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I sigh, suddenly feeling eyes on me. I’m not sure if it’s something Fran said that’s upped the sensation or if there reallyarepeople staring at me. I glance around, realizing there’s a group of guys sitting at table a few feet away.
And theyarestaring at me. And whispering to themselves.
“What the hell...” My voice trails off as I turn to Fran, who’s glaring at them.
“Assholes.”
“What?” My body tenses. “Why are they assholes?”
“It’s nothing you need to be worried about.” Fran’s demeanor lightens up. “It’s just a bunch of stupid boys and their rumors.”
“What do you mean?” I’m not letting this go. “Is it about me?”
“Well...” She frowns. “I don’t want you to worry about anything.”
“Please just tell me.”
“Ugh.” She pushes her blonde hair out of her face. “Dr. Banks hasneverhad a TA before, and it’s kind of... Well, it’s kind of been circulating. Like I said, you’re a pretty girl. Naturally,people are going to make assumptions. Especially hormonal college boys. They’re just gross. Everything is about sex to them.”
“But it’s not like that.” My face heats up. “I might have crush on him or something, but it’s not like he returns it.”
In fact, by his face and his reaction, I’d say I probably disgust him, more than likely. He just tolerates me because he feels sorry for me.
She waves me off. “You have to just ignore them all. Like I said, they make comments like that abouteverything.If they can find something to point out and talk about, they’re going to do it.”
“Yeah, but there’s nothing going on. I don’t want people to damage his reputation by circulating stupid rumors. What if it reaches administration?”
She frowns. “I’m sure rumors like this spreadallthe time. Plus, I just heard that a math professor got fired for sleeping with a student in his class. I’m sure everyone is just feeding off that drama. You know people eat up stupid shit like this. It’s annoying, but it’ll go away eventually. You have to just ignore it and let it run its course. The truth always comes out.”
I bite my lip, my mind replaying the moment between Dr. Banks and me.
Was that unprofessional? I swallow hard as I try to decipher ifIcrossed the line. Would I have gone further if he had wanted to? Would I have let him kiss me?
Absolutely.
And that answer is both terrifying and...exciting.
14
Aiden
“Ijust think it’s time to sell,” Micah says on the other end of the phone.
“You and your risky business moves,” I mutter, shaking my head to myself. “I don’t know why you always up and sell right when things are starting to ramp up.”
“But they’renotramping up,” my nephew reasons. “It’s really tapering off, and there’s another business deal with a new cyber security software that I’m looking into. Well, and...” Something in his tone shifts as his voice trails off.
“And?”
“And there’s just some shit going on right now.” He finally sighs. “I think I’m going to hang around here for a while.”
“Anything you want to talk about?” I’ve never really been one to pry into my nephews’ lives, but just like Jasper, I’m always willing to listen to whatever is going on and offer advice if they want it.
“Honestly, I have no fucking clue where to start right now, but it’s the most complicated mess I’ve ever been in.”
“Ah.” I chuckle. “Must involve a woman, then.”
He laughs. “You’re not wrong.”
