Page 58 of Single Malt
Idefinitelyliked this new professor.
Korbin’s expression tightened just a bit around his eyes, but when he turned to me, his gaze held desire he didn’t even try to disguise.
No, not desire. Lust. And not a healthy type of lust between two people who were mutually attracted to each other. This was the kind where a person was being equated with a thing. An object. Something to be used in any and every way without regard for consent or what the “object” wanted. I couldn’t say that Korbin would actually force himself on a woman because not all sleazebags were rapists, but I knew I wouldn’t take that chance.
Fortunately, another professor I was acquainted with happened to pass by right at that moment, giving me the perfect opportunity to escape.
“Professor McNamara.” I said her name a little louder than necessary, not wanting to risk her getting away before I could go with her.
Professor McNamara must’ve seen something on my face because she greeted me as if she’d been looking for me too. “Freedom. Let’s get something to drink, shall we?”
I glanced at the three people I didn’t want to alienate. “If you’ll excuse me.” With that, Professor McNamara and I walked toward the bar, with me trying hard not to think about who’d supplied the alcohol tonight. “Thanks for that.”
“Anytime. We women need to stick together when it comes to guys like him.”
I raised an eyebrow, but I wasn’t really surprised that she knew exactly why I’d called out to her and who I was trying to avoid. Professor McNamara was around thirty and had a delicate beauty that made men’s heads turn. I would’ve been shocked if Korbinhadn’tflirted with her. I doubted the ring on her finger had meant anything to him.
“I can’t say I’ll be sad to see him go,” she said before turning her attention to the bartender. “Champagne?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He looked at me. “And for you?”
“The same.” One glass wouldn’t cause me any problems driving home, and if I had to deal with Korbin again, I’d need the fortification.
“This is your last semester, right?” Professor McNamara asked before taking a sip of her champagne. “You and your sister both?”
“It is,” I said as the two of us moved away from the bar. I wasn’t surprised that she knew about Aline, even though my sister hadn’t taken any of the professor’s classes. While not Stanford’s youngest entrance, she was still notable.
“Have the two of you accepted any offers yet?”
“I can’t speak for Aline, but I haven’t settled on a particular position.”
Technically, neither statement was one hundred percent truthful, but they were both more lies of omission than outright deception. I hadn’t heard Aline talk about anything specific, and I assumed that meant she didn’t have anything set up, but I would’ve sounded presumptuous saying it. Plus, there was always the possibility I was mistaken.
While I didn’t have an accepted position anywhere, it wasn’t because I was trying to decide between numerous offers, rather that I hadn’t yet actually pursued anything. That wasn’t something I planned on sharing, and I hated knowing that I was hiding it because a part of me was embarrassed. I’d told my parents and Aline that I was still considering all my options, and while that was factually true, the reasoning behind it was something I didn’t like to admit, even to myself.
I had no idea what I actually wanted to do.
But this wasn’t the time or place to be introspective.
“How have your classes been?” I shifted the topic to her.
“They’re going well,” she said. “One of my students shows a lot of promise, and I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of her, both with on-campus politics and local. I wouldn’t be surprised if she started running for minor positions before she graduates. She reminds me a lot of Cheryl Simms.”
That was a name I knew, even though she’d graduated two years before I started at Stanford. Less than a year after she’d graduated, she’d been elected to the city council in her hometown in Virginia. From there, she’d made it to mayor. In two years, she’d be old enough to run for governor, and she’d already been laying the groundwork to the point where it was common knowledge among people who followed things like that.
“Are you leaning toward political ambitions yourself?” Professor McNamara asked. “Perhaps in an area that would benefit from your being multilingual?”
“I don’t want to run for office.” At least, that, I knew for certain. “Though I am considering working within a politician’s office.”
“Any specific one?” she asked. “Local, state, or federal?”
She was as eager as I’d hoped she’d be, and our conversation continued along the lines of career rather than Korbin or romance. We were joined by Professor Kebno from the justice and law part of the Poli Sci department, and the discussion continued smoothly even as other people moved in and out of our little group. When I finally excused myself to go to the restroom, I was feeling pretty good about how I’d spent my evening.
And then I came out of the bathroom, and everything went to shit.
“I was wondering when I was finally going to get you alone.” Korbin pushed off the wall he’d been leaning on, the movement so smooth that I knew he’d practiced it. Probably while looking at himself in a mirror.
“Well, not all women go to the restroom in groups.” At the moment, I was regretting not following that particular stereotype. “Now, if you’ll–”