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Mia looks in the direction I’m pointing. “Yeah. Tyler and I took his Research Methods class together. I had such a huge crush on him then.”
“On Dr. Hanover?” I mean, I guess he’s good looking. But he’s such a hardass, it cancels out any of his looks. I still have nightmares about being called on in his class.
She nudges my arm. “No, Tyler. Besides, Dr. Hanover has a girlfriend.” She points to their retreating backs. “I heard she was his student when they started dating.”
“Really?” He seems like such a rule follower. Maybe it was only his own rules that others had to follow, though. “Is that allowed?”
She shrugs. “They must not be too worried about it. She might have already graduated by now. I’m not sure.”
“I guess the heart wants what the heart wants.” Sometimes there’s no rhyme or reason to it. Like when you know the other person is way out of your league, but you still… hope for something more.
But at what point do you have to face reality?
* * *
I stand in front of Austin’s door, debating if I should knock or sleep at my own place tonight, lock be damned. No, I can’t do that. I wouldn’t sleep at all. Wouldn’t have his warm body to snuggle up to. His arm over my torso holding me securely to him. So safe in his embrace…
I blink, realizing the door is open and Austin’s standing there, looking at me. How long was I out of it?
“Did I knock?” I ask, genuinely unsure.
He rubs at the back of his neck, his bicep popping in his short-sleeved tee. No, don’t look at that.
“I heard you in the hallway. Thought you’d want to come in.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
I step past him, awkwardness descending over me. I never texted him today. Never explained any of the craziness from this morning. Would I be awful if I waited to see what he says about it first?
“I’m going to get a shower,” I murmur, unzipping my jacket. “I smell like greasy diner food.”
He nods and I retreat to the bedroom, delaying the conversation we have to have at some point. Grabbing my pajamas, I head into the bathroom and do everything possible I don’t normally do like deep condition my hair, shave my legs, and exfoliate.
After blow drying my hair, I finally go out to face my fate. He’s scrolling on his phone, but puts it down as soon as he spots me. “You need dinner? I made a frozen pizza earlier.”
I wander over to the couch, curling up on the other end opposite him. “No, I ate at the diner.”
He picks up a half-empty beer bottle on the table and takes a swig. “I forgot you were working tonight at first.”
“Yeah, I always work Monday and Wednesday nights.”
He messes with the label of his bottle, peeling it back, a ghost of a smile over his lips. “Thought you might be avoiding me.”
“No…” Okay, that’s obviously a lie. “Well, maybe a little.” I take a deep breath. “About this morning…” I trail off, no idea where I’m going with the sentence.
He nods, still looking at his beer. “Do you regret it?”
“No.” Wait, does he? Is that why he hasn’t reached out either? “I just don’t want things to be weird between us.”
He shakes his head. “No, it won’t.”
“So… we’re good?”
He sets the bottle back down on the coffee table. “Yeah.”
An unsettled feeling floats around in my stomach, still not sure if that resolved the issue. What did I think would happen tonight? That I’d come home and he’d declare his love for me or something? Get real.
“Okay,” I whisper, crossing my arms over my chest.
