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Derek nodded. “She’s right. I mean—I encourage this—because it makes you happy, but teaching art doesn’t pay the best, but it’s worth it if you are happy, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, glancing at my watch. “I better get home. I have homework and I’m starving.”
Derek stood with me. “I can order us some takeout. There is a Thai place down the road that’s good.”
I inwardly cringed. Derek had been nothing but nice to me, but I didn’t want to eat with my professor. The boundaries had to be set, right? “That’s okay—,”
“Come on,” he said, bending his knees to meet my gaze. “I wanted your opinion on some graffiti art I'm presenting to my class next week. I’m thinking about having an entire class on it, and letting you lead.”
Letting me lead.God, that sounded like a dream come true. I swallowed the feeling of this being a bad idea and nodded. “Sure, but I can’t stay long.”
Derek beamed. “Awesome.”
Thirty minutes later, we sat on the floor of the gallery, our Thai food spread out around us while I bit my lip in anticipation of Maverick calling worried about me. He’d texted three times, but every time I glanced at my phone, Derek drew my attention to his iPad where he asked me questions about certain brands of paint.
I’d finished my food quickly, tapping my fingers along my thigh at the overwhelming bad feeling looming. Derek didn’t sit close to me and hadn’t said anything outlandish, but something didn’t feel right.
“Well,” I said, clearing my throat. “I need to get back, Derek. Thank you so much for the food.” I stood, grabbing my bag and slinging it protectively around my shoulder.
Derek stood with me, I hadn’t realized how tall he was, or how the corners of his eyes looked crinkled and aged him a bit. His cupid’s bow widened when he smiled at me. “Thank you for your help, Josie. I appreciate it.”
“No problem,” I said, starting toward the door.
“Hey, Josie, I wanted to ask you something.”
I stopped, biting my lip nervously. “Yeah?”
“Are you from Slaughter?”
The question startled me. Why would he want to know that, and why did that matter? It was where Maverick grew up. “No, are you?”
He smiled. “I am. I thought I saw you there before.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ve been there but not a lot. I’ll see you later.”
His hand halted me.
Dread flooded me. This was my professor and there was no reason for him to touch me. I turned back, hoping I’d left my phone or something, when he gently pulled me flush with him. His dark eyes looked darker than before, the smile he always wore leaned dangerously close to a smirk rather than anything genuine.
His minty breath hit my mouth and I turned my cheek.
Derek’s soft chuckle hit bone. “I guess I should say I’m sorry for that but I’m not. You’re beautiful and talented.”
I swallowed, eyeing the distance to the door. “Thank you, but this is unprofessional, and I have a boyfriend.”
Derek’s silence made me glance back up at him. “Are you talking about the boy that had you moaning in the library, Josie? That Maverick kid?”
Slowly, I pulled my hand away. “Yes,him. I’m sorry Derek but I want to go home. I’m uncomfortable.”
The look on his face transformed back to his usual smile and he cocked his head to the side. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s okay. I’ll see you later.”
Once I made it outside into the humid night, I raced toward my car, feeling an uneasy crawl of emotion up my spine. My keys rattled against the concrete before I successfully got into my car and started the engine.
Tears whelmed into the corners of my eyes as I drove back to our apartment. I couldn’t feel my legs by the time I ran up the stairs and fumbled with the door keys. At first, I didn’t want to tell anyone. Not Maverick. Not India. But after twenty minutes of driving, I knew I had to tell Maverick.
I had to.
