he could get it. But he’d just started this amazing thing with Carly, and his dad had obviously started something, too, and there was Jamie to consider in the middle of it all, and his mind was a million miles away from his research.
Max’s thoughts continued to race as he taught his introductory class on the body’s nervous system. Fortunately, he’d taught this particular unit so many times he could do it by rote. While his mouth formed words, his mind went over his upcoming presentation, about all he needed to do. About the veil of disappointment that was starting to settle in over him.
He also thought about Carly. Or rather, she was there, perched like a bird above his thoughts, all colors and shapes and sparkling things, whereas his thoughts were generally algorithms and equations and lists.
He thought about his dad, about how this could be the opportunity to speak seriously about moving Jamie to an adult home. Maybe he could at last convince his father that he and Jamie both needed their own lives, especially now since his father appeared to actually have one. Or was this merely recreation for his dad?
Max was so lost in thought that when he dismissed class and was headed back to his office, he didn’t see Alanna until she waved her hand in his face right before he might have bowled her over. “Sorry!” he said. “I didn’t see you.”
She smiled sympathetically. “You must have gotten the email from O’Malley, too.”
He shoved his fingers through his hair. “Yep. So. I guess it’s me and you.”
“Look, Max . . .” Alanna paused, looking around her. “I don’t want this to be weird. I have always admired you and your work. I want to wish you the best of luck.”
He was grateful for that. “I don’t want it to be weird, either, Alanna. You’ve done some really amazing work. I wish the best of luck to you, too, but I don’t think you’re going to need it. They’d be idiots not to put you forward.”
“Thank you, but I think the same about you. You’re an excellent teacher, you know that? You have a knack for making some pretty complex concepts seem simple. And, really, who knows, right? So many factors go into this decision, right?”
She was being modest. “I guess.”
“Well . . . good luck,” she said.
“Good luck to you, too.”
Alanna smiled and walked on.
He watched her go. Intuition was a phenomenon that was not well understood, as it couldn’t really be quantified. But studies had shown that people who trusted their gut instincts were right more often than not. Max’s gut instinct told him Alanna Friedman would be a tenured professor in the next few months. Seeing her had somehow confirmed the inevitability to him—he was going to have to wait for tenure. Again. Which meant grants and other sources of funding for his research would be harder to get. It was just the nature of the beast.
The realization dampened his mood even more.
His mood did not improve as the day wore on, and that night, exhausted by his emotions and dilemmas, he wanted to talk to Carly.
Hazel presented me with a gift today. Would you like to see what it is?
That looks strangely familiar.
Thank goodness. Because all my underwear is accounted for.
What is Hazel doing with them, if I may ask?!?
Sleeping with them. I would take them from her—for safekeeping, of course—but I don’t want to upset my awesome dog and I don’t want to come off as creepy and scare you away. So let’s pretend I never said that.
It would take something weirder than that to scare me away. Speaking of things that don’t belong to us, I found this stuffed in my bag along with my sweater. My plan is to bedazzle it and leave it in your mailbox. It’s called dress for success.
Carly included a photo of his favorite knit cap.
Did you steal my beanie? Because if you did, you are definitely the kind of girl I’ve been wanting to meet for a very long time. Pretty, unafraid to wear big shoulders or lock herself into a skirt, and with her own beanie BeDazzler. I’m falling hard.
Just wait until I dress you. I think I’m falling hard, too. I wish it was Friday.
Me, too
Baxter says good night and kisses to Hazel
Hazel says good night and that she really misses you, which is kind of crazy. Everything is kind of crazy right now.