Page 66 of The Freshman

“To keep you sweet? Hemarried? In the closet?”

Alfie shook his head. “I don’t thinkhe’s married—”

“Think? So, you don’t knowif he’s married, been married, to a man or a woman…”

“He’s neversaid.”

There was nothing about marriage inthe part of Nate’s file he had read, but he didn’t know whatsecrets page two held.

“You’re not ill, are you?”Tia said, attaching her pale blue eyes to his.

He immediately looked away. “Well Ifeel like shit.”

“But not from a virus.Love sickness.”

Alfie scrunched his face and reachedfor his coffee.

It burned his lip as he took a sip,and Tia frowned then took the cup gently from his hand and returnedit to the table.

“Tell me whathappened?”

“Nothing.”

“Is that why you’re upset?The guy you like isn’t interested.”

Alfie wrung his hands together. “We-weslept together.”

Tia’s eyes bulged. “What? Was it thatbad?”

“No, it wasn’tbad.”

Her eyes hardened. “He had you andthen he lost interest—”

“No, it just shouldn’thave happened. It can’t happen.”

Tia sighed slowly and lifted her lipsin a smile. “Live a little. You’re eighteen. You’re expected tobreak the rules. What does he say about it?”

Alfie shrugged. “I’ve been ignoringhis calls.”

“Well don’t. Talk to him,figure it out. If it’s putting your job in jeopardy, it must beputting his on the line too.”

“It’s not,” Alfiemuttered.

Tia frowned, and then nodded like sheworked it out. “He’s higher up the ladder than you. If all goeswrong, you’re the scapegoat?”

“Something likethat.”

“Trust you to fall forsome superior.”

She shook her head and handed Alfie’scoffee back before getting her own.

“I didn’t mean to,” Alfiewhispered.

“Mean to what?”

“Fall for him.”

Tia shrugged. “The heart wants whatthe heart wants.”

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