Page 82 of Switch
“You know, this is a faculty mixer.You’re supposed to be mixing.”
Wes sidles up next to me.He teaches a part-time class in the hospitality and tourism department.
“You’re schmoozing enough for both of us.Someone needs to hold up the wall.”
I send another text.
Fallon: Yes, Keeper
Suddenly I’m soaked.Something cold splashes across my face.Vodka and lime, maybe.
“What the hell was that?”
“Sorry.”Wes hands over a tiny cocktail napkin, as if that’s going to mop up everything.“There was a dead fly in my drink.”
“So you thought you needed to throw it at me?”
“It was an accident.I was about to take a drink when I saw it, and I was startled.Jesus.”
Was it really a dead fly, though?“You’re slurring a little, Wes.Not really the time or place to soak yourself in booze.”
“If they didn’t want people to drink, they wouldn’t serve cocktails.”He nods toward my wet shirt.“It was vodka and soda.Be fine once it dries.”
Perhaps, but my shirt is far too see-through and unprofessional looking at the moment.
“Well, I was about to go and talk to Dean Sutton, and I’d prefer not to do so looking like a drowned rat.”
Maybe I ought to send him an email.Resigning via faceless electronic means is awfully tempting.It’s easy.Safe.A year ago I might have.
But no.For this, face-to-face is the right way to go.
Wes gestures to where the dean is holding court at a corner table with a gaggle of older men who are all somewhere in age between seventy and they-might-use-witchcraft-to-keep-going.
“I wouldn’t bother.You know how these things go.He only ever sits around and talks shop with his golf buddies.”
“I know.But it’s important I get this over with.”I turn to face Wes head-on.“I’m quitting.The sooner I let him know, the better.”
Thank goodness Wes already spilled his drink, because if not, I think I’d be getting hit with another blast.“Why the fuck would you go and do that?You said this job fucking saved you after Marina died.”
Yeah.I did.“At the time, that was true.I have more things in my life now.Good things.Things you encouraged me to go out and find, I might add.I’ve even started writing again.”
After going to stay at PJ’s apartment, I commandeered a blank notebook and used it to purge all of my thoughts.Somewhere along the way I realized my nightly scrawling was turning itself into a story.
“So, I feel like it’s time for me to move on,” I add.
Better to leave the notes and cameras and the threatening video out of it.Wes is already going off half-cocked.
Wes looks at me as if I’m a toddler he’s tired of scolding.Funny, because my brother is acting like a toddler, and I’m tired of him getting into my business.
“You know that kid is broke as fuck, right?He probably saw that sweet-ass beach house you live in and got dollar signs in his eyes.Probably thought he won the sugar daddy sweepstakes.”
“We’ve been over this, Wes.You’re insulting literally all of us right now, me the most.You’re the one who wanted me to get out and start dating again.Now that I have, you want me to be alone again?You’re the one who set us up.I don’t care that you didn’t know him that well.I like him, and I’m happy.”
My brother stares at me, red-faced.At some point his drink cup got crushed in his hand.
“Look, I can’t thank you enough for your support after Marina died.I needed it.I’m grateful.It’s also time to get the hell out of my personal life.I’ve been staying at PJ’s place recently, and we’ve gotten a lot closer.I’m not lonely and angry anymore.I’ve got a puppy to take care of.I appreciate that you helped me get this job, but I don’t need it like I used to.If someone finds out about our relationship, I’ll be fired.PJ could get expelled.There’s too damn much at stake.”
Never mind that someone already has found out.
