Page 11

11

CHIVALRY, OR SOMETHING

QUINN

History of Psychology is my only in-person class this semester. I’ve always been incredibly thankful that in my four years at Cypress, most of my classes have been available online. It’s what has allowed me time to juggle going from one full-time job to the next.

While I appreciate online learning for the flexibility, it’s kind of refreshing to be in a classroom once a week. Actually getting to see faces and have real discussions is a nice break from the virtual grind of monotonous lectures and neverending assignment lists.

I can’t say I don’t feel sketched out at times when I am in person, because I have no idea which of my peers may or may not have had something to do with my dad’s murder.

As a postgraduate next semester, I won’t have the option to remain mostly online—which will make holding down a fulltime job on the side fairly impossible—but I will have Daddy’s money at that point and I’ll be able to live quite comfortably through both my master’s and PhD.

Sometimes I consider leaving Cypress for the rest of my education. Not because I don’t love it here, but because I feel anxious to be as far away from reminders of my father—and those who seem to still worship him—as humanly possible once this school year ends.

But leaving academia is not something I ever intend to do and staying in Hallow is more than ideal when I don't consider all the baggage I have accumulated over the years. It’s been my home for my entire life, and if nothing else, I find a small amount of comfort in the familiar.

Thinking of the future gives me a sick feeling that has never been there before, and I am certain that it comes from knowing that once I move on to the next portion of my education, I will also have to move on from Sienna. And as much as I don’t want to admit it, Jack.

I know this is ridiculous because I have been with them for such a short time, but when I hear Jack’s booming laugh from around the corridor the sick feeling turns to something more heated and tingly .

It reminds me that being in his space for only a semester and a half is probably for the best.

I steel myself because I have no choice but to pass by him to get to the exit I’m heading toward. I don’t know why I’m so nervous but interacting with him in this setting feels strange. Saying hi and moving on is not an option, mostly because I want to know what he’s doing here and who is with Sienna. I assume her Grammy, but I am curious nonetheless.

Our schedules align perfectly which is part of why this particular job was a no-brainer, so I’m not surprised when I turn the corner and find that, per usual, she is strapped to his chest.

If I’d wanted to slip by without them noticing, I wouldn’t have had a snowball’s chance in hell because Sienna spots me from a mile away and lets out an ear-splitting screech that causes everyone to stop and look in their direction.

Jack has a perplexed look until he sees me walking toward them. He smiles widely when he spots me and I nearly melt into a puddle of goo on the floor.

I have got to get it together.

“What are you two doing here?” I take Sienna’s hand once I approach them, hoping it will suffice in calming her down, but it’s no use and Jack knows this too.

He wordlessly unclips the sides of the carrier, allowing me to slip her out. “I needed to grab some paperwork from my office.”

“Ah.” Sienna is content with her head on my shoulder, and I sway her from side to side out of habit. “The agreement you signed to wring the absolute most out of each of your students?”

He shakes his head in mock annoyance. “You know, you’re the only one who complains.”

“Everyone else is probably scared of you because you’re so intimidating. I’m the only one brave enough to tell it like it is.” I am not intimidated by him at all.

“Is that so?” An unruly strand of hair dances in front of my face. I go to brush it away, but the tips of his fingers beat mine there and he gently tucks it behind my ear.

There is no awkwardness in the gesture, but he shoves his hands in the front pockets of his pants as if it will keep them from doing anything else without his permission.

Sienna pops her head up, fighting sleep as babies do, and plants a drooly kiss on the edge of my jaw. “It’s past your nap time, girlie pop.” She gives me the smuggest look within her baby capabilities like she knows she’s gotten away with something.

Jack reaches to take her from my arms, but she does not intend on going back to him. She just lays her head on my shoulder again and ignores his existence.

I comb my fingers through her silky brown hair. “Quinny will be with you all day tomorrow.” She curls into me harder.

He places a hand on the small of her back. “Does Quinny want to put Sienna in her car seat?”

“Of course I do.” I go to adjust the strap on my bag and realize I’ve left it and my laptop in the classroom. “Shit. I need to go back for just a second. I left something. Sienna, go to Daddy so Quinny can be quick.”

She’s too tired now to protest much further and returns to Jack easily this time. “We’ll wait here for you.”

Sunlight streams through the glass double doors, and I don’t realize how much warmer I’d grown standing in the exit area with Jack and Sienna until I turn the corner to head back to the classroom. I reenter the dimly lit hallway, and the cold, damp air hits me in the face. The contrast is jarring, causing goosebumps to rise on my arms. It’s part of the charm of Cypress; how some parts of the school feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

The chill seeps through my thin sweater. I hug myself and keep my gaze fixed on the stone floor ahead of me, in so much of a hurry that I don’t realize I’m about to smack into someone until it’s too late.

