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“We’re in your office, so I should call you that. You’re… my final hasn’t been graded, so…” I trail off.
He sighs and looks at his computer. “I saved your class for last. I’m trying to saveyouressay for last since I have a feeling it’s going to set the curve.”
“You shouldn’t grade on a curve,” I mumble.
“I am feeling nice,” he concedes with a half-smile. “I could give everyone As.”
“What’s going on? It sounded really important and you’re being weird,” I grumble.
He takes a slow breath. “Peel yourself off the door and come in here, Emily.”
“Did someone…”
“It’s been a pleasure being your professor,” he says, then reaches over his desk like he wants to shake my hand.
“Adrian,” I breathe. “Please, don’t tell me that my sister, that someone—”
He waves his hand until I take it in mine and pull myself closer, until my knees hit his desk. “You’re scaring me. What happened? Did the university find out? Did something happen?”
“Something did happen,” he says seriously. “I fell for my best student. I have it on good authority that it’s not professional.”
I feel like I’m choking. He can’t be fired. He can’t. it’s not possible. We were so careful. My eyes water, and Adrian walks around his desk, pulling me into his arms. “Don’t cry, baby.”
“You got fired?”
“No,” he says, kissing my forehead. “I quit. I’ll be working for another university teaching online classes. So now, I’m not your professor.”
I smack his shoulder. “You scared me! I was ready to do something about it, to take responsibility, to scream, to—”
“You’re already crying,” he murmurs, wiping under my eye. “I told you and your sister, I’d keep hiding us as long as it was necessary.”
“Why did you quit? You love it here.”
He kisses me softly, then deeper. “Because I get to have you without hiding it. We might have to wait until the semester starts to be seen together, but we don’t have to hide anymore. From now on, I’m just your boyfriend.”
I sniff as I stare up at him. “You did this for me?”
“I don’t like asking you to lie, even if it’s been ridiculously hot. I’ll be jealous of your other professors, but that means I get more time with you and I can steal you more often. No more worries about my getting fired or your getting expelled,” he promises.
“But did you do this just for—”
“Notjustfor you, but it’s the prominent reason,” he says with a shameless smile. “I’m old enough to chase what I want and do what I have to do so I can haveyou.”
I sniff as my heart swells. “I guess I can’t call you ‘Professor’ in bed anymore,” I whisper.
He laughs and kisses me again. “Oh, you will. I’ll make you.”
thirty-seven
“Finals are over!” Danielle yells happily. “We have one frat party left, then Christmas and New Year’s! I can’t wait!”
“Didn’t you hear the latest rumor, though?” Beth asks while she packs all but what she’s planning to wear for the party tonight. When Danielle shakes her head, Beth continues, “Dr. Hayes got poached by another university.”
“No way!” Danielle gasps. “But everyone loved him!”
“I know! I can’t believe the university didn’t try to keep him. So few people missed class.” Beth sighs. “And I’m sure you’ll hate to hear this, Em, but he was eye candy.”
I laugh once, then bite my bottom lip.
