he’s talking.
“On the one hand as Dean of this college, I have to advise against any relations with any student until either they or you are no longer part of the college,” he says, growling out the last part.
“On the other hand,” he continues, interrupting me before I can say anything, “I’m calling you as your friend, Wes. Don’t complicate your life, the rest of your career with this. I know a man has needs, Wes but there’s a whole world out there. Women your own age… Jesus man, from what I’ve been told you could do a thousand times better too,” he says suddenly, almost shouting again.
And that’s when I make my mind up, for real this time.
I’ve danced with the idea of quitting for years. Only ever hung on out of a sense of obligation to Doug and all he and the college have done for me.
But hearing him say anything like that, something so base, so crass about Katelyn.
Well, he’s no better than the worst jocks I have to coach. No better than anyone who’s ever said anything unkind to her, or done any of those terrible things she told me about.
I should be frothing at the mouth. I should be marching over there to knock out what teeth he has left, but I know it wouldn’t change anything.
It wouldn’t change him and it wouldn’t change people like him from being in the world. From being at the school.
“Professor Bernstein is very upset, Wes. He’s been your neighbor for how long? And this girl, she’s his prized pupil. Can you see how badly this is going to reflect on him once it gets out?” he wheezes, only taking short, rasping breaths before he starts off again.
“And that security guard, he’s probably sold the story to the local paper he’s got such a big mouth. No! It’s gone far enough, Wes. I need you to break this thing off. Put an end to it once and for all,” he exclaims loudly.
“You’re right, Doug. I should put an end to it,” I tell him. “I had no idea that’s how you’d see it reflecting on you, the college, and the other faculty,” I add.
“Well, glad to hear you talking some sense for a change, Wes. It’ll pass. You’ll find someone your own age soon enough… Now. I need to know about this budget proposal too, it’s due first thing Tuesday and you haven’t even run a draft past my office, why not?” he asks, sounding like a man who’s said his piece, got what he wanted, and is happy to go back to everything being just the way it’s always been.
But I’m not like that.
Not anymore.
And never again will be with who disrespects my woman or me, even over the phone.
“I haven’t drafted or even started the proposal, Doug,” I confess.
“Well, take until the end of the week if you need to, eh? I can hold things off until then,” he says in a conciliatory tone.
But I’m shaking my head.
“No Doug, I won’t be submitting a budget request. Just my resignation, effective immediately,” I tell him and I hang up.
That’s when I know Katelyn can have everything she’s worked for still. She can finish her year, do her research afterward and carve out whatever career she chooses for herself.
I’ll be there by her side a hundred percent, every step of the way.
I’ve only told her three or four times in one day but maybe she’s not hearing it yet.
Like a lot of things, telling by showing is what works.
She can’t see the house so she doesn’t have a home. She doesn’t have the cards in her name so she thinks she doesn’t have any money.
She hasn’t felt the future yet, neither of us has, so we don’t know the joy and the pain, the laughter, and tears that having our own family will bring.
I can’t see it either, because we aren’t there yet.
But I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she has everything she needs, wants, and even more she doesn’t, just to spoil her.
That’s how Wes Heart treats his queen.
That’s the life I choose from today onward, Katelyn and me.
Not Katelyn and me against the world, but Katelyn and me in the world.
Together, like a team.
The only team I want to be in now and the only one that doesn’t need a coach, that’s for damned sure.
Chapter Nineteen
Katelyn
“Well, look at that,” Wes exclaims, noticing the bags and boxes of clothes we never got around to even