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I rise, moving around my desk to lean against the space directly in front of her, casually crossing my arms. She clamps her thighs together and shifts her entire body away from me, but continues to meet my eyes with a glare.
“We behave like two adults who had consensual sex. Once.” I uncross my arms and bend so my face is inches from hers. “Which will not happen again.” Her face blanches as she leans away from me. “I’m your professor. You are my student. If that’s too difficult of a concept for you to handle, you are free to drop my class or transfer to another course.”
“Why are you being such an asshole?” The words leave her mouth on an exhale, coming out like a whisper, her breath warm and sweet.
The confusion on her face pierces my gut like a knife. Jesus, hurting her is the last thing I want to do. “I’m not trying to be an asshole, Summer, truly.”
I sigh, raking a hand through my locks as I straighten to my full height, then look down at her. “What happened between us was-”
I falter here because I want to say special, but that would defeat the point I’m trying to make. “It was a one-time-thing. And if I had known that you were going to be a student of mine, I would have never agreed to our arrangement.” Lies I was also trying to get myself to believe. “I would ask you to behave like an adult, respect my personal life, and keep what happened between us, just that, between us.”
“Fine.” Her eyes lift to meet mine, defeat and sadness swimming in the blue irises. “Anything else, Professor?” She pushes her chair back putting distance between us, standing as she does, swinging her bag over her shoulder.
I step back as well, creating an even larger drift, slowly shaking my head. I fucking hate that I’m causing her any kind of pain, but I know, logically, it’s the correct thing to do. “No, that’s all.”
She lets out a snort, her nostrils flaring, muttering several expletives under her breath as she storms out of my office, the door slamming in her wake.
Chapter Eleven
~Summer~
I blink several times, determined not to let a single tear fall from the water brimming at the corners of my eyes. I will not let him get to me. I said goodbye to him over three weeks ago, and was at peace with what had happened between us. Why was I letting this surprise twist bother me now? I know I was just a job to him. Or at least, that’s what I kept trying to make myself believe. When he left the money, I thought, maybe, maybe there was something more, but after his silence and now this encounter, I knew with certainty that definitely wasn’t the case.
I turn the corner into the main hall, my head down as I try to gather my wits, and slam into a hard body, my book bag falling to the floor.
“Shit.” I curse my clumsiness, bending to pick up my bag.
“Summer?”
I swing my head up, my gaze landing on a confused grin. “Blake?” I swoop my bag up and rise. “What are you still doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” His dimples appearing as his smile widens.
I shake my head, restraining an eye roll, shrugging my shoulders instead. “Just had a question for the professor.”
“You angling to be the teacher’s pet already?” A soft chuckle leaves him, his statement clearly a joke.
“Hardly.” He has no idea how cutting the comment is to me, so I’m sure my stiff tone catches him off guard as I note his expression change.
“Sorry.” He puts his hands in the air between us. “Was totally kidding.”
“No, it’s fine.” I force a smile. “We just don’t see eye to eye on some things.” I shrug again. “I’m actually going to the registrar’s office to see if I can switch into another class.”
“What?” His mouth tugs into a frown. “Who will be my lab partner if you switch out?”
I offer a small smile. “I’m sure you’ll be just fine, Blake.”
“It definitely won’t be as interesting without you there.” He confesses.
I shuffle my feet, hoisting the strap of my bag over my shoulder. “Well, it was nice to meet you anyway.” I nod my head and start to walk away. “Maybe I’ll see you around campus.”
“Hope so.” He drawls, giving me a little wave before heading in the opposite direction.
Thirty minutes later I’m dealt with another blow as my advisor explains changing Professor Walker’s class isn’t an option. He’s the only professor that teaches this course, at this level, and it must be taken in order for me to be able to obtain the degree I want.
“Is there an online course, perhaps?” I plead, hoping for an alternative that will keep me out of his class and away from him.
“I’m sorry, Summer.” My advisor shakes her head in response. “Is there an issue with the class or the instructor that merits the need for the change?”
