AllFreeNovel
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“I’m not your teacher anymore,” he says, and he’s right. He is, however, a decade older than me. It’s on the tip of my tongue to say no, but then the blonde in the elevator pops into my head.
“Okay.”
He pulls out his phone, and I rattle off my number. My phone vibrates a second later with his text.
“I’ll be in touch.” He smiles before heading over to place his own order.
The whole way back to my apartment, I wonder if I did the wrong thing. Alex is cute, and we’re interested in a lot of the same things, but it feels off for some reason.
“Pizza!” Briar announces as she bursts into our apartment an hour later. “I knew if you ate, it was only a pastry or cake.” She’s not wrong.
“Pizza sounds good.” Briar places the box down on the counter, and I get up from the couch, grabbing some napkins while she gives the kittens kisses.
“So?”
“So what?”
“Why do you even try that?” my sister tosses back at me, and I take a giant bite of the cheesy pizza. I don’t know why I do it either.
“This is good. Is it from the place around the block we keep saying we’re going to try?”
“Yes, now tell me whatever it is that’s happening here. You were good when I left after lunch.”
“Heath was with that blonde again,” I tell her since I might as well get it out there, but I decide not to mention the kiss.
“The one from the bar on Friday?” We hadn’t talked about her, but clearly we both took note. I tell her what happened and then mention Alex. “Professor Rookwood!” Her whole face lights up.
“You know him?” Our university wasn’t giant, but there were a lot of teachers, and Professor Rookwood’s classes weren’t ones Briar would be anywhere near.
“We went to an all-girls university that had maybe four males on staff. All the girls talked about Professor Rookwood. Or should I say Alex?” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Whatever,” I laugh. “I think I might avoid going out if and when he asks.”
“Why?”
“There isn’t a spark.” I shrug.
“Maybe because you’re not open to seeing them. It’s only a date, Meadow. Just do coffee or happy hour; you don’t have to do a whole dinner. Test it out and see what you think.”
“I don’t want to lead him on or waste his time,” I say, and Briar rolls her eyes at me. “Hey, I don’t see you out there dating.”
“I have three babies to take care of.” She dramatically motions to the kittens that are rolling across the kitchen floor and playing together.
“I’ll think about it.”
“How about you text for a bit? That’s not wasting time. It might get flirty, and you might like it. Besides, you said you’ll be working late all week. You don’t have time for a date, and you can tell him that when he asks.”
That’s not the worst idea. It might nudge me in a direction away from my romantic feelings with Heath. My phone vibrates on the table next to the couch, and Briar leaps for it before I get a chance. Then the stupid facial recognition unlocks it for her.
“Oh, he said the red velvet loaf from the coffee shop is amazing.”
“Do not respond to him.” The phone goes off again.
“Oh, he’s sexting you now.”
“What!” I try to grab the phone from her. “He is not.” There is no way, and Briar cackles before finally handing the phone over.
“It’s a link to an article about crypto projects.” Damn, there are already three that have launched this year. We’re barely into February.
“See, you're into it. Account sexting.”
“You’re a dork.”
“I’m the dork? Sure.” She goes to take a bite of pizza, and some of the cheese slides off and lands on her sweater.
I fight the snort that threatens to come out. If anything, my sister can always make me smile. No matter how shitty my day has been.
