I narrow my eyes at him. “I went home, asshole.” His muscles relax, and relief immediately washes over him. “Contrary to what you might believe, I don’t make out with one guy just to go home with another.”
He places his hands on the desk on either side of me. “Then why did you say?—”
I give him another eye roll. “Because you were being a dick, just like you are now.”
“I was not?—”
“You were on a date with another woman, followed me into the bathroom, proceeded to do… a bunch of stuff with me, and then went back to your date.”
His face blanches. “I didn’t go home with her either,” he says quietly.
The nauseous feeling that’s been in my stomach all weekend disappears. “You didn’t?”
He slowly shakes his head, trying to resist smiling at me. “No. I didn’t.”
We stand there staring at each other, and I fight the urge to lean forward and press my lips to his. He looks like he’s about to say something when we hear footsteps approaching the open door of the classroom.
He quickly pushes himself away from me, and I rush to pick up my bag. “Thank you, Professor Stirling,” I say, pushing a strand of hair away from my face.
“Of course, Miss Nyx,” he responds as another male professor enters the classroom. He has fiery red hair and thick black glasses. He tries to smile my way, but I duck my head and avoid his gaze.
I hastily walk past the man and make what I hope is an inconspicuous escape. Let Asher deal with any suspicions he has; I have a hickey to cover up.
12
ASHER
Jared watches Summeras she rushes past him, her face red with embarrassment, a delicate hand darting to her neck to try and hide the bruise. Once she’s gone, he squints at me. He crosses his arms, glaring, and I know that I’m in trouble for something. Jared rarely ever gets pissed at me.
“Dude,” he snaps. “Nikki texted me saying you practically blew her off on your date on Halloween.” He unbuttons his blazer, and I notice that he has chosen to wear aGhostbustersT-shirt today.
I sigh, guilt spreading through me like a wildfire. I know I owe Nikki some sort of explanation. I’m just not sure what I was supposed to say. ‘Sorry I disappeared for the majority of our date and was wholeheartedly distracted for the other half. I’ve been having inappropriate fantasies about a student of mine and just couldn’t help accosting her in the public bathroom of the bar we were at.’
“Yeah,” I groan. “I wasn’t the best date that night. I’ll make sure to apologize to her,” I offer up lamely.
He hesitates, debating whether he wants to speak his thoughts aloud. “Look, if you don’t like her… or if there’s somebody else…” he trails off as his eyes flick to the exit Summer had just left through. “Just tell her, okay? Don’t string her along because she looks good for you on paper.” He strips off his blazer, revealing more of his graphic T-shirt as he continues to scrutinize me. “There was a reason I gave heryournumber and not Elijah’s. Dude’s an animal, has been ever since that one girl he was seeing years ago ghosted him. But Nikki doesn’t deserve someone who won’t take her seriously… which is why Elijah never got her number.”
I feel like an even worse piece of shit than I did this morning.
He is absolutely right. It’s wrong to string Nikki along simply because I feel like I should be with someone like her. I clearly don’t feel for her the way I do for Summer.
I nod. “I won’t lead her on,” I promise. “I’ll set everything straight today.”
“In any other circumstances, would Nikki?—”
“She was perfect,” I say, cutting him off. “It just wasn’t the right time for me. But I’m sure she’ll make someone very happy someday.”
He nods and gives me a small smile. “When she inevitably bitches to me about you, I’ll be sure to tell her it was all your fault.”
I grin in response. “That’s fair.” I clap a hand on his shoulder as I hesitantly ask, “No hard feelings?”
“We’re all good, dude.” He smiles. “All you had to say was that you weren’t into it. Nikki’s a catch; she’ll be fine and with someone new in no time. It’s you I’m worried about. You’re grumpy as hell, have zero social life, and let’s be honest, you peaked in high school.”
I shove him away, earning a laugh in response. “Oh, fuck off.”
I decide to meet upwith Elijah later that evening for drinks at his place. There is no way I’m returning to The Pour House after my recent actions. I clearly can’t be trusted.
As I’m walking up to his apartment complex, I dial Nikki’s number, ready to apologize my ass off for my poor behavior.
