“Girl, you didn’t? Have I taught you nothing?” Toni added with a disappointed shake of her head.

“The point I’m making,” Mike interrupted, “is that there’s a bit of a loophole. HR recommends that you register any personal relationship over six months, basically to absolve them of any culpability in harassment claims. But they suggest registering relationships sooner, just in case there are any reports of behavior that might violate the University’s ethics code.”

“That doesn’t apply,” Alejandro said. His voice was hard as steel, and it shut down the conversation. Mike raised his hands in surrender just as the Faculty Senate president banged on his gavel to start the meeting.

Alejandro turned to Deja with a smile. He squeezed her shoulder before turning in his seat and opening his laptop. Deja’s eyes darted around the room until she found Layla. She was sitting next to someone Deja almost recognized from the Business College, talking. The scene didn’t strike Deja as worrisome, but she was worried.

Her mind flashed back to her and Alejandro in her office, his hands shoved inside her panties and her tongue deep in his mouth.

And just like that, her new semester bubble burst.

They were filing out of the auditorium. This semester, it was Toni who had to rush off to teach. Mike jogged along with her so they could talk about one of their students who’d nearly failed all their classes last semester.

“So, what are you two getting up to now?” Marie asked, tapping at her cell phone.

Alejandro was walking next to Deja, one hand holding the strap of his bag from his shirt, the other hanging at his side, brushing into Deja’s every few steps. He wanted to grab her hand in his and hold it firmly, their palms touching, but they were still at work, and he knew she wouldn’t allow it. Even though he’d tried to reassure her, Alejandro knew that Deja was freaked out by that encounter with Layla, and that made him want to hold her hand firmly even more, but he resisted.

“No plans yet. Wanna go grab dinner?” Deja asked Marie.

Alejandro had to stop himself from letting his frustration show because even though he liked Marie, he didn’t want to go to dinner with her. He wanted to be alone with Deja so they could talk. Well, he wanted to make out with her for a bit, and then they’d talk, but they couldn’t do either of those things if Marie came with them.