Randy’s words trailed off and he blew out a breath.
Darlene narrowed her eyes, staring at Annabelle for a long moment. “No worries. My bad. Have fun. Guess you’re the teacher’s pet.” She turned and stomped down the sidewalk. Randy shut the door and walked back to Annabelle.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what that was about.”
“What did she mean about your telling her there were no rules now? Did something happen between the two of you?”
His face turned red, and he looked at the floor. “Look, I’m an idiot, okay? She hit on me at the beginning of the semester. I was in my office grading papers, and she came in. She asked me out, and I told her it wasn’t allowed.”
Annabelle could see there was more he wasn’t telling her. “And?” she pressed.
“And she kissed me.”
Annabelle went cold. Kiera’s words about Randy being a player resounded in her mind.
“Did something else happen?”
“I kissed her back, but then I told her it wasn’t going to happen. It was before you and I had coffee, I swear. Nothing else happened, and I didn’t want it to. I told you, I love you.”
Annabelle wanted to believe him, did believe him, but the mood was spoiled.
Her appetite was gone, too, but she wasn’t going to let this blow up into a big fight.
She looked him in the eye. “Whatever happened before we were together is cool. Just don’t lie to me.
I’m only going to ask one more time. Was that really all there was to it, or did something more happen? ”
He looked down at the floor. “A few kisses, and she initiated it. But then I made her leave.”
“Why would she think she could show up at your house? And how did she know where you live?”
“I don’t know. Honestly. She must have looked it up. I mean, I’m listed. I guess she figured she’d take her chances.”
“Let’s just eat and forget about it,” Annabelle said.
They returned to the kitchen and continued drinking wine and chatting as though everything was fine. But a little doubt had nestled in Annabelle’s mind, and she knew it wouldn’t leave as easily as Darlene had.