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was well aware of the phenomenon. She
was always very careful of keeping her private life and more non-traditional
beliefs under wraps. She would bet money that Emma would be shocked to know
that her mentor, her beloved Dr. Lynde, identified as bisexual. “What else do
you know about this trend?”
    “Not much, really,”
confessed Emma. “But I want to do some research, obviously. Get started
on my literature review. I was thinking of making an appointment with the
reference librarian we met with last year for our research methods class.”
    “Wonderful idea,” Sarah
encouraged her. “I think it sounds like a great topic, particularly if you can
come up with some sort of observational tool or survey. Don’t forget that
you’ll need enough time to get your methodology approved by the IRB, okay?”
    Emma nodded. “I was
thinking of gathering up some articles this weekend and coming back next week
to show you what I found.”
    It was hard not to beam with
pride about a student this motivated and invested in her learning. “Perfect!
 See you soon then!” And she knew Emma would follow through. Sarah could
tell the students who were going to follow through from the ones who would drop
the ball. She could always tell.
    After Emma left, Sarah
glanced down wistfully at her phone. It was as silent as death.   Fuck
it, she finally said. She thought about James walking into his
classroom of ROTC students across campus, setting up for his lecture. She would
have given almost anything to be a fly on that wall to see how he delivered his
lecture and interacted with his students. She sent a simple text, hoping
to create a spark of communication: It was nice seeing you on Saturday. Hope
you have a good week :)
    ***
                James’s
answer came much later that afternoon, around 4 PM.   I had a good time.
 Worked the rest of the weekend.  This week is already sucking.
    Sarah’s patience lost
out to her impulse to text right back: Oh, why is that?
    His response was
immediate: Picked up some new duties. Victim of my own success.
    Feeling bold, she went
for broke:  I see. Well, you could come hang out with me on Friday
night.
    His reply: Sounds
like a plan. Did you have a place in mind?
    Sure. My house.
    Sarah’s mind was racing,
and that paled in comparison to what her heart was doing. Friday night ,
she thought, it’s only four days away...
    ***
                Dinner
was pleasant but Sarah was distracted. She hadn’t been able to think of much
else all week long. She had fallen behind in grading and also some committee
work she needed to get done. She had also delayed confronting Abby about some
disturbing things she’d found in her room while putting laundry away. But since
she needed to shuffle the kids off to her mother’s house with as little drama
and disruption as possible, a discussion would have to wait.   
    In addition to being
distracted, she’d also felt restless all week. Maybe it was just her hormones
surging as her body inched closer and closer to ovulation.  Being a
woman is such a challenge, Sarah recalled telling Rachel during their
Tuesday afternoon lunch. Damn Eve for ruining it for all of womankind! Stupid
bitch!  Rachel had commiserated. They had both laughed, even harder
because they were pretty sure the waiter had overheard them.  
    Then Rachel had
encouraged her to be forward with James, to very directly tell him what she
wanted. “Women suck at asking for what they need,” Rachel observed. Sarah
aspired to be the type of woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to
go for it. She’d already been plotting how to approach James regarding her
views on relationships.
    Now that he was across
from her and there was candlelight and soft music filling the room, she was
almost ready to chicken out. She poured herself another glass of wine as she tried
to gauge James’ interest in her. His sexual interest. I invited him for
dinner , Sarah considered. What if