Chapter 28
Gabrielle
The hallway outside Cal’s office felt like a pressure cooker: too warm, too bright, too many students pretending not to panic.
I’d been spoiled by having his Thursday afternoon office hours almost entirely to myself.
But I suppose the day before his midterm exam was reason enough to draw everyone out of the woodwork.
Two students sat ahead of me, slumped in institutional chairs like prisoners awaiting sentencing. I sat with my notebook open on my lap, pen poised, though I hadn’t written anything in ten minutes.
I didn’t need help with the midterm. Not really. I just needed five minutes with him. His voice. His air. Plus one more rundown of Faraday’s Law before the exam couldn’t hurt.
The door clicked open, and a girl stepped out, muttering a halfhearted thanks as she brushed past. That made me next—after Sloane.
“Miss Cartwright?” Cal’s voice floated into the hall, calm and clipped.
Sloane stood—perfectly composed, glossy lips set in a smile just shy of sincere. She adjusted the strap of her designer tote and smoothed down her sorority sweatshirt like she was heading into a casting call, not office hours.
“Dr. Hawthorne,” she cooed as she stepped inside, “thanks so much for squeezing me in.”
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But the door didn’t quite latch.
“I’ve sent a few emails,” Sloane said, her tone rising at the end of each phrase, all faux-question marks. “But I figured it might be easier to talk in person. I was hoping to reschedule tomorrow’s exam. I’m flying out first thing, and I really can’t rebook.”
A pause. No response. But I could picture him—cool, collected, intimidating without trying.
“I’d hate to tank my GPA over an unavoidable six a.m. flight. Surely you can help me out.”
A longer pause.
Cal’s voice came crisp and even. “While I fully understand the appeal of an early start to spring break—which, I presume, is the only possible reason for the request—the exam schedule stands.”
“Would it help if my dad called and vouched for me? He’s on the Board of Trustees, after all.” She dropped that little nugget like a stone in water. Clever.
“That won’t be necessary,” Cal replied softly.
“Oh, good, because I’d hate for there to be any…unpleasantness.” Entitlement dripped from every word.
“That won’t be necessary because that strategy won’t work on me, Miss Cartwright.
” She huffed, but before she could retort, Cal continued, “Your physics midterm exam is at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.
Without exception. If you choose not to appear, you’ll receive a zero.
And in this course, that would be difficult—if not impossible—to recover from. ”
Another pause. Neither spoke, but the tension spilled into the hallway.
Then, a single line from Cal—Dr. Hawthorne. Calm. Unmovable. “Choose wisely.”
Sloane emerged with a flounce, cheeks tinted and expression soured. She shot me a scathing look, rolling her eyes so hard I thought they might stay that way.
“Asshole,” she muttered as her steps quickened. “Think he’d show a little human decency. Fucking jerk.” Her words trailed after her, a scandalized wake rippling down the hall.
I tried not to smile.
“Miss Clark?” Cal’s voice was different—warmer, like a favorite song.
I sprang up, notebook tucked to my chest, and stepped into his office.
He looked at me with sweetness, though he tried for the usual facade. “Always a pleasure to see you,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk. “How can I help?”
I closed the door behind me, a click as soft as the smile I couldn’t quite keep in check. “That sounded…fun,” I said, sliding into the chair.
He rolled his eyes, a rare crack in the armor. “Oh, you have no idea.”
I bit my lip to hide a grin. “You handled it well.”
He leaned in slightly, voice low—just for me. “You’re the only one who could ever get away with something like that.”
I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him right. “I’d never ask,” I said, almost whispering.
“I know.” His gaze softened, gray eyes smoldering. “That’s one of the many reasons I love you.”
The world stuttered to a halt.
Neither of us moved. Neither of us breathed.
He glanced down at the desk—a beat too long.
Then, so gently it almost hurt, he reached for my notebook like nothing had happened. “Now,” he said, voice a shade unsteady, “show me where you’re stuck.”
My phone buzzed and clattered on the kitchen table.
Aunt Suzy…
I sighed. I couldn’t dodge her forever, so I might as well get this over with.
