“I see.” She responded slyly. “Tell me is there any chance Professor Kendell will choose to stay in California?”

“No.” I answered with a slight harshness.

“Too bad.” She sighed. “I was hoping to be picked up by Haven full time. Positions are becoming harder to find these days.”

“I know.” I answered slightly more relaxed. “I just joined the staff last fall.”

“Ah so you were the one who beat me out of the position.”

“Sorry.” I apologized.

We engaged in more chitchat while we unpacked her boxes. I offered to follow her so I could drive her back after she returned the van. After this was done I drove her back to the house. “You must allow me to thank you for all you have done for me today.” She offered politely. “Let me take you to dinner and we can catch up on everything.”

Her offer seemed innocent enough and she seemed to lack any animosity towards me so I agreed. It felt nice to be able to mend some fences from my past. We agreed on getting take out from the Chinese restaurant. As we were sitting on the futon in what was now her apartment eating Kung Pao Chicken, Caroline filled me in on what she had been up to since Yale. It seemed to me that Caroline moved around a great deal. “How is Peter?” She asked suddenly bringing the conversation to a halt. I knew why she was asking, it hadn’t taken me very long to figure out that Caroline was gay. This gaydar stuff really works.

“At the moment he hates me.” I answered slowly. “We broke up a few months ago and it didn’t end very well.”

“Really?” She cooed. “After all of this time? I know that the two of you had been friends for a long time I wasn’t surprised when I heard the two of you became an item. What happened?” She began caress my thigh as she spoke. I pulled away slightly not wanting to hurt her again as I had done years ago.

“I came out.” I answered her directly.

“Well it’s about time.” She applauded as she inched slightly closer to me. “You know I was very hurt by you.”

“I’m sorry about that.” I said softly. “I didn’t understand myself back then.”

“It happens.” She answered with a shrug. “Does this mean that you are out and about?” She asked seductively as she leaned in closer to my body. As she dipped her head slightly I knew that she planned on kissing me and I pulled away quickly.

I was surprised by her action. Nothing that had transpired during the afternoon was least bit romantic in nature. “No.” I said firmly holding up my hands in protest. “I’m very involved.” I stated firmly.

“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Caroline teased as my eyes widen in disbelief. “Hey I’m just kidding.” She laughed slightly. “So tell me about her?” I relaxed only slightly.

“Actually my lover is Allison Kendell.” I stated proudly.

“But she is in California?” Caroline pried.

“Don’t remind me.” I groaned. There was something about Caroline’s demeanor that was making me more and more uncomfortable. “What you? Anyone special in your life?”

“No.” She laughed heartily.

After claiming exhaustion I made my excuses and left Caroline’s apartment. Time seemed to pass slowly without Allison. Even though we spoke to one another every day I missed her more than I thought possible. Watching Caroline settle into Allison’s side of the office at the University made me uncomfortable. But these days there was very little about Caroline that didn’t make my uneasy. She had changed a great deal since our days at Yale. There was a definite coldness to her once vibrant personality. I knew that she was working very hard to secure a more permanent position at Haven. She wanted Allison’s job and she seemed to want something else that definitely belong to Allison as well. The woman would not stop flirting with me no matter how many times I pointed out that I was not interested.

Granted Caroline was an attractive woman and perhaps if I hadn’t been such a coward all of those years ago something would have happened. But now things were decidedly different looking past Caroline’s physical attributes there was absolutely nothing about her now that interested me in the least. There was something about her personality that was a definite turn off. Even if Allison was not in my life I still wouldn’t accept Caroline’s offers. Then there was something else that troubled me about Caroline on more than one occasion I noticed her flirting with some of her female students. It may be archaic but Haven had strict rules against the faculty having personal relationships with the students. The rules had been in existence prior to the enactment of sexual harassment laws. The penalty for violating the rule ran both ways. This in theory would protect a member of the faculty from false accusations. The only exceptions to the rule is if there had been a prior relationship. This clause existed so that spouses of faculty members could take classes if they wanted to. But they were still unable to enroll in courses taught by their significant other. I know that it was an outdated concept in many ways. But I also agreed with the policy to a certain extent. After spending most of my adult life studying and working in a college environment I witnessed many a young woman seduced by a male (usually married) professor. These relationships almost always ended badly.

