Chapter 15
Zack
“Damn man, it’s been a while.” Tyrese, my closest friend and one of my only buddies through college stood as I approached the table at the local brewery and pulled me in for a quick hug.
I cringed feeling guilt over my absence. “Between the classes I’m teaching and other things, I just don’t seem to have any time lately.”
It had been a while. Pretty much every second I had available was spent with Sophia. I’d had relationships over the years, but none of the women I’d been with had me captivated like Sophia. She was like a drug that I couldn’t get out from under my skin. Though I really didn’t even want to try.
“Right. I grabbed you a flight. Four of their newest brews. We haven’t been here for a while so I didn’t figure you’d tried any of them yet.” He sat down at the bar with me sitting next to him.
“They look good. What are they?” The four beers were lined up straight across from a light golden color to one that was nearly tar black.
“The black one is a licorice stout. There’s a sour, an IPA, and a peanut butter stout.”
Grabbed each one, I brought them individually up to my nose and inhaled the fine aroma. It was nice to get out. I wished I could spend more time out and about with Sophia without having to go a city over, and even then there was always the fear in the back of my mind that we’d get caught. The rush that came with sneaking around had worn off quite some time ago.
“Good,” I picked up the first one, the licorice stout and took a sip. “There’s definitely licorice in here. Generally, I love black licorice, but this seems to be a little overbearing. What do you think?” I looked over at Tyrese who was taking a sip of his own. I watched his expression for a minute and then he finally nodded. “You’re right. But I don’t care for black licorice.”
“Then why did you get that one?” I laughed, giving my head a shake at him.
He pulled out his phone and then after a moment of fussing brought up the craft beer app. “You know I have to add it to the list. I’m following behind Tyler in the number of different beers drank.”
I enjoyed a good freshly brewed beer as much as the next guy, but I wasn’t at the point where I felt the need to track them as if they were Pokémon where I needed to collect them all.
“Okay, so give me the truth now. What’s been going on with ya? I barely hear from you. You never go out with me and Tyler anymore. Who’s the girl?”
“Damn man.” I raked a hand through my hair and sighed. “What has you thinking it’s a girl? Work’s been insane.”
“Right. But there’s a girl, so fess up. Who is she and why haven’t we met her yet?”
I battled back and forth in my head about how much to share. Tyler didn’t work at the school, he was an ER doctor at the local hospital and worked insane hours himself. It wasn’t all my fault we didn’t get together. Okay, it was mostly my fault, but I wasn’t taking all the blame.
But would it hurt to share, at least a little bit of what was going on? Maybe he’d have some insight that could help. Although by saying insight I really meant, endorse the relationship so I didn’t feel so at odds with it.
“Okay, fine. Do you remember the girl from the club that I took home a few months ago?”
“Yeah, what about her? You guys make it official? What’s the big secret with that?”
“Well, yes.”
“Then why hasn’t she been around?”
With a loud sigh, I decided to just confess and get it over with. “She’s my student. The next morning, she’s gone. No note, no number, nothing. I was disappointed, but that’s life sometimes. The next day she’s front row center in my Sociology 1001 class.”
“Fuck. Man. How old is she?”
“Twenty-one.”
“Oh…”
Just looking into his eyes, I knew he had more to say. “Don’t hold back man. What do you think?”
“I’m just wondering how that would affect your career if it got out?”
“I have tenure, but it won’t be good. Sure as hell wouldn’t be good for my reputation as an educator. Not to mention the age difference.”
“Then why continue to see her?”