“Well,” Jared says, sounding rather chipper. “That was weird.”
“What was weird?” I grumble.
He uses a fry to wave at the door. “That entire interaction.”
“We continue to run into each other in doorways; that is an odd circumstance,” I state bluntly.
A mischievous smile spreads across his face as Elijah slides into the seat beside me with a full IPA. “Did you?—”
“No,” I cut him off.
“Did he what?” Elijah asks after a hefty swig of beer.
“You don’t know what I was going to ask,” Jared says, ignoring him.
“Yes, I do.”
“You answered pretty fast.”
“Yes, I did. Because nothing happened.”
“What happened with who?” Elijah prods, looking back and forth between us.
“You didn’t let me finish my question,” Jared whines.
“No, I didn’t, and I don’t need you to finish it.”
“You seem rather testy over this.”
“Because I find it annoying and you both ordered yourself a beer without getting me one.”
“You’re right.” He nods. “That was rude. Let me grab you a beer, and then the interrogation can continue.” He bounds across the bar to Dave and leans against the counter as he talks animatedly to the bartender.
No doubt spilling secrets that he’s not even aware of.
“He’ll get it out of you eventually,” Elijah chuckles. “He always does.”
A sick feeling bubbles up from my stomach into my throat. I can’t tell Jared or Elijah. It’s not because I don’t trust them, but if I tell Jared, I’ll be putting him in a tough spot: either keeping a secret that may risk his job or feeling he should report me. I don’t know whether knowing about an inappropriate relationship between a professor and a student can be held against him, but it’s not something I’m willing to risk with Jared.
Inappropriate relationship? There is no relationship. Summer and I kissed. Once. Was it the best kiss I’ve had in years? Possibly ever? Yes. Did it make me wish we’d been somewhere more private so that we could have continued? Absolutely. Will it ever happen again? No. I can say that with absolute certainty.
It was a lapse in judgment. One that I won’t repeat.
9
SUMMER
October passes byin a blur with Asher purposefully avoiding mewhenever he can. Which is a hard task to accomplish, considering he has to teach the class I’m taking five times a week. However, he’s trying his best. If I show up at the bar and he’s already there, he closes his tab and promptly leaves. If he arrives and sees me there, he gets one beerand drinks it as fast as he can without raising an alarm and heads out.
Who knew that one hot make-out session would turn everything upside down?
I doubt Halloween will be any different, which is fine by me. I won’t be leaving, and if he would prefer to find another bar or to sit at home alone instead of inhabiting the same public space as me, that’s his own choice.
Halloween is my favorite holiday, and Sam and I always celebrate it the same way each year. By dressing up and entering The Pour House’s costume contest while participating in their Halloween movie trivia night. Sam and I always dress inmatching costumes, but this year he invited Derek to join us. So, we are going as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion from The Wizard of Oz.
It had been Sam’s idea, and he had immediately claimed the Lion, and Derek had offered to take the Tin Man so that I wouldn’t have to paint my face silver. Which is why I am now sitting on Sam’s bed as he carefully draws a stitched smile on either side of the corners of my lips.
I try to stretch my back, and Sam swats me. “Be still,” he chides.
