Home > Sext with Me(8)

Sext with Me(8)
Author: Evie Claire

   “Did you go to Talmadge?” she asked.

   Talia nodded. “I just graduated last semester.”

   “And you stayed?”

   “Yeah, is that crazy?” Talia let out a small laugh, wondering if the decision had limited her life. “I like old things. Always have. Familiarity is comforting to me.”

   “I noticed your heels. They’re thrifted, right?”

   “Yep,” Talia pivoted her foot on the pointy toe to show them off. “You like?”

   “I love!”

   “Thanks!” Talia smiled and crossed her arms, turning back to the computer. “One reason why I like old things is because they aren’t going to change. Like this system. But I have a trick that works every time. If you have one title in mind, type it into Amazon, pull up the recommended books, and then put those titles into the Talmadge system. This library has everything I’ve ever looked for.” Talia pointed a finger at the screen. “It just doesn’t have a system that can suggest them. Go ahead, get your phone.”

   The doors opened across the room, and a campus courier popped his head in. When he found Talia, the rest of his body pushed through the doorway.

       “Oh, he probably needs me to sign. If you get your assignment notes together, I’ll help you pull the first titles once I get back.”

   The courier offered a small box sealed with a sticker with the Talmadge crest. It looked official, but not urgent. And, if she was honest with herself, she was excited to get back to the new version of herself she had just found mentoring Ellie. It felt good finding a place in the library hierarchy that was hers alone.

   “So where are you in the process?” Talia asked, taking a seat beside Ellie and grabbing a pencil from a nearby cup.

   “Just starting.”

   “Great. What are you researching?”

   “The difference between love and obsession. If one grows from the other or if they are wholly different things.” She slid a paper Talia’s way that outlined the key points.

   “ ‘Healthy love…’ ” Talia read aloud. “ ‘…people are full but desire a partner to share it with. Obsession is empty and requires a partner…for fulfillment.’ ” Talia’s brain hiccupped as she read, causing her to stumble over the last bit. She quickly found her place and finished reading a circled question. “ ‘Can obsession grow from healthy love that is not returned?’ ” Talia placed the page on the table and smoothed it with her hands. “Is this for a psychology class?”

   Ellie nodded.

   “Do you have a first title in mind?”

   She shook her head.

   “Well, um, the first title that comes to my mind about love and obsession is Wuthering Heights.”

       “You mean Brontë?”

   Talia nodded.

   “That’s a cool angle. I never thought about that. But, yeah, totally. It’s been a long time since I read the book, but there’s definitely love and obsession in that one.”

   “Brontë is my queen. In one of my English classes we discussed the turning point in the novel for love becoming obsession. Most agree it’s when Catherine admitted she could never marry Heathcliff. But, reading this…” Talia tapped the paper with the pads of her fingers. “Maybe, given his early years, Heathcliff was so empty that he was never capable of love, only obsession. You could play those opinions off one another.”

   “Yeah…” Ellie slowly sat back. Her face lifted to the ceiling as she thought, and Talia had to swallow the pride swelling in her chest. Because she had caused those wheels to start turning. Was this what teachers felt like every day when they helped elevate a student’s brain to the next level? “Yeah, I can see that. I could write a paper examining one of the greatest gothic romances of all time from the perspective of love versus obsession. And pose the question—if Heathcliff came to the relationship a whole person, could they have had a happy ending?” A wide smile broke over her face, Talia’s lips pulled apart to mirror it. And for the first time since she’d put on her employee badge, Talia felt like she was worthy of it.

   “I would love to read that research paper.” They shared another smile and Talia pointed to the screen, tapping a nail against the Author Name box on the screen. “I guess you know what book you need first.”

       “Maybe the only book I need,” Ellie joked back.

   Behind them, a throat cleared, causing them both to jump in their seats, unaware they weren’t alone in the room.

   Their heads, having been so close over the excitement they shared, whipped around simultaneously and pushed even closer together. The student gasped. Talia did, too, but caught the sound before it became anything more than a loud sniff.

   Because he was there. In his crumpled khakis, which hadn’t seen an iron possibly ever, and another barely buttoned shirt that revealed a tanned Adam’s apple. One beneath skin so taut it made her tongue tingle. Which was a beyond-weird reaction to have to a man she hardly knew.

   Beside her, the student was frozen in place. And she knew the feeling. A few months ago, she would’ve snuck away from the situation like a little church mouse herself. Only she was considered the adult now.

   “Forgive me for intruding, but, if I may…” Maxwell began, stepping forward and peering over their shoulders at the paper on the table. “There’s a title in the library by Dr. Susan Forward called Obsessive Love. Since this is for a psych class, it’s a better idea to base a research paper on fact.” Maxwell nodded toward the computer screen and moved closer so he was right beside Talia and her student. That same noncommittal, lopsided grin inching up his face. Was it arrogance or confidence? Such a thin line. She still couldn’t tell with him.

   Reflexively, she found her feet and took a step to the side. Not that he was physically cornering her, but for some reason, that’s exactly what it felt like. The back of her neck burned, and it took every fiber in her to keep the warmth hidden behind her ears. Emotions flooded her—shock, shame, anger, defeat. How could a single remark cause so much unrest? It must be her. She must be overreacting to him, not to the advice.

       “Well.” She forced a smile and cleared her throat. Her chest swelled with a huge breath and she took the time to calm herself. “Ellie, this is Professor Maxwell Radclyffe. He is a department head in the Psychology Department. And…” she paused again, scrambling for a tactful way out. “I am not a professor. So, I will be at my desk.” With that, she wheeled on her thrifted heel and marched out of the situation clinging to what little pride she could.

   Back at her desk, she tried to calm herself. He was right, of course. Scientific research papers should be based on fact. Not fiction. She was reacting to the moment, not to the advice. Maxwell couldn’t possibly know what the moment meant to her—he probably had such experiences every day. How was he supposed to know it was the first time she had truly felt deserving of her new title? Or how one simple comment had not only destroyed it all, but also cast her self-doubt to an all-time high.

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