Chapter 33

Kate found a seat in the last row of the lecture hall, more than ready to get this semester started. She dreaded being back here, in Professor Clarke's class, but the sooner she graduated, the sooner she could see Hollis.

The last two weeks had dragged by, and while they'd exchanged a few texts, they hadn't seen each other. Hollis kept telling her to trust her, and that's all Kate could do, even if she didn't think there was any other way out of this besides waiting. Even if Hollis told her tomorrow that she was officially divorced, there was no guarantee that Professor Clarke still wouldn't fail her.

The last few students found a seat and settled in for the lecture. A few moments later, the side door opened, but it was a red-haired woman who opened her laptop and plugged it in before dimming the lights. Kate pulled up her schedule on her phone. Had they changed the rooms again? She scrolled down to her class. No, this was it.

She looked up to see the slides illuminating the room, and the woman adjusted the microphone before she spoke. "Hello everyone. My name is Professor Fagan. I'll be taking over this course in place of Professor Clarke." A hum of whispered conversations spread throughout the room. "Please," she said, waiting for the noise to die down, "Stop by my office if you have any questions or concerns. But for now, let's get started."

Kate tuned out what her new professor was saying, her mind jumping to a conclusion that she really wanted to be true. Less than five minutes later, she gathered her things and slipped out the door, her phone already in her hand.

She called Hollis who answered on the second ring. "Hi," Hollis said. Her voice always managed to lift Kate's mood.

"Hey, are you free to talk?"

"Hm. I'm between meetings."

"Uh…" Kate didn't know how else to say it other than to blurt it out. "Did you… Did something happen? I'm back at college today, and he's not."

She could hear the smile in Hollis's voice. "I told you I would take care of it."

"But…" Kate closed her eyes, falling back against the wall. She couldn't help imagining that Hollis had blackmailed him right back, and she worried about the potential consequences.

"It's nothing illegal, if that's what you're thinking. I'm not a ganster." She laughed softly. "I'll tell you about it in person."

"Tonight? Come by my place?"

"Sure."

They said goodbye, and Kate needed another minute before she went back inside, her heart pounding in her chest as she dared to hope that the worst of all this was finally behind them.