3. Dean
Chapter 3
Dean
Three weeks into this semester and I’m signing yet another drop paper for my class.
ASL should be a required course you take from the time you start school. As far as I’m concerned at least. The way it helps everyone be able to communicate—I could say the same for other languages too.
Maybe I look at ASL the way I do because I have been using ASL since I was a toddler. That’s because my mom was deaf, so not really a choice there. My dad had some hearing but chose to use ASL instead of talking in public. If he didn’t have to listen, then he was a much happier person.
After my office is empty again, I sit back in my chair and scrub a hand over my face. The University is all about letting young people make their choices and find their own path. So, I’ll sign all the drop sheets they ask me to. Who am I to say you’re making a mistake?
There’s a quick knock on my door. “Hey, Dean?”
I drop my hands and look up as the door swings fully open. My colleague, friend, and the Dean of this department, Thomas Camden, walks in.
“What’s up, Tom?”
“Caroline wanted me to extend an invite to you and the missus for lunch Saturday afternoon. We are keeping it casual, nothing too fancy. Most likely we will end up at Shoemakers Grille or Texas Roadhouse.” He grins. The man has known me for over thirty years, he knows my love of all things steak. And Texas Roadhouse is one of my favorite places to go.
“Let me ask Ness about it. I can’t say yay or nay right now. Our weekends have been planned out for a while. We might be looking at horses this weekend. Or was that for next? I can’t keep it all in my head.”
“You know, John has a few horses at his stable across the river that she may be interested in. They’re broken, very rideable. Easy to handle and a bit spoiled.”
John is his son, so I chuckle. “I didn’t know he had any for sale.”
“Yes. He got a few from a foreclosed ranch a couple months ago. He and Kari have been working their tails off to get them ready for the big sale next weekend. How about I tell him y’all are coming by this weekend at some point? If she sees one she likes, okay; if not, then maybe he can put you on the trail of a good horse or three?”
“That would be great. She’s been set on getting a horse, or two, for a while now.”
“Do you not like horses? Or do you not want to spend that kind of money right now?” His brow arches.
“No, it’s not that I don’t like them. I’m practically a city boy. We lived in an apartment when I was a kid. I had a dog. A goldfish. I know nothing about big farm animals.” Shaking my head, I continue, “As for the money, we have it, nothing will be pushed back or harmed by buying one, or the supplies they need. My girl is frugal and a little stingy.” I chuckle.
“Wish I had that problem with mine.” He winks. “Well, old man, now is a good time to learn all about them.” And with that he heads back out the door. “Let me know about this weekend.”
“Sure thing.” Shaking my head, I get up from my chair and gather up my bag and the rest of the papers I need to go over. We have a big test coming for both my intermediate and advanced classes this week. Thursday and Friday are going to be long days.
Laughter fills the air around me as I spin Ness, her sundress flaring out just enough to show off her perfectly tanned legs.
Pulling her back, I press a soft kiss to her lips. The chirping of crickets fill the evening with the sounds of nature, all while the radio plays yet another song for us. The trees that surrounded the property rustle as a soft breeze starts to cool off the hot day. It smells like rain is coming. It’s a smell I love.
“Thank you for today.”
“You’re very welcome. I’m glad you found a horse. He was a sweet boy.”
“He seemed to be drawn to you more than me at first.”
I shrug. “I’ve never really been around horses, so I think it was just that I smelled like you. He couldn’t figure me out.”
She laughs softly. “Are you sure it’s okay to get him and his friend?”
“Absolutely. I will always give you anything you want. Well, other than the ability to replace me. I am one-of-a-kind, and you can have no others similar.” Grinning, I lean in to kiss her softly.
She cups my face. “You’re a doofus. I love you, and contrary to popular belief, not all women trade up. I plan to keep my classic.”
“I love you too.” I pull back slightly. “Is that a nice way of saying you don’t want a younger model, you’ll stay with the old one?”
“You’re far from old.” She comes up on her tiptoes and kisses me. I return the kiss with interest.
“I prefer the term experienced.” I waggle my brows, laughing at the blush to her cheeks.
“Come on, let’s get the dishes done. I want to call the stable and tell them we will take both horses before they change their minds about selling.”
She hurries to scoop up the dishes from the outside table and pushes the door open. Shaking my head with a grin, I follow after her.
“You go ahead and call them. I’ll get the kitchen sorted.”
I’ve not seen her this happy since she found a mint condition, original release of the Harry Potter Books. Making her happy makes me happy. And I mean what I say: I’ll always do my best to give her anything that she wants or needs.
Since meeting her, my world that was lonely at times has been full of happiness, love, and intrigue. I’m not giving any of that up. It’s safe to say, without her, I’d go back to being a shell of a man. I’ve done that already. I don’t want to do it again.
I finished the clean-up while I listened to her on the phone from the other room. I go into the mud room to walk into the laundry room and stop in my tracks. Poking out from Stanley’s litter box is a piece of black fabric. My eyes narrow.
That fucking cat!
“You furry bastard, I’m going to skin you.”
