10. Irving

10

IRVING

A fter my tardiness on Friday, I managed to get to the university on time on Monday morning. No one had questioned my appearance a few days earlier, but I'd dressed extra well today to ensure the memory of me looking disheveled and sleep-deprived would be erased. I was still waiting for my replacement glasses to arrive, and though no one had mentioned the twine wrapped around the middle of these ones, Cyrus had given me a funny look the day I came in late.

I resolved to go to the library after work and close my application. At this rate, it was highly possible that Sylvan had already spoken to his cousin and fixed it so that we were both back in the dating pool, which was the last thing I wanted. Then again, he was a scatterbrained fellow, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he forgot.

The moment I entered the hallway to my office, Cyrus emerged from behind his door with a large package tucked under his arm and an amused expression on his face.

"I've been waiting for you," he told me.

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"This is for you. It arrived this morning right after I got in."

He presented me with the package that was wrapped in what looked like recycled brown paper and I frowned, leaning in a little closer to read the address.

"Oh, no, he wouldn't…"

"But he did." Cyrus held back a laugh. "Now, tell me, who is this mysterious Sylvan Lockwood fellow who's sending gifts to your workplace?"

I gave Cyrus a sharp glance. "No one. Here, let me take that to my office. I would prefer to open it in private."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure. Now, hand it over."

Cyrus gave me the package and I immediately knew what that fool of a fae had sent me. I'd insulted his art and now he was punishing me by sending me one to keep. It wouldn't match the decor in my apartment, but if he was telling the truth about his works selling for thousands of dollars, it might be worth holding onto for the sheer value alone.

I locked my office door behind me, set the painting on my desk, and untied the twine that looked suspiciously like the same twine he'd used on my glasses. The twine dropped to the floor and I tore open the parcel paper, the shreds of brown paper falling away as the picture slowly revealed itself.

"It can't be," I murmured, hastily pulling the remaining bits of paper off. "That wily little bastard." Lying on my desk in front of me was a full-length depiction of me, seductively posed, and… "I'm naked."

Before I could fully comprehend what I was staring at, someone jiggled the handle of my door, knocking when they couldn't open it.

"Just a moment," I called out.

I grabbed the strips of paper off the floor and set them on top of the painting to cover it. No one else could ever see this painting. I didn't mind admitting that it was tasteful in its depiction of nudity, but no one at my work let alone a student needed to see that side of me in any form, tasteful or otherwise.

I tucked the painting under my desk and opened the door to let in the student patiently waiting for me, apologizing for the inconvenience.

Once they had gone, questions satisfactorily answered and now headed off to their first class of the day, I carefully pulled the painting back out and wrapped it in my coat to take home later. As I let my eyes rove over it one last time, I had to force back a smile. I shouldn't have been amused by this. I shouldn't have liked the painting as much as I did. I should have been angry with Sylvan, but I was and I did, and I simply couldn't bring myself to be annoyed no matter how hard I tried.

The urge to see him again, to call his number and hear his voice on the other end, was overpowering, but I couldn't let myself fall into that trap. I needed to avoid getting into a situationship with Sylvan at all costs because we were too different in every other aspect for that story to end happily.

After work, I found myself facing the task I'd promised I would do that afternoon: I had to go to the library and explain that I needed to close my matchmaking application – for good. If Sylvan hadn't already told the Librarian that we were not planning on pursuing our relationship further, they were bound to be disappointed hearing it from me. They weren't my cousin, though, so luckily I wouldn't have to deal with the flak.

"Hello, how may I help you, Professor?" they asked as I walked in, the bell on the door jingling all too cheerily.

"Please, call me Irving." I smiled. "It's been a long time since you were in my class and needed to call me ‘professor' still."

The Librarian laughed. "Old habits die hard, I'm afraid, but I'll make an effort to let that one go. So, Irving, what brings you in here today?"

"I'm here to remove my application from your book of matchmaking, or whatever you call it."

The Librarian's brow creased. "Oh? Do you mean because you're satisfied with your first match? Because I should let you know, I do not keep the application in when matches work out. I wouldn't want to accidentally match someone with two different people, now would I?"

"Well, not exactly," I said cautiously. "My first match did not work out, and I'm not interested in trying for a second one. Sylvan and I came to the mutual conclusion that we were not suited to each other after our first date."

"I see." They bit down hard on their lower lip, trying to hold back their annoyance. "He told me a bit of a different story, but he always has been a flighty one, that cousin of mine. Ah, well, sometimes these things don't work out. I shall have a chat with my cousin about being more forthcoming when I see him again. In the meantime, I'll ensure your profile is kept out of the book, although I will not destroy it yet in case you ever decide to try our services again in the future. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No, that's all. Thank you for understanding." I turned to leave but stopped myself before reaching the door. "It's not that I dislike your cousin," I told the Librarian, "it's just that I don't see how we could possibly be compatible."

The Librarian nodded fervently. "Of course, of course. Worry not, Irving. No one is at fault here; sometimes these things simply do not work out."

I left feeling reassured in my decision. Even the Librarian almost admitted they made a mistake in pairing Sylvan with me. I had a sneaking suspicion that Sylvan being their kin clouded their judgment, and perhaps they even chose me because they thought I would be a good influence on him. Whatever the reasoning behind the choice was, that experience was behind me now and I could look forward to never having to talk to Sylvan again – or listen to him talk, as always seemed to be the case. It wasn't much to look forward to, but it was a start.