Page 6 of Second Chance

“Yes, well. It was brought to my attention last year that perhaps my engagement with the students has been…too academically oriented.”

It’s Colette’s way of saying she still feels guilty she didn’t realize her friend was preying on his students. Daniel grimaces and says nothing.

“I agree,” Tony says to break the awkward silence. “Cool idea. Definitely not an adventure.”

“And ahaircutis?”

“Would you like the reading list about Black culture and hair in MLA or Chicago?”

“MLA, please, Chicago is so ugly.”

Colette shakes her head, affronted. “Your poor taste and your lack of awareness about other cultures have been noted. Is there anything else we need to cover, or can we get to work?”

Daniel presses the unlock button on his car key. “I really do think the advisee program for summer school was a great idea, and I’m glad you’re doing it.”

Tony can tell he’s feeling guilty. He’s been making noises for a while now about how he wonders whether Colette is coping as well as she claims to be.

True to form, Colette is not one to accept vulnerability or praise easily. “Yes, well. There isn’t much to do around here.”

“I heard the movie theater closed.”

“The AMC?” Tony asks, alarmed. He knows small town America is dying and all, but he assumed the massive chains were safe for another year or two.

“No, the independent theater in Germantown,” Colette corrects. “I used to go with…well, you know.”

“Right.”

There’s a weird moment where they’re standing in the parking lot between Daniel’s Honda and Tony’s Toyota, and no one knows where to go from the mention of Mario.

Eventually, Colette says, “This is ridiculous. I did my hair differently; it’s not a crisis.”

“And it still looks great.” Tony’s probably repeated it enough to be weird, but he’s grateful for the out. “I gotta get to work. See you later, babe?”

“Yeah.” Daniel gives him a weak smile. His big brain is still thinking. Tony can tell. “Hey, wait,” he adds as Tony turns to leave.

“Hm?” Tony jiggles his car key in the lock. It needs its biweekly oil treatment.

“Forgetting something?”

He turns to Daniel, who has his arms crossed across his chest and an eyebrow raised like there’s about to be some sort of naughty student/professor roleplay happening in broad daylight.

Tony blinks.

Probably not.

Daniel’s eyebrow inches up a fraction higher, and Tony remembers.

“Have a good day.” He presses a kiss to Daniel’s lips.

“You too.”

It does something for Tony’s ego to make Daniel look so pleased with such a little interaction.

“Yes, yes, see you later. You’re both insufferable,” Colette mutters as she slides into the passenger seat.

“Don’t get involved in any murder investigations,” Tony calls to both of them and gets into the car. The radio’s on the fritz again when he turns on the ignition. It’s been getting more and more annoying now he drives between Kingston and Rhinebeck almost daily. The drive isn’t that long, but the car is that old.

He gets to the shop ten minutes before opening. The AC is already on full blast against the oppressively hot and muggy Hudson Valley late summer. By eleven, it will be miserable in the garage if they don’t cool it down in time.

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