I walk over, using the tips of my fingers to pull a sock out of his litter box. It’s ruined.
The tinkling of the bell around his neck has me looking back. He sits in the doorway to the kitchen, his green eyes locked on me, tail flicking.
If a cat can look smug, the bastard does.
“Hey, what’s all the…Stanley! Not again.” She hides her face but not before I see her start to laugh. She turns back into the kitchen. When she comes back, her composure is in place and she has a small bag in her hand. I grimace, dropping the sock into it. She ties it up. We both sigh.
“You know, this cat is becoming expensive.”
“He’s just…I don’t know. Gretchen says it’s his way of showing dominance.”
“He keeps it up and he’ll be a barn cat,” I mutter.
I don’t mean it; I’m just saying what I need to. Letting off steam. But the sudden change in her demeanor says she thinks I did. I watch her pick up the cat and walk away. I let out a long breath and toss the bag with my soiled sock into the larger trash can.
I give myself a minute to think by washing my hands and grabbing a beer from the fridge.
Taking a long pull from the bottle, I walk into the living room. Ness is sitting on the couch, scolding the big cat softly.
“I didn’t mean it.” She gives me a look. “All right, I meant it., but I’d not actually do that. He’s just being a dick. I get it. He thinks I’m stealing you from him. He’s not smart enough to figure out he’s gaining a human, not losing one. Seems all male creatures think the same. Protect the women at all costs.”
I drop to the couch and scrub a hand through the cat’s fur. He paws at my hand. His claws barely snag my skin as he chews on my finger. It isn’t hard enough to hurt. I think he’s just making a point.
“I’m sorry. I know you’re putting up with a lot from him. It’ll get better.”
“It’s okay, really. I overreacted a bit. It’s just a sock. Can we just keep him out of the bedroom and bathroom upstairs? The socks in his sleeping hut are one thing, them being buried in the shitter—I draw the line there.”
“Absolutely.” She leans her head against my shoulder. “He’s sorry too, even if he doesn't act like it.”
“Hey,” I wrap my arm around her, “It’s alright, please don’t apologize again.”
“All right. How about we watch a movie? I can make popcorn and get snacks.”
“What’s on your mind to watch?”
“I’m feeling Jason Statham or Liam Neeson.”
“We have several movies of both in our videos on the Zon, or we can see what’s on the Plex?”
“I leave it to you.” She kisses my cheek, gets up, drops Stanley on the couch, and hurries off to the kitchen.
Smiling, I reach over to the side table and grab the TV remote. Our TV is huge. Seventy-five inches. Surround sound. All the bells and whistles. The house has a huge living area, so the TV is not in the way nor does it take up too much space. Who needs to go to the theater when you can have it at home? No one that’s who.
I pull up the right screen and arrow over until I find the list of movies. I have an idea of what to watch. One of her favorites.
“Twizzlers, popcorn, Reese Pieces, and another ice-cold beer for you. Diet Coke for me.”
She sits back down on my right, Stanley now curled up between us. When he’s like this, he’s cute. Maybe I’m winning him over? Probably not, but a man can hope.
“What did you decide on?”
“ Taken . We have all three, so tonight is a triple feature.”
“The third one isn’t as good as the first two. But I still love it.”
“I agree, but the sequels usually aren’t anywhere near as good as the first one. Look at Speed . The second one?—”
“Dumpster fire.”
I chuckle at her wrinkled nose. “There are the remakes to consider. A few have been really good. Like Red Dawn . The story is basically the same, but they made minor changes, brought in a whole new set of actors and knocked it out of the park. For me, at least.”
Her smile grows. “I’m glad you mentioned remakes. I was really on the fence about watching the new Road House . There will never be another Patrick Swayze, and I’m not necessarily fawning over Jake G, but the story was so different, had all new elements, and I have to admit, Jake killed it.”
“Is that what you and Gretchen watched the other night when I was out with the guys? I know you mentioned it when I got home, but?—”
“You were three shots past your limit, yeah. I know.” Her laughter fills the room.
“Exactly.” I look around, pull the blanket from the back of the couch, and hand it over to her.
“Thank you.” Her grin widens as she tucks her legs up under herself and lays the blanket out to cover her lap. The large bowl of popcorn sits in her lap, the bags of candy are scattered on the couch around the fluffball.
I reach down beside me and flip the lever to release the footrest. This couch is another big, must-have purchase. It’s a couch, a row of chairs, everything you could need. Wide seating area. Comfortable. I have a feeling we will both wake up on this couch later. That’s usually how movie nights end.
“If I ever went missing, would you find me?”
“Baby, for you, I’d burn down the world.”
Her gaze meets mine, and we lean over the cat to share a kiss.
“Same. I’d make them regret it.”
Chuckling, I look between her and the TV. “Ready?”
“Okay, let’s go. I’m ready.”
I hit play, put the remote on the table, and take another swig of my beer. As the intro comes on, I reach over, grabbing a handful of popcorn. I relax, sinking into the back of the couch. Nights like this are what I love most with our crazy busy lives. Down time with my girl will never not be something I crave.