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“Like I have to walk on eggshells around you—”
“Oh, Professor Ellis,” she said slowly, shaking her head in disbelief. “I am so, so very sorry I didn’t live up to your expectations!”
“What’s wrong, Whitney? What’s been wrong since the beginning of the semester?”
“You!” She took a step away from the table, her eyes shining in the dim overhead light. “You’ve been the problem! Ever since you showed up, I’ve been—I’ve been questioning everything. Nothing makes sense anymore. Nothing goes right. You are my problem!”
“You came here to tell me that?” I straightened up and crossed my arms over my chest.
She balled her hands into fists, her lower lip trembling as she fought for the words to say.
“I wish we’d never met.”
Her words struck me in the chest, but I held my ground, doing everything in my power to not rush her like she’d done to me and take her into my arms. A single tear rolled off her lashes and trailed down her cheek.
“Sometimes I wish we hadn’t met either,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed on hers.
She pursed her lips, nodding, and snatched her jacket, pulling the chair over in the process. It slammed to the ground, sending an echo through the cottage.
It was enough to send her over whatever edge she’d been riding all semester.
She squeezed her eyes shut and choked on a sob, dropping her jacket to the ground.
I was moving before my brain had time to process what was happening. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight against my chest as she shattered into pieces.
“Christian was cheating on me with my friend Nicole,” she said into my shirt, now damp with her tears. “I wasn’t even upset about it. It didn’t hurt at all. I was happy because I had an excuse to end it with him, and I did.”
I rested my chin on the top of her head, closing my eyes to the smell of her strawberry-scented shampoo.
“I should have ended it after our second date,” she said rapidly, taking a shuddering breath. “But our parents set up us, and then it just spiraled out of control.” She wrapped her arms around my waist. “I was always everything they wanted me to be. I was always a straight A student. I joined all the clubs. I went to all the dances and events in their inner circle. I was a debutant, president of my class, graduated with honors and only dated or was friends with the people they chose, people who aligned with how they thought I should live.”
She rubbed her face against my shirt like she was trying to bury herself in the fabric. My heart began to crack in my chest as I stared blankly at the snow falling outside the window. I pulled her closer, likely crushing her at this point, but she was falling apart in my arms, and I didn’t know what else to do.
“And I just did it. I did it all. I came here and did everything they expected me to. I joined my mother’s sorority. I led the track team. I planned parties and events on campus. I did everything they w-wanted me to, and still—” Another choked sob made her tremble. “Still, all they cared about was that I’d marry someone just as rich and arrogant as them. That’s all they care about. That’s all anyone here cares about. I just wanted to learn.”
My hand traveled up her back and settled on the back of her head, and my fingers tangled in her hair.
“I’m never enough for anyone.”
I closed my eyes, my heartbreak shifting to sudden anger. I held her at arm’s length and looked down at her. She stared up at me as I caressed her face and wiped her tears away with my thumbs.
“Never say that again.”
“It’s true—”
I kissed her hard, stopping her from saying anything else. Her body went momentarily rigid then relaxed, her hands trailing over my back as she stepped closer and tilted her head into the kiss, parting her lips.
It struck me suddenly that no one could see us here. We were alone, sheltered, cut off from prying eyes.
She must have realized it too, because she deepened the kiss, pulling me closer as it intensified.
This time, neither of us pulled away. I backed her against the wall, one hand resting in a fist a few inches above her head to keep us both steady.
“You’re enough for me,” I whispered against her lips.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“It does.” I pulled away, resting my forehead against hers. “I’ve never met anyone as accomplished or committed as you, and watching you wear yourself thin—Whitney, it’s killing me. Seeing you tear yourself apart—” I shook my head. “I can’t get you out of my head. You think no one sees you. I do.” I brushed the words over her lips. “I’ve watched you every day in class. You work harder than anyone I know. I’ve watched you around campus, trying to do it all. Trying to be this person you’re not.”
