The Speed of Light: A Novel(51)
“You guys are already on holiday mode, huh?” Raj runs a hand through his dark hair, his eyes darting to Hayley, who giggles as expected and flops down on the grass next to us.
Nikki smirks. “Isn’t Chet going to wonder why you two aren’t following him back to the Admissions Office adoringly?”
Hayley scoffs, gathering up her blonde locks into a loose bun on the top of her head. “We weren’t going to the same place—we’re heading to the Financial Aid Office for some scholarship flyers to take on the road. Mr. Big Man has a meeting with the president.”
Stan sits up straight. “What about?”
Raj and Hayley exchange an uncomfortable glance, and Raj clears his throat. “Uh, he said they’re going to discuss strategic recruitment and marketing strategies for next year.”
Stan’s face reddens and he stands, crumpling the napkin in his hand. “If you’ll all excuse me.” He’s gone before any of us can answer.
Nikki shakes her head. “What is up with him? He just told us he and Louise invited people out to the lake this weekend, but Louise and I have mutual friends on Facebook, and I swear I saw her tagged in some sort of girls’ camping trip photo.”
I shrug. “Hmm. Maybe she’s coming back tonight or something.”
But something doesn’t sit quite right, and suddenly the ice cream doesn’t taste so sweet.
Hayley shudders. “I don’t know about Stan, but Chet is going through some shit, that’s for sure.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
She and Raj exchange another look, and he nods. “Okay, you did not hear this from me,” Hayley says, “but Chet’s been charged with domestic assault against his ex. Apparently he showed up at her house, and things got ugly. She had to call the cops on him.”
“Holy shit,” Nikki says. “How do you know?”
“My sister told me—her boyfriend’s aunt is a clerk at the courthouse. I guess Chet tried to act all repentant and charm the judge into dropping the charge down to disorderly conduct, but she wasn’t having it, so he flipped out, started yelling and swearing.” Hayley rips a fistful of grass out of the ground and shakes her head. “So we’re pretty sure the real reason he’s talking to the president is to beg to keep his job.”
“Or ours,” Raj says, chuckling mirthlessly. “You know, with all the talk of layoffs and everything.”
My stomach churns, my ice cream losing all its appeal. “Layoffs?” I thought with the end of the year we’d made it into the safe zone.
Hayley releases the grass in her hand, a flurry of green blades fluttering on the breeze. “Did you guys hear about Joel?”
The ache in my gut pulses, and Nikki speaks quickly. “Yeah, we know.”
Raj sighs. “Marcus over in his office said it’s a tough break for the poor old guy, but it actually relieved some pressure for their department.”
I frown. “What does that mean?”
“It means they won’t need to lay anybody off now. He heard every department had to slash their budgets by a certain percentage this fiscal year. A lot of departments aren’t filling open positions right now. Layoffs could be next.”
Nikki’s eyes dart to me, then she scoffs. “Well, it’s July—new fiscal year—so obviously that was only a rumor.”
He nods. “Right, everybody made it—this time. But if things don’t turn around, the cuts will be even bigger next time, and there will be no way to avoid letting people go.”
There’s an uncomfortable pause. My insides roil with fear and doubt; then Hayley harrumphs. “You know what? Screw it. We can’t control any of it, right?” She’s so breezy about it, and even though a part of me knows she’s right, mostly my chest burns because it’s so easy to blow that fear off when you’re young and healthy. “So what are you two doing for the Fourth?” Hayley doesn’t pause for us to answer—she launches into her own story, which is just as well, because I’m still reeling from all this cryptic news. “I’m heading home to my parents’ house . . . they’re having the whole family over. And my cousin Shelley is going to bring her new boyfriend.”
She wrinkles her nose, and Raj smirks. “I take it you don’t like him?”
“I just can’t wait to see what’s wrong with the poor schmuck.” She rolls her eyes. “My cousin always goes for guys that have some sort of problem she needs to solve. We call her a fixer.”
The knot in my gut tightens. “What?”
Hayley takes a deep breath—she’s relishing her captive audience now. “In high school, Shelley dated the captain of the football team—but only after he broke his femur. Spent his entire senior year on crutches, and she had to help him. No big deal, right? Well, in college, she dates a guy who’s recently been in a horrible car accident. Spends months driving him to and from PT. Last year, she brought her new boyfriend to Christmas, and he seemed ordinary enough . . . then, when they’re leaving, she says they have to stop by to check in with his parole officer. Turns out he’s done time for meth.”
Raj frowns. “So you’re saying she can’t have actual feelings for these people because they have flaws?” I blink at his uncharacteristic criticism of Hayley in all her cute blondeness.