Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Actually, I didn’t. But then, I’d never considered myself important enough to be the target of anyone nefarious. After Rome and I had gone our separate ways, I’d been sure I would never see him again and that he would have zero interest in locating me.
“Besides,” Rome continued with an annoying sigh, “I don’t recall your home address, and I didn’t write it down. I only peeked at it long enough to prove that you had no reason to be in that library. As one of the guest lecturers at the University of Cincinnati, you would think that you have full access to their library.”
Fuck Rome. And fuck the internet for making it so easy for him to find information about me. Emily and her girlfriend hadn’t dug up anything half as interesting about Rome during their internet search.
I sucked in a deep breath through my nose, my nostrils flaring as I ground my teeth together. “Whatever. Fine. So, you decided that the best way to confront me was to drag along an entire grade school and request that I give a lecture to every one of them, talking to the point of becoming hoarse. There have been so many of them, I’ve barely had a chance to get a sip of water. It was pure luck that I ate a granola bar at seven this morning as I drove in to work. And it’s now…” I pulled my left hand free to glance at my watch. “It’s now almost two.” Which would explain at least part of the reason my head was pounding, and I was slightly lightheaded.
“Ah, that would explain why you’re so grumpy. You’re hungry.” Rome nodded and then paused. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Is this your way of asking me out for lunch?”
“What?” There was the squawk again, but I didn’t give a shit. “Absolutely not! I don’t want to be within five miles of you, let alone share a damn meal.”
But my outrage only made him chuckle. I was going to strangle him. Screw my career. Screw my freedom. I was going to kill this man and laugh the entire way to prison. Nothing mattered anymore.
“I thought you’d appreciate my efforts to get more kids interested in the museum and science. Nine and ten are critical ages. Impressionable years. All it takes is one smart, compassionate teacher or scientist to kindle a lifetime of interest in science.”
Rome was mocking me, but there was a nugget of truth to his words. Getting kids interested in science now meant cultivating a new generation of researchers. Maybe I hadn’t planted a field of budding paleontologists today, but there might be some new geologists, archeologists, or even other scientists that resulted from today. The study of science made the world a better place. And as much as I was loath to admit it, Rome had helped with that effort today.
“I did. I do appreciate it,” I forced out. Stopping myself from allowing my frustration to infiltrate my words, I closed my eyes and took another deep breath. It was only when I could speak calmly and rationally that I started. “Thank you. While I know your goal was to annoy me, I am aware you sponsored today’s field trip, and I wish to thank you on behalf of all the kids who might not have had the chance to go to the museum. I would also like to thank you on behalf of the museum. Your financial support means a great deal to our ability to continue to support the community and fund our research.”
I opened my eyes to see Rome had lost his grin and was glaring at me as if I’d said something horrible about his mother.
“It was more fun when you were flustered and pissed,” Rome muttered, and that only made my smile return.
Oh, good. I’d found a way to annoy him and support my job. That was even better.
“Think of all those kids you—” I began, but Rome held up a hand, stopping my words.
“Enough. We’ve wasted plenty of time bullshitting each other. Are you really interested in playing this game?”
“No,” I snapped. Time was precious, and I didn’t have it to waste on Rome. It was time to come clean, as distasteful as it was. “Fine. You’re correct. I was at the library to talk to you.”
“Not about…” Rome’s words trailed off, and he seemed to pale. It took my brain a second to realize that he was wondering if I’d gone looking for him to talk about what happened between us twenty years ago.
“No!” I shouted and cringed at the way my voice filled the silent corridor. “No,” I repeated softly. “I have no interest whatsoever about rehashing the past. I’d prefer it if we never mentioned it again.”
“Fine with me.” Rome made it sound like he didn’t care one way or another, but I didn’t miss the relief in his ocean-blue eyes. He had as much interest in reliving the past as I did.