Page 27 of Beautiful Trauma
I nodded. “It helps you clear the clutter from your mind and find your center. There are many techniques to help combat an anxious or worried mind so you can find peace. Some methods are great ways to start the day, and others work wonders at night, enabling you to fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. Like with physical exercise, you can dedicate a small amount of time to achieve maximum results.”
Henry flipped the book open to the table of contents page. “I’m going to give this a shot.” He swallowed hard then lifted his head to meet my gaze. “I spent my entire life under the controlling thumb of my mother and her religion. She threw me out when she found out I was gay and HIV positive. I was luckier than most because I had Ryan’s Place. Archie and the team saved my life, and I want to pay it forward and help others like me.” Henry held up the book. “I don’t care if I feel silly trying these techniques as long as they help me achieve my dreams.”
“So, Archie is your Professor Higgins?” I asked, keeping my tone light to hide the rage seething inside me.
Henry tilted his head back and laughed. “Oh my God! He’d love that comparison so much.” I wanted to meet this Archie that both Ryder and Henry spoke so highly of. Henry sobered and said, “For too long, I’ve focused on all the wrong things. I thought about all the things I lost and none of the things I gained. My life resembles a runaway train on most days. There are times when it feels like it’s too much for me to handle, then I realize I don’t want to focus on the trauma anymore. Bad things happened to me, but they don’t have to define me. I’m not where I need to be yet, but I get further and further away from the trauma every day.”
“Knowing your worth and understanding what you want and don’t want are huge steps. Things are hectic and tough right now, but I believe in you. Look at the sites I gave you and apply for all the grants and scholarships to see if something works out for you. Don’t assume you’re not eligible or unqualified. Apply for a job at the school to knock off some tuition. Most importantly, take care of yourself.”
Henry held my gaze for a few seconds before he broke eye contact to look at his watch. “I better get going. I know it’s not unusual for professors to meet with students, but I’d rather play it safe,” he said, putting his binder and ink pen back inside his backpack. Henry rose swiftly to his feet and smiled. “Thanks for your help, Professor Meyer.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Sullivan. I’ll see you in class in a few minutes.”
Henry turned when he reached the door then smiled when he caught me ogling his ass in his skinny jeans. “You’ll let me know what you decide about the extra credit?”
“You’ll be the first to know.”
Henry opened the door and sauntered out with an extra sway to his narrow hips.
Henry: 4
Ezra: 0
BAM.“YOU GOTTA BE KIDDINGme.” I banged my fist on the vending machine once more.Bam. Bam.“I need some fucking chocolate!”
“Is there a problem, Mr. Sullivan?”
My fist froze inches away from the glass before I could pound it again. I turned slowly and faced Ezra. “Problem? No.”
“Then why are you damaging school property?” His firm, authoritative voice sent shivers straight to my balls. I’d gladly accept five minutes naked and alone with Ezra instead of the candy bar I purchased.
I turned and looked at the last Twix bar stuck in the machine. “I need some chocolate.”
“So I heard. You think banging on the machine is the best way to achieve it?”
“I don’t have another dollar on me right now to buy the bag of chocolate cookies above it to see if it knocks my Twix loose when it falls.”
Ezra smiled wryly. “Let me take a crack at it.”
“You’re going to hit the vending machine?” I asked incredulously.
Ezra was the only person I knew who could make a snort sound haughty or eloquent. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out four quarters. “I’ll go with your other option. I could use a sweet treat too.” Ezra put the coins in the machine and punched the code for the bag of cookies. We watched as Ezra’s mini Oreos bounced off my trapped candy bar and fell into the collection tray at the bottom while my Twix remained dangling above. “Damn. I thought for sure that would work.” Ezra bent over and retrieved his cookies then offered them to me.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I won’t take your cookies from you.”
His arched brow lifted, and his dark eyes seemed to dare me. “Would you consider sharing them with me instead?”
Picking my backpack up off the floor, I shouldered it and turned to face Ezra. “I wanted to speak to you anyway. That’s why I arrived early.”
“Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice soft with concern.
“Everything is great.”
“Let’s go chat in my office. We probably have at least fifteen minutes before anyone else shows up in that part of the building.” Ezra held out his hand, gesturing for me to exit the breakroom. “Did you do anything special over the Fourth of July break last week?”
My face heated, and the right side of my mouth lifted in a smirk. “Define ‘special,’ Professor Meyer.”
Ezra’s lips parted, and his breath hissed from him. “I wasn’t asking about your conquests, Mr. Sullivan,” he whispered. “Be mindful of our surroundings.”