He looks younger and just as hot as ever, although I do miss those black horn-rimmed rectangular glasses that made him look like the true professor he is.
I have a problem.
“Back pocket,” his date tells him, and I’m once again knocked back to reality.
The reality in which this is my perfect chance to talk to him about the article and forget about everything else.
“Could we have a moment alone, Professor?” He stops his movements, and every single one of the girls looks at me. “It’s about the article,” I blurt out.
He looks down at the brown-eyed girl, who gives him a smile and extends her hand. “Go ahead. I’ll wait in the car.”
Grayson looks at me one more time, and I hold my breath, waiting for him to make a decision. Car keys appear out of nowhere, and he hands them to the woman.
“It was nice to meet you, Ms. Haywood and friends.”
“You too,” I say with a fake smile. We didn’t technically meet. I don’t even know her name.
Turning to my friends, I give them my bestgo with itlook. “Why don’t you guys get us some seats?”
I hand Kami my water bottle, and Stevie nods. “Don’t take too long.” Kami looks at Grayson skeptically, and I can tell by the look alone that I’m going to get an earful later about why I didn’t mention that he happens to be a very hot professor. “It was nice meeting you, Professor.”
He gives them a small dip of his chin, and the girls walk away. We’re left standing alone, and I thank my lucky stars that I showered, fixed my hair into a high pony, and changed into a cute casual outfit before coming here.
“Should—” we say at the same time, and for the first time since July, I hear a breathy laugh leave him.
“After you.” He motions toward the now long line.
Taking a few steps toward the spot, I play with the box of M&M’s and decide to break the ice.
“Your girlfriend is sweet and very pretty.” My face heats.
Now, why the hell would I start with that?
I dare to move my eyes up to his face. “Um, that was my sister,” he responds awkwardly.
A feeling I didn’t realize I had in the pit of my stomach vanishes. Apparently, my jealousy has a mind of its own.
“I’m sorry, that was extremely inappropriate.” I cringe at myself for setting the mood of our conversation to that.
He shakes his head as if to say,You’re fine.
I attempt to make some appropriate small talk. “How was the rest of your summer?”
Grayson shrugs. “It wasn’t too bad. Work kept me busy.” I nod, waiting to see if he’ll ask me the same question.
Help a girl out.
“How was yours?”
Smiling in relief, I respond, “It was good. I spent half of it in London, but the other half at my parents’ house in Manhattan.” My nose scrunches up. “Although all the cafés and bookstoreswere packed with tourists, which was really annoying. There doesn’t seem to be one place in Manhattan that isn’t busy when it comes to books and cafés that close early, along with the libraries. I mean, seriously, when is someone going to open a place where you can write and read in peace until late in the night with reservations or something similar…” I trail off as I realize how long I’ve been rambling. So long, in fact, that half the line has already gone.
It’s not that what I said isn’t true, but now I seem more nervous than before. My cheeks heat as I cringe once again.
“I’m sorry. I tend to talk a lot about the things that I like,” I tell him sheepishly, looking up at him.
Grayson only shakes his head again, the faintest side grin tugging at his lips. “It’s okay. I learned something new about Manhattan today. I appreciate that.”
My shoulders sag, and it’s as if he realizes he’s been a little too nice and immediately looks away again.
