Chapter 4: Dante

The meeting with Professor Oakley went far better than I thought it would. But even still, I will keep my distance and tell Evie it flopped. I need time to process everything that has transpired. I'm not even sure I believe it myself.

In order to make tutoring successful, I need to come with an outline of questions prepped and ready to go. Evie's memorized my class schedule. I am not sure what to tell her about tutoring before world history. I'm sure I will come up with some reason to be gone.

Evie comes waltzing in. Her coffee has stained her notebook. Her face looks frazzled from college life.

"Well, how did it go this morning with a certain older gentleman?" Of course she jumps right into her interrogation mode, as predicted.

"Well, it didn't go as well as I had hoped."

"Is he married or something?" I honestly hadn't thought to investigate his relationship status. But it's a good enough excuse to get her off my back.

"Yeah, there was a picture of him and some female on his desk. He has a ring on his finger. I didn't feel like prying. But it appears he's unavailable."

I pretend to act sad. Maybe I should be sad. What if he really is married or engaged? What will I do then?

"I'm sorry, Cora. I know how much you wanted that to work out? Well maybe it's for the best. I've already found a cute boy for you to hang with just in case something happened. Here's his number and check out his Instagram. His name is Dante Meijers. He's not related to the family who has that large chain of stores. He made a point in telling me so."

Typical Evie with her back up plan for my life. I mine as well check this Dante guy out. Professor Oakley made it pretty clear that he is my professor and nothing more. He can deny it all he wants, but Professor Oakley did hit on me. And it must be hard for him to be as young as he is and to teach such young students.

"Sure, I'd like to meet him. Either way I want to lose my v-card this year and finally get over Spencer and his stupid comments about my body."

"Yeah, get it girl. You'll be getting laid in no time with that attitude. And don't worry I'm sure it will be just as special as you want it to be."

I know Evie is trying to help but it can be invasive at times. But since she's gone out of her way. I will try to keep an open mind. If she thinks he's a nice guy, I'm sure he is.

"Thanks. I don't want to rush into anything. When can I meet Dante?"

"Today. Maybe we could have dinner with him. And I have a confession to make. I am no longer a strong independent woman like I claimed. Benjamin asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. Maybe we have been in love this whole time. But at least he asked me in the end."

My jaw drops and I hug her. I've been hoping this would happen for the longest time.

"Congrats Evie! That's amazing news. I've been waiting to hear you tell me that for so long. Can we have a double date with Dante and Benjamin tonight?"

Evie claps her hands and hugs me again. The idea of going on our first college double date has her turning into a girly squealing mess.

Evie arranges the whole date. Dante is Benjamin's new roommate. They live adjacent to us on the campus and Dante drives us. I have the honor of sitting next to him in his car. Dante is half Italian by the looks of it.

"Hi, Dante. It's nice to meet you. So tell me about yourself."

"Well, I'm in a band. We're playing this coming weekend if you'd like to come. Our back is the Black Sparrows. It's not a fancy name. Our lead guitarist Jeff Goldstein was drunk when he came up with the name. We didn't dare challenge him on the matter. I'm a photography major. I'm hoping to take senior pictures, wedding photos, and such when I'm done here. If that doesn't work out I will change my major to music. I'm in a band so at least I have that going for me. How about you?"

I hate it when people ask about me. I never know what to say. I'm not that interesting.

"Well, I'm friends with Evie. I love drawing. I'm an amateur artist. I can show you my drawings on Instagram. And sure I would love to go to your Black Sparrow's concert. Sorry if I'm a little awkward. I have not been on a date since my ex boyfriend dumped me."

Dante pulls into the pizza joint and looks at me before he gets out.

"It's alright. Cora told me about Spencer. I just broke up with my girlfriend of three years, Tammy. I understand what you're going through. We don't have to jump the gun just yet. Let's just see how it goes tonight. No rush on my end."

We spend the evening talking about Black Sparrows and the origins of his band. And all the while I'm thinking maybe I could move on from Spencer and forget that I ever had a little crush on my college professor.