I decided that I would talk to Caroline regarding this matter. I had to give her the benefit of the doubt since as far as I knew she had yet to cross the line. In the mean time I buried myself in work. With the marvels of modern technology Allison and I were able to complete the first draft. My publisher was more than pleased with the results. There were some changes and data that needed to be checked. Other than that we could look forward to a release date in the fall or perhaps early winter.

Late on one Saturday afternoon I was on the telephone with Allison working on some of the revisions our editor had requested. “That should do it.” I said in exhaustion. “I will email these out on Monday.”

“I miss you.” Allison softly.

“I miss you too.” I responded with a pout.

“What are you wearing?” She inquired in a mischievous tone.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” I teased my lover. Just as I was about to spin a yarn about a fictional sexy outfit when there was a knock on the door. “Damn there’s someone at the door.” I sighed.

“I’ll let you go.” Allison offered in a dejected tone.

“No.” I whined in protest. “I want to finish this conversation. I’ll get rid of whoever it is and then I’m going to go into great detail and describe to you what I am wearing.” I heard a very pleased murmur coming from the other end of the telephone. I went downstairs and through the living room. Cordless telephones yet another great invention. I opened the door and found Chris standing in the doorway with an annoyed look on her face. “Well nuts.” I groaned deciding that my lover’s ex-girlfriend was a definite mood killer.

“Hello to you too.” Chris snorted and entered the apartment without invitation.

“Who is it?” Allison inquired from the other side of the country.

“Avon lady.” I smirked as Chris laughed.

“Allison?” Chris inquired softly. I simply wiggled my eyebrows to confirm her suspicions.

“So what are you doing with the Avon Lady?” Allison asked slyly.

“She just about to show me her samples.” I teased as Chris ignored me and made her way into the kitchen.

“Uh huh?” Allison responded.

“Bring me a cup too.” I called out into the kitchen. “Allison?” I returned my attention back to my lover.

“I’m here baby.” Her sultry voice came through sending shivers down my spine. “Are you going to tell who was at the door?”

“its just Chris.” I explained as Chris offered me a cup of coffee.

“Thanks a lot.” Chris scoffed as she plopped down onto the sofa.

“What does she want?” Allison asked in a miffed tone of voice. “Never mind tell me about you. What are you wearing?” I could her breathing becoming ragged.

“I can’t.” I laughed uneasily.

“Sure you can …” Allison encouraged me. “Go into the bedroom … and …”

“Allison.” I cautioned her there was no way I was going to do what I knew she was suggesting.

“Baby.” Allison pleaded.

“Allison.” I repeated with a blush. Chris motioned for the phone. “Chris wants to talk to you.”

“Rats.” Allison grumbled.

I handed the telephone to Chris and sat down on the sofa and sipped my coffee. It wasn’t unusual for Chris to stop in. Lately she had been flying up a great deal on the weekends to visit Rita. Sometimes she would stop in to check up on me. It was nice that the two of us were getting along. I knew that there would always be a slight awkwardness in our relationship but that was to be expected since I was with her ex-lover. “Hey Ally …” Chris chimed cheerfully into the receiver. “Did you get my email? … I know … no I’ll tell her … I don’t know … me? I’m just checking out your girlfriend … she looks very hot today … such language! Did you learn that at Harvard? Seriously Ally how could you leave her behind? You know if I was any other kind of woman … Oh wait I am that kind of woman… . . Whoa! You eat with that mouth? … Calm down I’m in town to see Rita.”

I listened as they chatted for a while longer and then Chris offer her goodbyes and handed the telephone back to me. “Hey.” I said softly. “Hey yourself.” Allison purred. “I’m afraid that I’m going have to go.” She apologized. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I answered as my heart skipped a beat as we exchanged our good byes.

“I had forgotten what a great phone voice she has.” Chris sighed thoughtfully.

“You had to tease her.” I said as I poked the taller woman.