Page 34
Jack considers my question. He’s known the kid for at least a year longer than me, and he did a little digging when the previous Dean accepted his enrollment. Notes from psychologists about antisocial behavior were among the names of foster families he’d stayed with since the accident. Jack was the first to uncover the mutism as selective.
“A problem, how? You think he’s gonna sneak into her dorm in his Larch mask and fuck her? That kind of problem?”
My palm connects with a pyramid of soda cans, crashing them onto the desk before they topple onto the floor with a raucous clang. His big mit scoops up a handful and deposits them into an overflowing trash basket, pushing down to make more space. Once all the cans from the floor are discarded, plus the extra ones on the other side of his desk, he turns to face me.
“I’ve found Fox to be a great kid. He’s respectful and hard-working. He doesn’t court trouble, even though it finds him. I’ve never seen him instigate anything, but given his size, he can finish any physical fights that might come his way. He’s a solo creature by habit. Perhaps that’s a byproduct of the foster system; I can’t be sure.”
“Is he capable of harming her?”
“It’s hard to say, but I’m leaning the opposite way, actually. He and Lukaz are pretty close. You saw how they were on Larch night. Both of them are just as enamored with the little tree as we are. You can’t blame them.”
I don’t blame them. Who would? But I need to know her safety comes before anything else. This is nonnegotiable. “Lukaz and Aspen are very close. They sit together in my class and see each other after hours.”
“Did you sneak into his dorm too?”
“Do you want to keep your job?”
Pulling rank is a dick move. I’ve sunk to a new low: the amoeba at the base of a dirty puddle. Judging by the corner of his lip tipped up under his clipped beard, he finds my spiraling amusing.
“Are you jealous, Professor?”
The suggestion is ludicrous. “Of course not. I’m not jealous, I’m cautious.”
Jack nods. “Given everything that happened, we have good reason to be. Lukaz keeping her company when we can’t, and Fox keeping tabs on her, no matter his method, is a good thing, right?”
I chew on his summation and find it has merit. Four men keeping her safe is better than one or two. Fox, I still have my doubts about, and Vaskari can be a smart ass, but both are built like linebackers and would not be easy to top in a scuffle. The doctor has earned his diplomas. Looking at the broader panorama with common sense and a cool head. Which brings me to my other issue.
“What about Amber?”
His head whips up. “What about her?”
“You’re done fucking her?”
“I was done months before Aspen arrived. Over, finito. Dead.”
“After her little tantrum, Aspen went into Grundy’s office and didn’t emerge for hours. Fred will tell us anything we need to know, but Amber being a cunt doesn’t help matters. Can you keep her at heel?”
“Christ, Eli. She’s not a damn dog. How would you suppose I do that?”
“Distract her. I don’t want her upsetting Aspen or making her feel unsafe. Especially with a stalker sighting. The last thing we need is some bullshit scandal and her wanting to move out or drop out. She must stay here. That’s our rule.”
“Yes, Professor. I agree with your rule, but I draw the line at distracting Amber Donnelyn. Not anymore. That ship sailed months ago, and a repeat voyage was never on the itinerary. Not since I plotted an alternative course.”
Smug bastard. He’s the idiot who stuck his dick in her in the first place. I don’t care how drunk or desperate he was on those lonely, bitterly cold Alaskan nights. The crazy bitch will come back and bite him on the ass; I know it.
“Okay. Lukaz and Fox are beneficial, and no threat. Amber needs to be steered elsewhere, and quickly, and the issue with the stalker can be downplayed until it’s a distant memory.”
Chapter Nineteen
Aspen
UNWELCOME INTRUDERS
When you live in Colorado, the one thing you never take for granted is the weather. It can change on a dime in a split second. The glorious sunbeams burning your skin would often give way to a ceiling of thunderous clouds and hailstones the size of your fist moments later. Alaska is so similar; it eases my lingering homesickness. I ran at the last minute, back to my room to outrun the wind that had strengthened from a zephyr and was now so cold it had teeth.
My sneakers are toed off inside the door like usual, and I’m welcomed by the scent of fragrant candles, the cedar wicks adding to the earthiness floating around the living room. A bunch of Tali’s tonic supplies are strewn over the kitchen countertop, with more on the table. She must be packaging orders. I’ll grab a quick shower and help with whatever needs to be done.
I notice a sliver of light under my bedroom door, cursing myself for leaving it on all day and burning through electricity. The curses continue when Amber emerges from the other side, just as Tali exits the bathroom.
