Words of Love

chapter SEVENTEEN



As they made their way across the plaza, Brett was already publishing the find of the century in his mind. In his right hand, he carried the blue jade stone, though he’d tagged and bagged it. In his left he held the lantern. The jade stone would be the featured photo for the article.

The department would have no choice but to promote him to full professor and tenure would shortly follow. Jesse was striding along beside him, also holding a lantern. Maybe they could publish together–of course. Why not? She does all the translation. It’d be quite a coup for a student to publish, especially–

He almost tripped and slowly came to a stop.

“Brett, what’s the matter?” Jesse said. He looked at her and blinked and his mouth was suddenly like cotton. “God, you look awful,” she said, stepping closer, her voice tense. “What’s the matter?”

“I’m going to be fired,” he said in a dry throat.

“What?” She blinked several times. “I don’t understand.”

He shook his head as he felt a sickening, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“You’re a student,” he whispered. “Oh, god. What have I done?”

“Stop it, Brett,” Jesse said, her voice taking on a tinge of panic. “You’re scaring me.”

“Scaring you? I think my career is over.”

“But why?” she pleaded.

“Because you’re a student.”

“I’m an adult,” she replied quickly. “And I’m not even your student. We’re in different departments.”

He shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said as the shock started to hit home. “Do you remember what happened to that math professor?” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, feeling a little nauseous.

“It does matter. Tell me.”

“He was fired. They were even engaged. She was a student in geography.” He shook his head again. “Oh god.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” she argued. “How can–”

“Zero tolerance,” he ground out through clenched teeth. “The new university policy. How many emails did I see? How many training sessions hammered it home? I’d never worried about it before…”

“Then we won’t tell anybody,” she said.

He stared at her.

“You think they won’t know? You think they won’t assume, like they already do? Only this time, it’ll be true.”

He looked down at the blue jade in the plastic bag, not even seeing it. Had it all been for nothing? His mind was reeling. What were the options? What could he do? Then he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

“We can’t be together.” Jesse backed up a pace as though he’d struck her and the utter shock in her face instantly made him regret the words. “Not at first,” he said, quickly.

But the damage was done.

She backed away from him, looking as unsteady as he felt.

“No, Jesse,” he said, reaching toward her. But she spun away, gripping her stomach, and staggered a few steps before she began to run, back to camp. “Jesse,” he gasped, trying to get his breath, as he sank to his knees.

He stared at the ground.

“Oh my god,” he muttered. “What have I done?”