Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Professor Anthony went for his bag and pulled out a stack of papers. He waved them overhead. “This is your syllabus. Take one and pass it on. On it, you’ll see your assignment for the day,” he said. “Get to it. You have forty minutes.”
It took eight of those minutes for the syllabus to make it back to me. The last guy flung it on the seat behind him, not bothering to get up and give it to me. I got it and carried it back, reading off the first page.
Write two pages on a topic that’s important to you.
Simple and straightforward.
I got a pencil and paper from my binder, and got to work. My major was psychology—recently changed from communications. After all my sister went through without help, my mom’s suffering and depression, and pain that swallowed me so completely, I didn’t remember what it was to be happy. Well, there was only one thing to do with my life now.
But I didn’t write any of that.
I wrote about my dream of opening a practice that helped young people navigating difficult times in their lives. I wrote about signs that are dismissed because some assume a young, pretty twenty-year-old has nothing to worry about. Then, I finished by saying a life helping others is the most rewarding life I could lead.
Students were getting up and handing in their papers as they finished. I kept mine on my desk. I’d hand it in after they left, and we had that discussion.
“Turn in your paper when you’re done.” Adonis fixed on me like he knew exactly what I planned. “Everyone.”
Stiffly, I climbed down and placed it on his outstretched hand. The air charged as our gazes locked—sparking with electricity.
“You may return to your seat.”
I went. Excuse or no, we were having that conversation.
During the rest of class, I stared him down, listening with half an ear. While I did, three girls in the sixth row stared at me.
I didn’t notice at first. A giggle pierced my attention and I flicked off Professor Anthony. Two of them staring right at me, turned away quick when I looked back. The three leaned in close, whispering something, and then I saw one of them raise their cell phone. After, all three looked at me again—smiles I didn’t like twisting their mouths.
Passing nasty things about me in text? You’d think they would wait until they actually had a conversation with me.
“You three,” Professor Anthony barked.
The girls, and I, jerked.
“Your phones,” he said. “Bring them up here now.”
“But, Professor, we didn’t—”
“Class, this is my first lesson to teach on the English language. ‘Now’ doesn’t mean when you feel like it, or after you’ve argued with me. It means immediately.”
Their red faces lit up the room. They shuffled down the steps, handing over their phones. The satisfaction at their embarrassment didn’t combat my irritation for him.
Adonis spent the rest of class going over the syllabus, assignments, and expectations.
“You’ll have a ten-page midterm and final paper. Those are to be summarized and presented to the class. Are there any questions?” No one raised their hand. “You’re dismissed.”
I was slow packing away my things. Everyone filed out, leaving one other to lag behind.
Victor stopped in front of his brother’s desk. They were too far for me to overhear what they were saying.
Maybe they’re discussing the hilarious prank Adonis played on his drunk fiancée.
Taking my time, I descended and part of their conversation drifted to my ears.
“—give them time,” Victor said. “They’ll come around.”
“It’s too late for that.”
“No, it isn’t. Come on, Don. You practically spat in Dad’s face by choosing literature over an MBA—or that’s how he sees it. He raged for a while, then he accepted it. This time is no different.”
Adonis shuffled papers, expression grim. “It’s not about what he accepts anymore. It’s about what I’m willing to accept. They crossed the line by continents. I’m not letting them run my life.” He flicked to me. “And you shouldn’t either. There are more important things in life than running Wilson Industries.”
My muscles clenched. I didn’t want to marry Victor, but it was a whole other thing standing there while his brother implied he should dump me.
“There are more important things, like our dad’s health.”
“Don’t buy into it, Vic. That man will outlive us all.”
“Whatever. Just say you’re coming to dinner tomorrow.”
Friday night dinner? As in the one Victor just made me promise to attend?
“We’ll see. I may have plans,” Adonis said.
“Cancel them. I’m telling Patrice to set an extra place.” Victor headed out, leaving the two of us alone. Adonis picked an essay out of the pile and started to read.
For a beat, I just watched him, piecing together what I heard. So there was strain between him and his parents. If it was for the reason he said, I couldn’t be sure, but Victor wasn’t playing peacemaker for my benefit.