Chapter 40 Aspen
Aspen
“The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” - Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
Three days after I gave Marci Bennett an F for not turning in her assignment, Dr. Frenetti rang my phone.
“Aspen, I need you to come to my office. Right now.”
The pinched tone in his voice told me everything I needed to know.
I spent a couple seconds closing all the programs on my computer and straightening my desk before I stood and brushed the wrinkles out of my skirt and blazer.
Though my knees felt like cooked noodles, I kept my spine ramrod straight and walked the short distance to the dean’s office in a sedate, orderly pace.
As I tapped on Frenetti’s opened door and glanced inside, I found another man wearing maroon wind pants and a T-shirt supporting Vikings athletics sitting back in a chair across from him.
Both men turned to look at me. Frenetti scowled in his typical manner.
His visitor leered and let his gaze travel down my body as if he’d seen me naked, which—oh, God—he probably had.
I crossed my arms over my chest as if that could stop him from ogling.
“Aspen,” Frenetti rumbled out as he motioned to the gawking pervert. “This is Rick Jacobi, head coach for the football team.”
I nodded, and a piece of hot lead dropped into the pit of my stomach
This was it. My career was over.