Page 66 of The Backup Plan
TWENTY
A Mess Called Love
AVERY: WEEK 6 (4-2)
Avery plopped down next to Mindy on the loveseat without being invited to sit. “Professor Scheer, I owe you a huge apology,” she said, rambling already. “I was so rude to you and to Justin, and I’m sorry.”
“You can call me Mindy if you want to, Avery.”
“Mindy. Okay. I’m so sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” Mindy’s smile was tense but genuine, lips slightly pursed. “I’m sure that was a shock.”
“That’s one word for it.”
“I was pretty surprised, too. I was pretty surprised when I learned how old your brother was, to be honest.”
“Well, he’s a big guy.”
“He’s a big guy who’s been through a lot. Maybe it ages him a little.” Mindy watched Avery’s eyes. “It sounds like he had to grow up pretty fast in some ways.”
“I guess.”
“You guess?”
Avery glanced around the room, wishing for an exit now that her apology had been made. She knew what she told Mindy as an academic advisor, but had no clue what Justin whispered in her ear. Maybe that was how he viewed it—growing up too fast. Avery felt it stunted both of them and left them unable to move on and grow up for years.
“I mean, sure he did,” she said quickly. “Is this okay for you two? If you teach and he’s a student? I know I’m being nosy, but…” She trailed off.
“It’s a necessary question.” Mindy sipped a cup of beer. “It’s safe enough here, with no phones or recordings. Justin told me you offered to switch advisors and he pushed back, but I think you were right to suggest that. There’s no conflict of interest with me and him, but I don’t want you to be put in the position where someone would suggest you got preferential treatment.”
“So will I go to Toya Herbert, then?”
“I think that makes the most sense, don’t you? And we’ll just make sure you don’t get put in any of my sections. Toya and I will work it out if that becomes an issue with registration. Whether or not something really blossoms between Justin and me, it’s important to me that this does not affect you as a student, Avery.”
She let it sink in. Whether she supported or rejected it, the relationship between Justin and Mindy was not in her control. Mindy, when she was still Professor Scheer, had been an ally since the day they met. And, like several mentors had before, felt like more of a friend to Avery than most people her own age.
She could do it. She could lean in.
“Thank you for considering that. I guess you like him a lot, if you’ve already thought of those things.”
“I do like him a lot. And those things are important to Justin, too.”
Avery bit her lip to stop it from quivering. “He’s still so mad at me for being a jerk about it.”
“He’s really not.”
“He won’t talk to me. And I guess I don’t blame him. I get so pushy.”
“Avery, I think—this is just my opinion, but I think he’s embarrassed to tell you he was wrong, so he’s doing the man thing and projecting. I promise, I’ve been telling him to call you back.”
“He’s doing the childish thing, you mean. Either way, it’s hurtful and rude. I apologized for my side a million times.”
“I know.”
“Justin and I never fought before. And please don’t say I need to grow up and let my brother have a girlfriend. That’s not it at all.” She spotted Isaac and Cam leaving the kitchen and waved.
“I don’t think that. The problem isn’t you, honey. It’s Justin’s stuff that he’s working through.”