He sees Haley and Jenny enter. The first thing that goes through his mind is: mouse. She is little and brown--haired, like Haley described. Her thin frame seems almost childlike next to Haley’s athlete’s body.
She’s the girl guys tend to overlook. Who dresses in forgettable clothes. Listens instead of inserting herself. The chorus, the wallpaper, the background--music girl.
He can’t help it: in this moment, Jordan comes to mind. Their conversation over those pilfered Blue Moons. And Exley. Telling Jenny to bring friends to the party. This girl? Seriously? It makes him angry.
As they draw close, though, he notices her eyes. Pale gray and clear. Metallic. They meet his, unblinking. Richard stands.
“Hope you haven’t been waiting long,” Haley begins.
Richard leans toward her and brushes her cheek with his lips. “Not long,” he murmurs. He extends his hand toward Jenny. “Hi. I’m Richard.”
Her grip is firm. She holds on just long enough. “Jenny,” she answers.
They sit.
Haley begins to speak; she obviously feels responsible for this conversation. But Richard puts one hand over hers, stopping her. He knows how this needs to start.
“I want you to know,” he says to Jenny, “how sorry I am about everything that’s happened to you.” He doesn’t elaborate. He doesn’t want to, and he’s not sure he can. “I don’t pretend to fully know what that is. But Haley says it’s been awful for you, and I’m sorry about that.”
Jenny looks at him for what feels like a long time, but is probably only a few seconds.
“I didn’t really want to do this,” she finally says. “Sit here, across a table from one of Jordan’s friends. I’m not sure I get your motivation.”
Her directness startles him.
“Me neither,” he flash--answers. “Meet with you, that is. I’m here because Haley asked me to. No motivation beyond that.”
Jenny raises one eyebrow. Her mouth forms a closed, slight smile. “Really? Not trying to relieve a guilty conscience? Because if that’s what you’re after, I’m going to have to disappoint you.”
Richard returns her stare. “I don’t feel guilty.” What the hell? He glances at Haley. Who looks very uncomfortable.
“Jen,” Haley says. “Richard has an idea about why Jordan and Brandon Exley withdrew. Just hear him out, okay?”
Jenny shifts in her seat. For a moment, it looks like she might get up and leave.
“Okay,” she finally says.
He keeps it short and sweet and doesn’t spare himself. He recounts each conversation and shares his theory: Dean Hunt bluffed. He brought the guys individually into his office, told them he had enough to hang them with. Told them he’d do them a favor and give them a chance to escape with their records intact. Both went for it, believing the other had been the source of the damning information. Once they had officially withdrawn, the college had to drop the case.
Jenny is quiet after Richard finishes. She stares intently at the salt and pepper shakers on the table before she speaks.
“Why would Dean Hunt do that?” she finally asks.
“He thought they were scum and couldn’t figure out another way to get them out of here,” Richard says.
For the first time since they’d all sat, Jenny looks upset. “But if he believed me, why not take it to the committee? Throw them out that way. Get it on their records. Instead, they got off with nothing.”
“Maybe because he didn’t think the committee would throw them out,” Richard says, as gently as he can. He’s a little surprised he needs to spell this out for her.
“Because they wouldn’t believe me?” she says, the hard edge returning to her voice.
“He wanted a guarantee,” Richard says. He has no interest in debating who believes her and who doesn’t. “He wanted a win. Look, from the college’s point of view, this is the best possible outcome. You’re safe and the bad guys are gone . . . but with nothing for their alumni parents to complain about and no rape stat on MacCallum’s record.”
“But what about my point of view?” Jenny challenges.
“Honestly,” he says, “I get how this is disappointing for you, because you wanted to see justice done. But I also get that this probably saved you from the devastation of a ‘no sanction’ decision. I mean, wouldn’t it suck more if the committee found in Jordan’s favor and he and Exley were still prancing around here?”
To his left he sees Haley wince slightly. What? More offensive vocab? His choice of ‘prancing’? Or something else he completely doesn’t get?
Jenny doesn’t look particularly pleased, either. “So you’re telling me I’m supposed to be happy that Dean Hunt fixed everything?”
“I’m not telling you how to feel,” he answers without hesitation. “And I don’t for one minute think he fixed anything. I think this was broken beyond repair. But here’s what I do know.” He leans forward, his elbows on the table. “Dean Hunt believed you. I hope it helps. Knowing that.”