Read Play It Again, Charlie for Free Online Page A

office next to hers, and just waited, shoving more exam booklets into his bag.
    It hadn't been a real exam, as Charlie liked to give his students an opportunity to see where they needed to focus. Life rarely gave second chances, and he wanted everyone to have a solid foundation of knowledge to fall back on if they went on with careers in law enforcement or forensics.
    A few students were always surprised to find themselves studying so hard: the kind who took the class for fun because of some TV show, the same ones who had seemed startled to find Charlie as demanding a teacher as he was— he wasn't blind or deaf to the stares and whispers, either about his limp or his personal life.
    The rest of his students were either better at hiding their thoughts or truly committed to the course work, and they were why Charlie was still here. He usually stayed for a few minutes after last classes and office hours to offer advice on what books were best to read even if they weren't officially on the curriculum, but no one was around today. Sticky notes he'd left on the wall reminded him that he and one of the sociology professors were supposed to share a guest lecture about racial profiling next week.
    He was exhausted just thinking about it. Sensitivity classes were necessary and worthwhile. They were also full of the stupidest questions, and he wasn't sure how much patience he had left after an interrupted night's sleep. He let himself imagine he could catch up on sleep during the weekend and hefted the bag over his shoulder just as Jeanine knocked on the doorjamb.
    She peered up at him for a moment over the top of reading glasses that were almost dangling off her nose and leaned against the doorway with her arms crossed. She was practically humming with energy, and if she'd been getting coffee for him, she must have gotten quite a bit for herself as well.
    “And where have you been all day?” Jeanine ran a hand through her short hair, but she was smiling. “I barely got a glimpse of you, even at lunch when I was going to thank you again for taking my class last night and offer to get you some spring rolls with that disgusting red sauce you love.” Charlie waved off her thanks before moving toward the door, taking the shoulder bag and the coffee with him. She stepped back and watched while he locked the door behind them. “Seriously, I'm beginning to think you've given up on feeding yourself. You haven't, have you?”
    Charlie's schedule today had been full, and after a late night and a wrenched hip from wrestling with a brokenhearted twink, he was moving slowly, too slowly. By noon he'd been dragging himself to his feet, and a trip to get food hadn't seemed worth it.
    “Nice to see you too,” he remarked, hiding a smile because Jeanine was like a hummingbird buzzing next to him. If that was all espresso, he needed to wean her off, or at least suggest she give it a break. “Thanks for the coffee. I'll get yours tomorrow.”
    Jeanine quirked an eyebrow at the idea of Charlie walking across campus to the coffee place, but didn't challenge it. Tomorrow he'd hear all about it, and then, unless he fought her on it, he'd end up giving her money but watching her go. After a pause, she just nodded, obviously having a hard time keeping still.
    Charlie shook his head, because that wasn't all espresso shots. He imagined Jeanine being this nervous on her date, then felt his stomach sink to think of just how long it had been since he'd had a date to get nervous about.
    “Good time last night?” he asked, though the answer was all over her face.
    She deserved a good time. But the ache was back in his bones now that he was standing still, and he took a sip of his coffee when her wide smile finally broke out. She had probably been keeping that in all day, waiting to talk to him, so Charlie hid his sigh in another sip and then nodded toward the hall. Jeanine instantly fell into step beside him, controlling her excitement enough to slow down for