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“Emily, right?”
“Wow. That’s impressive, Professor Grant. Twelve years later you still remember my name.”
“Quinn. Please.”
What was Quinn Grant doing in her small town? Did she have family here? The thought popped into her head that maybe she was married now, and her husband was from the area.
Emily felt a little sick at that thought, and while she knew she’d had a serious crush on this woman, she wasn’t sure where that pang of jealousy came from, a heaviness at the pit of her stomach.
“Are you visiting family?” Emily asked.
Quinn frowned for a second before her lips slid into an easy smile. “Oh, no. I live here.”
Emily’s heart sped up again. She never thought about Professor Grant once she’d moved away from their college town. What was the point? Emily thought she’d never see her again.
Except, here she was. In her hometown.
“Why do you look so shocked?” Quinn asked as they shuffled forward in the line.
“Sorry. I guess, I never thought I’d see you again.” Emily inhaled a deep breath. “This is where I grew up.”
“Really? I’m surprised we haven’t seen each other before now. It must be ten years since I moved here.”
Emily tried to keep her mouth from falling open. “We just missed each other. I’ve been living in New York for the last twelve years.”
“In the city? Must have been a big change.”
“It was at first, but I knew I wanted to work for a big agency, and that meant leaving here.”
Quinn nodded, and they moved forward again. “You’re home for the weekend?”
“Yeah. Well, the whole month, really.”
“Oh. That’s nice.”
This conversation was going to end very soon, but Emily was still shocked, still trying to process that Professor Grant was standing beside her.
“Go ahead,” Emily said, letting her in front of her. Quinn would be next to order.
“Thanks.” Quinn stepped in front of Emily. “Well, it was really nice to see you again.”
Emily bit the inside of her cheek, her lips still sliding into a smile as she tried to play it cool. “You too.”
And then it was Quinn’s turn to order.
Emily had to just let the situation be. Asking for Quinn’s number then and there would have been way too risky. Was she even into women? Emily had always trusted her gaydar, but she wasn’t so sure this time.
Emily’s crush on this woman had easily been the hardest she’d ever fallen for someone, someone that she’d had no chance with.
Quinn flashed her a smile as she picked up two plates of apple crumble, and then she made her way back to where she was sitting by the fire, her back to Emily.
“Next!”
Emily shook herself out of the daze she’d fallen into, watching Quinn walk away. She ordered, unable to stop herself from glancing over her shoulder while she waited, and she met the woman’s eyes who was sitting across from Quinn. She had red hair and was probably about the same age as Quinn.
The woman held her gaze for a second before returning her attention to Quinn, saying something that made Quinn shake her head.
Emily had asked for her order to go. As much as she wanted to stay, to maybe try and talk to Quinn again, she knew she was better off going home.
