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I close my mouth, realizing it’s still open, and glance to the back of the room to see if my teaching assistant is in the class. As if the universe decided I needed one thing going in my favor, I spot him sitting at one of the tables. I give him a discreet nod, hoping my intentions are clear. He rises and starts walking in my direction so I proceed.
“Good morning, class.” I try so hard not to, but find myself shooting another glance in Summer’s direction. She has the end of her pen in her mouth, her lips closed around the tip, as she pushes and pulls it lazily in and out. I blink, startled by her brazenness, and wonder what kind of monster I’ve created.
I clear my throat, shifting behind the podium again, and look away from the magnet she’s become to me. I smile gratefully when Tim moves to stand next to me. “My T.A., Tim Mathers, will be instructing today’s class for you. He’ll review the requirements for the first lab you’ll be expected to complete by the end of next week.”
I hold my hand out to Tim, which he shakes in a firm grip. “It’s all yours.”
He gives a curt nod, and begins to address the class as I turn abruptly to make my escape out the rear door, not chancing even a parting glance toward the flame that seems to have ignited into an inferno.
I bang on the door to her room with a closed fist for the second time, wondering if she’s there and ignoring me, or if she’s really not home. After waiting for a full minute and hearing nothing but deafening silence, I exhale a hot breath and conclude she must be out. I jog back down the steps and thrust the door open, the cool night air doing nothing to dampen my temper, still seething and hot after the stunt she pulled in class earlier today.
Where the hell could she be at seven on a Friday night? My step falters as Blake Davenport’s face invades my consciousness. Which does nothing to stem the heat already boiling in my veins. She better not fucking be with that twat.
Without thinking, I yank my cell from my pocket, find her number and press call. I’m shocked when I hear her voice on the line, not believing for an instant she would actually answer.
“Hi Professor.” Her tone is coy, like she had been waiting for me to phone.
“Where the hell are you?” I grind out, my patience at an all-time low, skipping any niceties.
“What, no hello?” She lets out a small laugh. “What’s got you so wound up, Professor?”
“Not even a little bit funny, Summer.” I growl, making it clear I’m in no mood to joke around. “We need to talk. Where are you?”
“Ugh.” She grunts. “Talking is so over rated. Can I suggest something way more fun?”
Where in the world had my timid little country mouse gone? I had apparently taught her way more than I realized. “Summer, I’m serious.”
“Yes, I know. Way too serious for your own good.” Her tone biting. “I don’t need another lecture about consequences, so if that’s what you have to say, I’m not interested.”
“Just tell me where you are so we can meet.” I demand. “What’s happening in class needs to stop.”
“Who-“
Her sentence is cut off by a short cry, and then a loud thunk, and I pull the phone away from my ear to see if she hung up on me. She didn’t, so I lean into the phone and call out to her.
“Summer?” I push the phone tighter to my ear and can just barely hear her.
“Here! Take it! There’s no money though, just cards.”
My heart races as I realize she’s being mugged.
“Summer!” I shout into the phone. “Tell me where you are!” All I can guess is that she dropped her phone, because we still seem to be connected. I don’t know if she can hear me though. Why didn’t she tell me where she was!
I try to listen for any clues, but all I can decipher is someone yelling at her. “Give me those earrings too! Hurry up!” I hear what sounds like a thud, and then a shriek before sobs. Sobs that I know are coming from Summer.
My chest feels like a herd of Mustangs are galloping through the desert, my hand gripping my hair as I shout into my phone again. “Summer, tell me where you are!”
I hear another smack, and then footsteps thundering and then more sobs. “Summer! Summer, are you there? Can you hear me? Find your phone, baby! Tell me where you are!”
I just keep yelling out, hoping she’ll hear me, as I run frantically down the street, not sure which direction to go in.
“Xander?” Her voice, finally, on the other end.
“I’m here.” I confirm. “Are you okay? Where are you?”
For a moment all I hear is crying, and a surge of anger so intense has me seeing red. I will kill whomever did this to her. “Summer, baby, can you tell me where you are? I’ll come and get you.”
She exhales loudly, hiccuping between a sob. “I was at Butler Library, and then I went to Stroko’s to get a salad, and I cut through their alley to get to my street.”
