TOO CLOSE TO HOME
Chapter 22
Charlie was waiting in his office waiting for Amita to arrive. He couldn't deny that he liked her. She was a lot easier to work with than the student he'd advised the previous year. Despite his father's and Don's not so subtle hints that they should get together. He wasn't going to let it happen. The rules were strict and he abided by the rules. After she graduated it might be different but he wasn't allowing himself to dwell on that. In the meantime he'd enjoy their student/teacher relationship. He smiled when he smelled her jasmine perfume, telling him she was about to enter.
"Hi, Charlie," Amita said brightly, pulling up a chair to his desk and laying her notebook on it.
"Hi, Amita. Ready to get to work?"
"Yeah," she replied, looking at him. He appeared tired she could tell. That usually meant he was working overtime on one of his consulting gigs and she idly wondered if it had anything to do with the Campus Killer.
Charlie flipped open the notebook she handed him and carefully studied her work so far. For the next half hour they worked quietly together, Charlie pointing out a few mistakes and Amita correcting them.
Finally Charlie closed the notebook and asked, "What about meeting this same time next week?"
"Sounds okay to me," Amita said and gathered up her notebook. "Hey, Charlie, how about I give you a lift home? You look kinda beat."
How can I say "no" to an offer like that," Charlie replied and stood to gather up his books and papers. "But what about my bike?"
"Oh, there's plenty of room in the back," Amita said, holding the door open for him.
A few minutes later Amita was pulling out of the campus and heading the wrong way. "Hey, my house is in the other direction," he pointed out.
"I know. But it's a beautiful day and I'm in the mood for one of the Italian ices from Gherrity's."
"Okay. Just as long as you're not taking too long," Charlie replied. He leaned his head back, enjoying the cool breeze.
Amita pulled into the parking lot. "I'll only be a couple of minutes. Do you want me to get you anything?"
"I'll have a lemon/lime ice if you don't mind," he replied, reaching into his wallet and pulling out a 10.00 bill. "The least I can do is pay for both."
"Okay." She took the money and hurried inside. A couple of minutes later she returned carrying two tall glasses, handing one and a spoon to Charlie.
He sat up straighter in order not to spill any on his shirt. "Thanks."
Amita slid into her seat and started on her strawberry/lime ice. "Ah, this is what I've been thinking about all day." She looked over at Charlie. "Hey, don't eat it so fast or you'll get brain freeze."
Brain freeze?" Charlie asked with a puzzled expression.
"You know. When all that cold goes to your head," she explained laughing at the expression on his face.
"I think it just did."
"Oh, well. Doesn't last too long" She sat for a couple of minutes and then started the car, saying, "Okay, I'm heading for your house."
A/N You're getting two chapers tonight. Just a nice bit of friendship with Charlie and Amita.
