Kayla opens her envelope and pulls out a slip of paper. A line forms between her eyebrows perpendicular to the bridge of her glasses. "Looks like you and I will spend more time together, Dr. .," she says.
"I mean, we were the only two to come to the luncheon," you say, and smile. Kayla's expression doesn't change.
"No, no, my admin assistant pairs people among all first-year faculty," Dr. Lewis says. "It was entirely luck of the draw."
"Yes," Kayla says. "What luck."
"I'll email both of you instructions—" But Dr. Lewis is talking to Kayla's back as she strides out of the room. He sighs. "STEM professors. One wishes they were better in social situations." He brightens. "At least their grants support the college. Not like the humanities—ah. Sorry."
And he thinks Kayla has issues in social situations? "Thank you, Dr. Lewis," you say, and take your leave.
As she walks away, you open your envelope. Darcy Bozeman's name is on your slip of paper.
Did she actually have your name? Or did she lie about having it?
You turn to go back to Dr. Lewis and show him the slip of paper, then stop. Better to spend time with her than Darcy, surely.
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