Random Encounter by Allyson Lindt
Twenty-Four
Phillip
Saturday morning came and went without a friendly call from Dustin, asking if I wanted to get brunch. Not that we did so every weekend, but today there was no mistaking the reason for the non-existent call. Especially after he ignored all my attempts to talk to him yesterday.
This was exactly what I thought would happen. Dustin found out I was leaving and now he wasn’t speaking to me. I understood how passionate he was about AcesPlayed—how much the game and the company meant to him—but the vision didn’t hold the same meaning to me.
How was I supposed to explain that to him, though? How I was I supposed to make him see it wasn’t about him or disagreeing with his decisions, it was simply time for me to move on. There hadn’t been a way to avoid this.
Except being honest with Dustin. Not deciding to cut him and Adrienne out of my life.
I didn’t like the nagging, insistent voice in my head. It was a little late to find stupid reasons to try to make myself feel guilty. This was the choice I needed to make.
Because I’m terrified.
Nope. Wasn’t indulging those thoughts. The opportunity in front of me was incredible and thinking about it—about teaching new people and helping them grow—didn’t fill me with anything but excitement and anticipation.
There was no fear or dread associated with the idea.
I gathered my clothes from the hamper to do laundry for the week, and something tumbled from the pile. The instant I saw the folded rectangle, a stone landed in my gut. It was Harmony’s drawing. You and Uncle Dustin getting married.
Fuck. The memory gnawed at me.
I couldn’t throw the drawing out, but I couldn’t look at it either. I set it on my nightstand, and hauled my clothes down to the washer.
When I returned to my bedroom, the folded drawing glared at me, far brighter than it should be, and sent fissures of restlessness through me. My fingers itched toward my back pocket, where my phone was. I wanted to call Dustin. Adrienne.
How did she become a part of my life so quickly? I didn’t have an urge to call Brandon, or anyone else from work, but Adrienne hovered at the front of my thoughts, along with Dustin.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Scarlet instead. She was my contact about the teaching position at the university. She wouldn’t do the hiring or make any of those decisions, but she had put me in touch with the Dean and kept me apprised of anything I needed to know while I put my plan in motion.
“Morning,” she answered quickly, and the smile in her voice was obvious. “You call to volunteer for another drawing class?”
That seemed like a lifetime ago. Had it really been less than two weeks? “Probably not a good idea.”
“No? I got a lot of good feedback from the students. I didn’t mind the view either.”
The light teasing should put me at ease. “It might be harder for them to take a professor seriously if they keep seeing me naked.”
“Hmm… Fair point.”
“Speaking of”—might as well get to my real reason for calling since we were on the topic—“you said when I have a date for leaving, you’d talk to the Dean about next steps. Let’s set it up.”
She let out a long hiss. “About that…” The cheer faded from her voice.
Not a great sign. “What’s up?”
“I’m hearing rumors, and if I’ve heard them, others will too. I don’t think you should pursue this job until you clear things up in your current one.”
There were problems in my current job? Besides Dustin being pissed off at me? “Clear what things up?”
“These days we lean heavily into how to avoid copyright infringement and plagiarism claims. We have to. If you’re a part of something like that, if you’re working for a company who’s been accused of that, even if it’s not your fault, it’s not going to reflect well on you.”
Fuck. Dustin was supposed to take care of that. Not that I blamed him—the accusations weren’t his and I didn’t think for a moment he’d done what he was accused of. But if this kept me out of a job— What? “If it hasn’t gone away yet, I know it’s in the process. But expect to hear back from me when I confirm.”
“Totally. I’m here when you’ve got proof that it’s not an issue. Talk to you then,” Scarlet said.
Proof wouldn’t be a problem, but I’d have to talk to Dustin to get details. I’d burned that bridge.
The thought—the phrase—hit me harder than Scarlet telling me I may not be able to teach. It was a punch in the gut to admit Dustin may never speak to me again.
My gaze landed on Harmony’s drawing once more, and I unfolded it, tension cranking through me. I smoothed the paper flat. You and Uncle Dustin getting married. I couldn’t ignore the knot in my chest. This was what I wanted to avoid.
A reality that hit me harder than any others. This raw pain of loss. It wasn’t as painful as it could be, the agony wasn’t as bad as if I’d let things go on longer with Dustin, with Adrienne.
It was a good thing I was severing ties.
So why was part of me screaming to not walk away?
Because it hurt. That was the only reason.
My phone rang and I clicked Answer without pause. It was probably Scarlet. “Hey.”
“Phillip?” Adrienne’s voice was tiny.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I mean no, but yeah. I’m sorry to bother you,” she said. “I couldn’t get a hold of anyone else.”
All my other thoughts vanished behind concern. “It’s fine. What’s up?”
“I keep swearing I see Sean out in the parking lot, and I know he’s not, that I’m being paranoid, but… God, this sounds stupid.”
Not after what Sean had already done to her. “Not at all. Do you want me to come over?”
“No. Yes. Please?”
“I’ll be right there,” I assured her.
