For once, I wish it were the police at the door; they would no doubt be easier to handle.
“Fuck,” I hiss as I move the last of the papers, some of which have been hit with the dark liquid, which in turn drips all over me as I move them.
With a harsh rub of my face and a groan, I force myself to breathe as I unbutton my shirt. I guess if nothing else, this gave me a way to clean up the mess.
Dropping my shirt onto my desk, I watch it quickly soak up the liquid as the ever-present pounding continues.
“I’m coming!” I snap as I move around my desk to grab my spare shirt and curse again when that doesn’t stop him.
“What the hell?” Gavin’s face scrunches up in disgust as I yank open the door in a rush, my new shirt still hanging unbuttoned.
“If you would have given me a fucking moment,” I hiss as I hurry to button my shirt, remembering where I am now that his knocking isn’t going to send me over the edge.
“Damn, Mr. Adler, can I get some guidance?” It’s impossible to miss the double meaning of the words of the girl I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before, as her eyes roam over the small bit of skin still visible as I continue to button my shirt.
“You think heguidesall his students like that?” she says to her friend, again, not even attempting to be quiet.
“That’s his brother,” her friend, a student I’m pretty sure I’ve had in my classes once or twice, says, her face redder than a tomato, and I thank the universe that someone has some sense today.
I glare at Gavin as I finish buttoning my shirt, and he has the decency to look apologetic as he rushes into my office so that I might close the door, but not before I hear her last comment.
“I’d be down to be the meat in that sibling sandwich."
I let the door swing closed; at this rate, I’ve given them more than enough of a show. The last thing I need is for them to take a picture of this to pass around the school.
“Why do you let them talk about you like that? I’m sure the dean would be fine if you gave them detention or something.” He’s probably right, but that would mean I'd have to sit with them during those detentions, and I’d be giving people something to complain about. Considering how much of mine and Gavin’s futures hang in the balance, I’ve learned quickly to deal with what I can.
If I run to the dean with every little thing, he’ll eventually get sick of me.
“Also, maybe don’t open the door half-naked. As if you don’t already have enough of the student population thirsting after you,” he says as he drops into his usual chair opposite my desk, the same one Wren had sat in not long ago.
Not the one I want, though…
Shit, no. That’s a dangerous line of thought.
I couldn’t have her before, and I can’t have her now; nothing has changed…
Except for the fact that I’ll have to see her twice a week in two of my classes and at a minimum every other week for office hours, hopefully once a week if I can swing it.
Most students don’t need more than once a month, but with all her classes and her past, I’m sure I can make once a week seem necessary.
Oh, I’m so fucked.
“If you hadn’t come pounding on my door like you're the police, I wouldn’t have spilled my coffee and had to change.” I gesture to the shirt still soaking up the coffee on the desk, and he grimaces. I also ignore his comment about the student population because while it’s no secret to him that a lot of girlshis age and mine often hit on me, right now seems like a bad time to talk about it.
I can’t imagine he would be happy to know that his rival has just enrolled and that the very same girl was the one I used to text damn near constantly. The one he used to say I would drop anything for and gave heart eyes. At least part of that was true.
“Damn, sorry.”
I wave him off as I drop into my seat and ignore the mess for now.
“What’s the problem?” I ask because something has to be wrong with the way he’s acting and the scowl that seems stuck on his face.
“They put a girl in our dorm,” he hisses, and that scowl turns into full-on anger, his jaw clenching as he stands to pace the small area before my desk.
I know who it is even before he says it; who else could it be? Not only is she the only new student as far as I’m aware, but it’s the only thing that makes sense given his reaction.
My brother is pretty docile, quiet, nerdy, and shy, even. But something about her has always fired him up, pushed him, and clearly, even years later, she still has an effect not only on me but on him as well.