“Oh my god, I am so sorry.” I curl my fingers around his biceps to steady both of us. He is vaguely familiar, and the look on his face tells me he’s going to be an asshole about the fact that I should watch where I’m going.

I mean. He’s not wrong.

He jerks away from me like my touch might burn a hole through his sleeves. “Too wrapped up in thinking about how you’ll spend Daddy’s money next?”

I scoff and skirt around him. I’ve danced this dance too many times to count, and this douchebag is not worth my time or mental energy. I’m not going to try and convince him or anyone else that what they think my life is like couldn’t be further from the truth. It doesn’t affect them and I don’t know why they care so much about it.

I guess they’re too bored of their own lives, and the fairytales of this town aren’t enough to keep them occupied so they spin their own.

“I guess Daddy isn’t enough to keep you at the top of the class now that he’s gone, is he? I didn’t think you needed any additional advantage but I see you’re sucking Hollis’s dick to stay ahead now too.”

Yes , because god forbid a man ever admits a woman is capable of a level of intelligence beyond his own. His words echo off the walls and I’m thankful the hallway is empty.

Or at least I think it is, but I turn to face him again and see Jack standing just behind him completely staggered —and growing more irate by the second—as Sienna snoozes away in his arms.

That doesn’t stop me from fully intending to hand this prick his ass but he shoves his foot even further into his own mouth before I have the chance to respond. “Since you’re lining up to suck cock, you can get on those pretty knees for me while you’re at it. Seems like a good way for you to pay your dues like the rest of us who haven’t been given a leg up like you have.”

He doesn’t realize we aren’t alone and I don’t give him any indication otherwise. I straighten myself and cross my arms over my chest. “Whip it out then.” I make a show of running my gaze over him. “It’ll take what? Two seconds at most. And I doubt you have much to choke on so it shouldn’t be too difficult, though I’m not sure what you think it is that I’m getting out of this.”

Jack makes a strangled sound like he’s choking on air, and I can’t hold back a snort of laughter as the man in front of me suddenly looks like he’s seen a ghost.

Or maybe eaten a mouthful of shit, not sure which.

He flushes red, starting at his neck and spreading up to his cheeks.

I tap my foot. “What, you don’t like an audience?”

He opens his mouth, but nothing comes out and it pisses me off even more that the simple presence of another man is what puts a damper on his boldness. It’s taking everything in me not to knee him in the balls.

Jack must see it written all over my face. “I came to tell you she fell asleep.” He’s gathered his composure, and ignores that there is anyone else present, but the tone of his voice is not one I’ve heard from him before this moment. “Adrian, could you please grab Miss Ivor’s bag from Professor Scott’s classroom.” He doesn’t take his eyes off me—as if I am the one tethering him on this side of not making any stupid, job-threatening decisions—but it’s obvious who he’s talking to.

We stand outside the classroom, and Adrian fumbles with the knob before quickly sliding inside. The cinnamon toast cunt reappears a moment later, breathing shakily as he hands me my bag. I can see the tension in his body as he avoids eye contact with either of us and attempts to rush away without a word.

He makes it less than two steps. “Mind if we chat before you go?” Jack asks so casually that his apparent mood shift gives me whiplash.

“I have class?—”

Jack cuts him off, completely ignoring him. “Quinn, could you please put the baby in the car while Adrian and I have a word alone?” He hands me his keys before shifting Sienna’s sleeping form into my arms.

I open my mouth to retort, to tell him that I don’t need him and I can take up for myself because I can . But the words don’t make it out before he wraps his arm around Adrian’s shoulders and turns away from me, steering him into the empty classroom.

The heavy door clicks shut and I realize I’m dismissed from the situation. I am equal parts annoyed with the amount of testosterone I was just forced to bask in, and glad that for once I don’t have to deal with such a fucking jerk myself.

It’s exhausting.

By the time I have Sienna snug in her seat, Jack is already approaching.

“That was… fast.” I gently close the car door and thankfully when it snaps shut, Sienna doesn’t rouse. “You know I can?—”

“Yes, I know,” he cuts me off and holds out his hand. I realize he’s asking for his keys a beat later and I drop them into his waiting palm. “But you shouldn’t have to. Do you need a ride to your dorm?”

Terseness is not something I am used to from him, and I don’t like it very much so I am terse back. “I can walk.”

I expect him to push, but he responds with a curt nod and I can’t help but feel like he’s leaving something unspoken.

There is a bit of tension between us now because of the super uncomfortable situation we were just in, but I know it will dissipate. “Thanks.”

I turn away from him and head toward the dorms.

I hope he knows I don’t just mean for the offer of a ride.