“Gabrielle! Sweetheart!” Aunt Suzy’s voice burst from the phone like a flood of glitter and frosting. I braced myself with a deep breath.
“Hi, Suzy,” I said.
“Oh? I’m just Suzy now, am I?”
I ran a hand through my hair and sank back in my chair. “Sorry. Hi, Aunt Suzy.”
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense. How did midterms go?”
“They were fine,” I said, trying to sound more relieved than exhausted. “I’m just glad they’re over.”
“Well, tell me everything,” she chirped. “How do you think you did? I’m sure you aced them.”
A knock on the door made me jump. I bit my lip, torn between relief and panic, and crossed the room.
“One sec,” I said, opening the door.
Cal stood there, backlit by the soft afternoon light. His jeans were worn just right, black turtleneck stretched comfortably across his chest. A leather jacket hung open over it, his motorcycle helmet tucked under one arm.
I swooned internally, glancing over my shoulder. “You’re early,” I mouthed, signaling him to stay quiet.
He grinned, a silent question in his eyes. I motioned him in, finger to my lips. He nodded, catching on, and slipped in quietly.
“Are you still there?” Aunt Suzy asked.
“Yeah, sorry,” I said, watching Cal slip off his jacket. “What were you saying?”
“How do you think you did on your midterms?”
“Calculus and French were As,” I said, trying to focus on the call and not the way he looked so completely at home in my apartment. He draped his jacket over the back of a chair. My pulse quickened, and I risked a glance at Cal. “But the other grades haven’t posted yet.”
He raised an eyebrow, more amused than surprised. Heat crept into my cheeks, and I knew he noticed. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching me with a look that was equal parts interest and mischief.
“I’m sure you did just fine.” I could hear the smile in Aunt Suzy’s voice. “Especially since you have that ‘special friend’ to study with. How’s that going, by the way?”
Her question landed with the subtlety of a grenade.
“It’s going,” I said, aiming for nonchalance. I turned slightly, hoping to hide the way my face had gone embarrassingly hot.
“And when do I get to meet him?”
I shifted the phone to my other ear, avoiding Cal’s eyes. “I’m not sure yet. We’ll see.”
“I don’t see what the big deal is. You could bring him to Houston over spring break.”
“Yeah, but you’ll be teaching. Shame our breaks didn’t line up this year,” I said, pressing my lips together as Cal stepped closer and wrapped his arms around my waist.
Her voice softened, coaxing. “Then when are you coming down? I haven’t seen you since Christmas.”
“I don’t know,” I said, distracted as Cal slipped his fingers beneath the hem of my shirt. “I’ll figure something out.”
“What are your plans for the week?”
I tried to focus as he traced his hands along my waist. “Nothing exciting. Reading. Spring cleaning. Hopefully some time at the airfield.”
“And some time with your ‘friend?’” Her tone sliced through the line.
I hesitated, and Cal’s breath warmed my neck as he nuzzled closer. “Yes,” I said finally.
“Are you spending the whole week with him?”
I bit my lip. “Probably most of it…”
“Gabrielle, this is getting serious.”
“Maybe…”
“I’d like to meet him before you rush off and get married,” she said, half-exasperated, half-amused.
I choked on my words, coughing so hard I nearly dropped the phone. Cal pulled back, brows furrowed. I waved him off. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I managed. Silence buzzed on the line. “Well, if that’s everything,” I said quickly, “I’ll let you—”
“Wait!” Aunt Suzy cut in. “Before you go, I have news!”
“News?”
She lowered her voice. “Remember my colleague who was put on administrative leave for ‘allegedly’ sleeping with a student? They didn’t say it, of course, but we all knew.”
I froze. “The one you took over a class for,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t crack.
“Well,” Suzy said, voice rising, “he was found guilty and fired. Good riddance.”
The air punched out of my lungs.
“Gabrielle?”
“Yeah. That’s…good news, I guess.”
“Of course it’s good news,” she replied, oblivious to the tension in my voice. “But it means I’m teaching a second course this summer.”
