All day Spruance Del Curtin kept thinking about his talk with Dr. Doorne. He’d gone to her office thoroughly expecting a bawling out, perhaps even being told that he would get a bad grade in the class. Instead, she was bringing him onboard in a major project, one that might even get him a publication credit.
Except he had to keep it an absolute secret. Not a word about it until she personally cleared him to discuss it. In some ways that restriction was almost worse than being bawled out or getting downgraded. Where was the fun in being involved in a really cool project if he couldn’t tell all the guys about it at supper? Or worse, couldn’t brag to the girls about it when he was trying to hook up with them?
It was still bothering him as he set up a set of songs so he could get out of the DJ booth and take a stretch. Especially since he couldn’t look like he was keeping a secret — it was pretty clear from what Dr. Doorne had said that arousing curiosity would get him into as much trouble as actually blabbing. Everything had to look perfectly normal, or he would be in even worse trouble than if he’d gone and announced it on the air.
So he walked down the corridor singing ZZ Top’s “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” along with the streamed broadcast playing from the stereo in the front office. Make it look like he was enjoying himself in typical Shep fashion, all about being hot with the girls.
And there was Lou Corlin, apparently dropping off some files, given the USB sticks he was handling. He broke off his conversation with the programming director. “Hey, Sprue, do you really think it’s wise to be bragging about driving around with four kitsune?”
Trust the DJ for the Rising Sun J-pop Show to think of “fox” in terms of the Japanese yokai rather than a smokin’ hot girl. Especially considering Chaffees were notoriously straight-laced, right there with Roosas and Glenns.
Except treating it like a dumb mistake on Lou’s part would only make things worse, especially considering the afternoon receptionist was a girl he might actually try for a date with. Unlike Cindy Margrave, who lived in a fellow Shep’s household and had to be regarded as a blood relation, Lexie belonged to the Schirra lineage, which made her fair game. Gotta play the cool dude in front of the chicks.
“That just makes things more challenging, don’t it?” Show off that big Shepard grin, get just a little closer to emphasize the height advantage.
Lou mumbled something about just joking, but it was clear he didn’t have a good comeback. Not that he’d be worried about scoring points when he had a steady girl over at Grissom City. Called herself Emiko and was a bigtime weeaboo.
Still, it was good to know he’d just made Lou back off. It almost made up for not being able to tell Lou about the real prize he’d gotten today.