“Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. Hi, Molly.” He offers her a smile, his one dimple popping through.

“Hi, Cash. You aren’t interrupting anything,” Molly replies, turning in her seat to face him. “We’re just eating lunch. Want some? We have plenty.”

My eyes flit to him, pulse kicking up while I wait for him to respond.

“Oh, no. I can’t, but thank you.” He turns his attention to me. “I was coming by to see if Ben’s mom had called you yet?”

Ben is a kid in Cash’s class who isn’t doing well in any of his classes this semester. His mom emailed Cash last night, ripping him a new one for a failing grade he—justifiably—gave to Ben. He forwarded me the email this morning, and I was supposed to set up a meeting with Ben and his mom to come speak with Cash and me.

“Not yet. I emailed her this morning, and she told me she’d call to set up the meeting once she’s off work. I’m glad you stopped by, though… is there a time that works better for you to hold the meeting?”

His hands are shoved into his pants pockets. “Uh, a Friday would be nice, since I only have one class that day, but if that doesn’t work for her, then Wednesdays, my last class gets out at one. Otherwise, I’m in classes until three Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.”

My lips curl into a smile before I take a drink of my water. “Okay, perfect. I’ll let you know once I do hear from her, and we’ll go from there.”

“Sounds good,” he replies, nodding his head. “Have a good rest of your lunch. It was nice to see you, Molly.”

“You too, Cash!”

When he shuts the door behind him, she spins in her chair, smiling like an idiot at me.

“What, Molly?” I run my hand over my face, sighing, knowing what’s coming.

“Nothing,” she exclaims, holding her hands in the air. “Nothing at all. There’s just… tension. Palpable tension between the two of you.”

I can’t stifle the groan even if I wanted to. She’s a damn bloodhound when it comes to anything Cash related. “No, there isn’t. That was a very normal and professional conversation between a professor and the dean.”

“Sure, it was. There’s still tension. Have you guys spoken? Like about anything non-student related?”

“No. Not in months. The last time we spoke outside of school was when we were at that fundraiser a few months ago.” I don’t dare tell her about my New Year’s Resolution, or the coffee I brought him unknowingly this morning. She’d latch on and never let it go.

Her features fall as she picks up her fork again. “That’s too bad. I really like him.”

That makes two of us, Mol.