“You can handle it,” I said, forcing brightness into my voice. “Hey, I’ve got to go. Talk later?”
“Sure thing! Have fun this week, but be safe. Protection and all that—”
“Goodbye, Aunt Suzy,” I cut her off, heat prickling at the back of my neck.
“Love you, bye!” she chirped.
I hung up and flopped back on the couch with an exasperated sigh.
But the sigh caught in my chest. Cal was still here. The week was still ours. I wasn’t going to let someone else’s scandal steal it from us.
Cal crouched in front of the sofa, bracing his forearms lightly on my knees so I couldn’t look anywhere but at him.
“What was that last bit about?” he asked, voice low and even. “You went stiff.”
I forced a smile, but it cracked. “It’s nothing.”
He brushed his thumb along the outside of my knee—barely there, like a touch meant more to soothe than to persuade. “Gabrielle,” he said quietly. “Talk to me.”
I swallowed, my throat dry. “It just caught me off guard. She was talking about her colleague—a professor who…crossed a line with a student. And got caught.” For a split second, I saw Cal in that story—career in ashes because of me.
The fear hit sharp, and I shoved it down hard before it could take root.
His expression didn’t change, but I saw the ripple beneath it—something fierce and protective rising fast.
“She doesn’t know,” I said quickly, like the words could unspool the tension coiling between us. “She has no idea about us. She was venting about work. It just…hit close to home.”
I blinked hard, surprised by the sudden sting behind my eyes. Cal exhaled, curling his fingers a little tighter around my knee before relaxing again. He didn’t try to kiss me. Didn’t crowd me. Just stayed there, steady and warm and waiting for me to come back to him on my own.
“I hate this,” he said quietly. “I hate putting you in a position where you have to hide. Where you have to lie for me.” His voice wasn’t angry—just low and raw, like it cost him something to admit it out loud.
“You’re not forcing me to do anything,” I said, meeting his eyes. “I know what I’m doing. And I know what we have to do to keep us both out of hot water. You’re worth every bit of it and more.”
For a moment, neither of us moved. The room breathed around us, heavy and light all at once.
Then, mercifully, Cal eased the tension with a small, lopsided smile. “All right,” he said, sitting back on his heels. “Tell me about your midterms. Before I take you away and corrupt you for the rest of the week.”
I huffed a laugh, the tightness in my chest starting to ease. “Yours was brutal,” I said, pointing an accusatory finger.
He looked wholly unrepentant. “Good. Would’ve been a disappointment otherwise.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re lucky it’s spring break and campus is closed. Otherwise, I might have to report you for academic cruelty.”
“Why do you think I schedule my midterm the Friday before spring break?”
I shook my head, but a smile tugged at my lips, smoothing the jagged edges of the previous conversation. I clicked my tongue at him. “Driving your students to the brink and skipping town before they can riot? You’re positively evil, Professor Hawthorne.”
“Now you’re catching on.” A smile played on his lips as he stood and reached for my hands. “Speaking of skipping town…”
I let him pull me off the couch and into his arms. “Yes?”
“I booked us a week at The Waverly on Lake Rayburn starting Sunday, if that’s not too presumptuous.”
I pulled back. “The Waverly? Seriously? How much did that set you back?”
He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I told you early on I wanted to wine and dine you in splendor. There’s not much opportunity up here, so please allow me this.”
“Wow. Okay. That sounds amazing.”
“Truth be told, I chose it for the seclusion and exclusivity. I want a whole week where we don’t have to hide or pretend, constantly glancing over our shoulders. I want a week where it’s just us. And I don’t care where it is, as long as we get that.”
I had no words. But he didn’t seem to mind.
“I do need to finish grading tomorrow. But the weather should be lovely if you’d like some flight time whilst I drown in exam papers.”
“A week at a luxury resort and a few hours in the sky? You spoil me.”
“That’s the idea.” He pressed a tender kiss to my lips. “In the meantime…”
“Yes?”
“Go slip into that stunning brown leather jacket, darling,” he murmured in my ear. “And let’s take the bike out before we lose the light.”