In a yellow Jeep without the top on.
With a hot guy in mirror shades who was also my boss.
Fuck. Me.
He blasted the air-conditioning, which was completely futile seeing as how the Jeep didn’t have a top.
“I meant to put the top on over the weekend,” he said apologetically. “But I got so busy preparing for today that it slipped my mind. I tend to get a bit scatterbrained. Dad was supposed to remind me, but I can’t remember if he did or not.”
“It’s fine,” I said, sure I was already melting into the seat. “I mean, yeah, you’re pretty much destroying our environment single-handedly, but that’s a problem for the next generation.”
He shot me a glare. “Trouble. I should have known that the whole ‘yes, Professor Olsen’ thing was an act.”
I immediately starting singing another church hymn in my head before my brain could make his words dirty. “I was worried about my grade. Now I don’t have to be.”
He shrugged. “I’m your boss. And we’re not at work now, are we?”
NO, WE’RE NOT! THANK YOU FOR NOTICING! TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS!
I coughed roughly.
He glanced over at me. “All right?”
“Fine,” I managed to say. “Just the exhaust and the color of your Jeep. Nothing to worry about.”
“It’s sunshine!”
“Just because it has a pretty name doesn’t mean it’s not offensive. Or inappropriate for a man of your age and social standing.”
He sighed dramatically. “And here I was, extending my hand in kindness to someone in need, and all I’m getting for it is shit in return.”
“You deserve it,” I told him honestly. “What happened to the little car you had back at the wedding?”
He looked surprised. “You remember that thing?”
“Uh, yeah.” Why wouldn’t I? “I mean, that looked like the car I expect all untenured college professors to have. It even had an old peace symbol sticker that I assume had a story behind it that involves you wearing large amounts of hemp.”
He snorted. “Not quite. I decided to get rid of it and upgrade.”
“And this is what you chose.”
“Get out.”
I reached for the door. “It’s probably for the best. I have a reputation to maintain.”
“You know what? I changed my mind. Stay here. I want to see everyone staring at you.”
I dropped my hand again. “And you think I’m a dick.”
Traffic began to slowly move forward. “How do you think today went?”
I thought hard for a moment before answering. “Honestly? It was… more intimidating than I expected. Kids these days. I don’t know. A lot has changed since I was their age, and that wasn’t too long ago. They’re… pretty forward.”
“Understatement,” he said. “Though I think they have a right to be, for the most part. They’ve spent a lot of their lives being questioned. I think it’s only fair they get to do the same.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I suppose. But it’s still going to take some getting used to. I get being proud and all, but some of them seem to have a chip on their shoulders. Like, you’re either queer or you’re against us. I don’t know if that’s the best line of thinking.”
“Is it so bad to think that way?”