Page 2 of Ancient Obsession

“This is Expanding Viewpoints, Journalism 450, and I’m Professor Garrity. There should be twenty-two of you in here, and you should all have successfully passed, at minimum, Journalism 250. If that’s not the case, please save both of us time and effort and leave now.”

Oliver exchanged looks with the students seated beside him, then looked over his shoulder. Robin looked young, but maybe they'd taken a string of journalism courses in their first year.

“All right, let the swords fall where they may,” Professor Garrity said. “Let’s begin.”

After attending both classes he’d signed up for, Oliver took a minute to collect his thoughts. He dropped onto a bench under a shade tree and let out a breath as he set his messenger bag beside him. It was only the first day, and he already felt tired. Had this been a mistake?

When Oliver had mentioned the idea a couple of months ago, Dave had been completely onboard. If someone had told him he’d end up married to one of Cody Bower’s brothers, he’d have laughed long and hard. But, here he was, finalizing plans for a wedding at the end of the month. Dave had a spreadsheet, of course, and so far, they’d successfully stayed within their budget. And after a bit of discussion, they’d decided to put off a honeymoon until later in the year.

“Hey, Old School!”

Robin was jogging toward him, sunlight glinting off the bouncing dark tangles of hair.

“I don’t like that nickname,” Oliver said as Robin slid Oliver’s bag aside to make room for them to sit.

“Yeah?” Robin dropped their backpack on the ground between their feet. “How was your first day back? How long has it been, a decade?”

“Oh my God.” Oliver slung the strap of his bag over his shoulder but remained seated. “I’m not that old.”

“Okay, noted.” Robin bounced their leg as if to some beat only they could hear, their gaze jumping between people walking past before returning to Oliver. “You don’t look like an Oliver.”

“Um, okay, but it’s my name.”

“Yeah, I get it. But the formal version doesn’t really fit you. I like Ollie.”

Oliver closed his eyes and hung his head. “Do you know anyone with the last name Bower?”

“Bower? Not sure. I know a lot of people by first name only. Or screen name. Why?”

“Not important. I get where you’re coming from, but I would prefer you call me Oliver.”

Robin nodded once. “Noted.”

“Thank you.”

“I take it someone in your life calls you Ollie and you don’t like it?”

Oliver hesitated. He hadn’t liked it when Cody had started calling him that back when they’d first met. But a lot of very dark and dangerous stuff had happened over the years. He and Cody had fought side by side several times to save each other and those they loved. With all of that history, Oliver was surprised to find that, actually, he no longer minded when Cody called him Ollie. Cody’d been calling him that for so long it felt natural and—dear God, was he having a stroke?—almost affectionate. Maybe it was because of Cody’s team sports background or something, but he had a way of saying it that made it seem as if he owned it and no one else should call him that. Kind of how Cody was the only one who referred to Demetrius as Demmy. Not possessive—at least, not with him—but with affection.

“Yeah,” Oliver replied. “He calls me that, and I don’t like it.”

“Got it. So, is Garrity’s class the only one you’re taking?”

“No, I signed up for Social and Online Communications as well.”

“Oh, nice.”

“How about you?” Oliver asked.

“Full schedule, but just the one journalism class.”

“Is that what you want to do?”

Robin bounced their shoulders up and down in a quick shrug. “Right now, maybe. I’m also taking oceanography and a math class and an economics class, which I may have to drop because it’s already kind of insane.”

“Yeah, I took one economics class years ago and tapped out.” Oliver stood up. “It was good meeting you today, Robin. I’ll see you on Wednesday.”

“Where’s home?” Robin stood as well and shouldered their pack.