Chapter 5

I left Sinclair's office feeling like a complete idiot. Sure, there had been some mildly witty banter, but mostly, I had made a fool of myself.

I returned to my office and hunkered down in front of my computer, staring at the default wallpaper without really seeing it. Consequently it took several pings before I noticed that someone was IMing me.

 

Lynn1987: Hey.
Lynn1987: Got your sn off your gaydargeeks profile.
Lynn1987: Lo?

 

This gave me a start. I didn't usually chat on worktime, but Sinclair had said she didn't mind when I came in...

 

DrLex: Hi. Sorry about that. Was afk.
Lynn1987: No prob. Glad you came back. :)
DrLex: And thank you.

 

I clicked to Lynn1987's profile to find that she was, ironically enough, a 23 year old lesbian named Lynn. She also lived in [city Alex just moved to], liked indie music and Italian food and worked as a receptionist in order to fund her 'real' career - photography. She was also, according to her profile picture, very cute.

 

Lynn1987: So what r u doing online in the middle of the day? Boring desk job like me?
DrLex: Something like that. I'm an 'academic'.
Lynn1987: Ahhh I C. What do you study?

 

I pursed my lips, narrowing my eyes at the screen.

 

DrLex: Just done with studying. I'm teaching now - at the uni?
Lynn1987: Wow, cool. You must be smart then ;)
DrLex: Wouldn't go that far...
Lynn1987: And modest, too.
Lynn1987: I like that in a woman.

 

Well, this girl got to the point at least. Guessing I should probably show my hand, I thought for a moment before typing:

 

DrLex: I'm pretty new to the job to be honest - and town. Just moved here last week.
Lynn1987: Oh, well... if you need someone to show you around, I've been here a while...

 

I smirked.

 

DrLex: I might just take you up on that.
Lynn1987: Cool. Well, you know where to find me. :)
DrLex: Great, thanks. See you around!

 

The rest of the day I spent mainly hermiting in my lab, alternately going over notes for the upcoming tutorials, typing up feedback for Dr Sinclair, and browsing gaydargeeks for any other potential 'tour guides' in the area. It seemed that there were plenty of pretty normal girls around, although quite a few were already taken - that was okay, though, as I was as much on the look-out for friends as potential 'hook-ups' - and I certainly wasn't about to get back into a relationship right now.

Gemma and I had been together for almost two years - though I had been stuck in my PhD for both of them. We had met through mutual friends at a drinks night out and I had been struck by her vivaciousness and yeah, her looks, and I had 'chased' her for a few weeks before she agreed to go out with me.

She was my 'usual' type I suppose - arty, gorgeous, completely flaky, and at first I admit, I fell pretty hard. She was a great distraction from my work, and we were pretty compatible sexually. For a long time things were good, if a bit... samey. Then, eventually, they got too samey, but we were comfortable enough (and I was stressed enough) that I just... let it go, I guess. Until I finished my PhD.

And then I broke up with her, which meant that instead of being samey things were just non-existent. And I was dealing with that just fine, especially since I had so much else on my plate, but sometimes I did get nostalgic for things as they had first been - passionate, exciting, and not a little bit stormy at times.

As such, right about now I was, I'll admit, a little itchy, but I most certainly wasn't looking to jump back into a relationship.

 

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