Love Lessons

“That’s great,” she said with a smile. “You must be pleased.”

“Yeah. It was pretty easy material this time.”

“Or maybe it’s just starting to seem easier to you because you’ve learned how to study.”

He shrugged. “Could be. Anyway, you said you wanted me to let you know how it went.”

“Yes, I did. Thank you.” She hadn’t necessarily meant that he should stop by this evening, but she supposed he was justifiably proud of his achievement. Funny thing was, he didn’t look all that excited about it.

Mike sighed deeply. “I’ve got to come clean with you, Catherine.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “You didn’t really make an A?”

“No, that part was true. I got the A. But I didn’t stop by tonight just to tell you about it.”

“You didn’t?”

“No.”

“So,” she prodded after another moment, “you really came tonight because…?”

“That guy you were with last night,” he said, startling her again. “That doctor. Did you tell him you’ve been tutoring me?”

“No. Why?”

“I just thought—well, maybe he wouldn’t like me spending time here. In your apartment. Alone with you.”

Catherine planted her hands on her hips and looked at him in bewilderment. “Why would Bill care about that?”

“Well, you know. If you and he are—”

“We’re friends,” she supplied when he paused. “Colleagues. We attended a hospital function together last night. That’s it.”

“So you’re not—”

“No. We’re not.”

Mike reached down to pick up Norman, who had fallen onto his back and was shamelessly begging for attention. He looked down at the cat when he spoke again, avoiding Catherine’s eyes. “He seemed like a decent guy. Just your type, I would imagine.”

“My type?” she repeated coolly, her hands drawing into fists on her hips.

“Well, yeah. You’ve both got advanced degrees. Successful careers. You’ve got a lot in common.”

“I suppose.”

“A lot more than you’d have in common with a maintenance guy who only has a high school diploma and is struggling to get a few gen ed credits at the local university.”

“Surely you aren’t implying that I am an educational snob when it comes to choosing my friends.”

“I didn’t say that,” he replied just a shade too quickly.

“You certainly hinted at it.” Catherine didn’t lose her temper very often, but she was quite capable of expressing her displeasure when necessary. “Have I ever acted as though I thought less of you because you don’t have a college degree?”

Mike’s tone turned defensive when he snapped back, “I don’t see you going out with me, either.”

“You haven’t asked me to go out with you!” she retorted in exasperation.

“I—” He stopped with a funny expression on his face. “No, I guess I haven’t.”