Sheila’s eyes narrowed, and Deja worried she could see the emotions on Deja’s face. She swallowed uncertainly.

“Your department has never been great at mentoring,” she said, seemingly out of the blue.

Deja started to protest — even though Sheila was correct — but Sheila stopped her with a nod.

“You don’t have to agree. I know. I’ve been here much longer than you. But I’ve heard great things about you from Alejandro, and Toni, and the Dean herself. So, if you ever need some…advice, I’m here.”

Deja swallowed again. “Th-thanks, Sheila.”

Sheila brushed her hand through the air. “Please, this is the least I can do. This building used to hold the Men’s Smoking Room.”

Deja’s eyes widened. “That was real?”

“Yep. They got rid of it sometime in the early eighties. Sometimes in the summer, I swear I can still smell cigar smoke. Disgusting. So, if I can get as many women in this building to counteract that history, I’ll consider that a win.” She winked at Deja and then walked briskly away.

Deja watched her go, dumbfounded.

Alejandro might not have seen Deja slip by his door except by now he’d become so attuned to just the hint of her that even though he was very focused on the student in front of him, he saw her flit past his cracked door.

“Give me a second,” Alejandro said, lifting from his chair.

“No problem.”

Alejandro was about to head for the door until Deja appeared fully in the doorway, a hand on her hip. She was beautiful, and she was not looking at him.

“Jerome,” she said, in a tone of voice that shockingly made Alejandro wonder if she’d talk to their kids that way.

“Oh, what’s up, Doc?” Jerome said with a smile on his face.

“Boy, what are you doing here?”

“Just talking to Doctor Mendoza,” Jerome said innocently.

“About?”

“Deja,” Alejandro said, but she put a hand up to him as if he wasn’t part of this conversation happening in his office.

Jerome smiled sheepishly up at her. “Okay, look, Doc, what had happened was…”

“Boy…” Deja warned.

Jerome’s big shoulders jumped with mirth. “So, I think I want to double major in History,” he admitted.

Deja turned to Alejandro with a frown. “So you’re poaching my best student?” she accused.

“I’m your best student?” Jerome asked, his voice full of pride and mystification.

“He came to me,” Alejandro said. “And he said double major.”

Deja rolled her eyes. “It’s always the ones you l…” Her voice trailed off, and Alejandro leaned toward her, his eyes widening in shock.

Deja’s eyes widened as well, and she took a step back into the hallway.

“Never mind,” she said.

“Deja,” Alejandro said.

She ignored him and turned to Jerome. “Office hours. Next week.”