Page 22 of Replay

“Spit it out!”

He sighed. “You’re going to have to deal with your mother and her parents if you do get back together with her. They might still want to break you up.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, but the way my mother reacted? Maybe there would still be things with Katie’s parents too. “I’m going to talk to Katie and not just listen to them.”

“You didn’t before.”

“I know, but—” He lifted a hand and I waited. Better listen in case it was something I needed to know.

“The fact that you were convinced to break up with her, and she didn’t fight it? I’m just saying, you might have had issues beyond your parents. And if that hasn’t changed, the outcome won’t either. Relationships aren’t easy. Maybe this one isn’t going to work out for you.”

I didn’t say anything, and he went into his room.

Fuck.

I’d thought if I convinced Katie to go out with me, and I didn’t listen to my mom and her parents, we’d be good. But he had a point. Why did I believe them so easily? Was I just a dupe? Had I changed?

And what had happened with Katie?

Chapter 8

Was That Your Choice?

Katie

“I swear—he thinks I’m just here to get my Mrs.” I stabbed my salad to punctuate my point. “Do you think you can handle this project you’ve selected? Like I’ll faint away from brain strain.”

Andrea picked up a mouthful of hers more delicately. “He’s the oldest tenured prof. He’d be shocked to know that women are allowed to vote.”

I sighed. “It was just so discouraging. I thought I was used to this—there aren’t a lot of women in STEM courses, but there are more than there were.”

“I was lucky—I’ve got one of the younger and female profs. I am grateful every time I hear some other TA talking about their advisor.”

“Is it just me or is it worse now that we’re grad students?”

“It’s worse.”

“Thanks.” A tomato leapt off my plate and rolled onto the table.

“Take it easy on the defenseless produce.”

I shook my head. “Sorry. There’s been a lot going on these past few days.”

Andrea set down her fork. “Is everything okay with Madeline?”

I stopped, fork in midair. “What? Oh, Madeline is great. I love staying there. I owe you for that.”

“Yeah, I love that I’m living with Lisa now, but that place was a pretty sweet score. If it’s not Madeline, and not Professor Grinch, what’s up?”

I set down my fork and considered. I was dying to talk to someone. There was a lot of frustration and anger burbling inside, and I wanted to figure out my thoughts before I next spoke to my family. We were close, and I needed to express myself without hurting them. Or maybe I shouldn’t worry about that. I couldn’t talk to any of my friends from back home, because of the Josh factor, and it was a little awkward talking to Madeline because she and Josh had been about to hook up. I was still making friends here at U of T, so if I was going to unload on anyone, Andrea was it.

“I ran into my ex. And I learned some things that are messing with my head.”

Andrea shoved her plate aside. “Tell me about this ex—a guy, right? You’re straight?”

I nodded.

“What did he do? We can take steps, restraining orders or—you blocked his number and on social media, right?”

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