Chapter 2
Cole
Before the one night with Tara, my life had been a whirlwind. Six months prior, I had ended a relationship with my ex, Darla. The relationship with her wasn’t supposed to be serious, but it was… at least for her. I knew I needed to break things off because it wasn’t fair to her. Once I did that, I vowed to just have a good time. One night here, one night there. Fresh starts are always good and I felt like I was starting the year fresh on both a personal and professional level.
A new year was starting at Lynn Falls University, and I had spent the week before completing lesson plans and creating presentations for my math students. I never thought Math would be my route, but I’ve always been analytical in everything, paying attention to the details of problems or situations. I enjoy breaking down a complicated problem into controllable steps. It’s the reason my friends have always come to me when they have problems to work through.
The clock struck eight a.m. as the students started filing into the classroom and taking their seats. Checking my watch, it was time to begin. “Welcome to your new semester. I’m Professor Cole Taylor. Let’s go around the room and introduce yourselves. It’s important you all get to know each other because there will be times throughout the semester when you’ll need to work together.” Everyone introduced themselves and they seemed like an upbeat bunch which always makes the semester easier. I continued, “German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss said, “Mathematics is the queen of the sciences—and number theory is the queen of mathematics.”
***
Before I knew it, class was over, and the students were filing out of the classroom the same way they came in. I was packing up my papers when a student approached my desk.
“Professor Taylor...”
Looking up, it was one of the guys who sat in the back, Evan. “Hey. Evan, right?”
“Yeah! Evan Davis. I just have a question.”
I stopped what I was doing to give him my attention. “Shoot.”
“Why Carl Friedrich Gauss? You quoted him. Why use him out of all the mathematicians out there?”
It was an interesting question and of all the times I’ve used that quote, I’d never had anyone ask that. I’m sure he saw the amusement in my face. “Well, Carl Gauss also said, ‘It is not knowledge, but the act of learning, not possession, but the act of getting there, which grants the greatest enjoyment.’ This class will challenge you, Evan, but you’re clearly enjoy learning, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. Sure, your parents or guardians might be pushing in the background, but you are in fact an adult and if you didn’t want to be here, you wouldn’t be. Enjoy the process as it challenges you because what you will get on the other side of this is information that you’ll take with you and use in the most surprising moments. And I’m willing to bet you’ll google Carl Friedrich Gauss later to learn more about him and number theory. So, you’re already a step ahead.”
With an exchange of smiles and understanding, he nodded and headed out. “See you tomorrow, Professor.”
The semester was off to a good start. I left my classroom to head to the Advisement Office. There was a student file laying out on my desk. She would be starting later and I needed clarification on a couple of things in her file.
As I rounded the corner, Dean Latrice Canmore stopped me. “Professor Taylor, you’re just in time. I wanted to introduce you to our newest advisor, Dr. Delaney Anderson.”
Delaney Anderson turned around and left me speechless. Tara…Oh god. Delaney Anderson, otherwise known as Tara, my one-night stand was standing in front of me in a black pencil skirt, shiny black heels, and a button up white top. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail with curls. When she turned around, I could tell she was just as stunned.
“Do you two know each other?” Dean Canmore asked looking back and forth between us.
I decided to answer first. “No, she looked familiar at first but um, no. It’s nice to meet you, Delaney.”
She reached out to shake my hand, “Nice to meet you as well, Professor Taylor. You can call me, Dr. Anderson.”
I smiled and squeezed her hand gently. “Of course, Dr. Anderson.” I held her stare and could feel my cock twitch in my pants remembering all that’s underneath that ironed blouse she was wearing. A blush was creeping up her cheek, so I finally let go of her hand. She could feel it too. There was still chemistry between us.
Her name is Delaney. She gave me a fake name. The thought made me smirk. “Dean Canmore, as much as I’d love to stay and learn more about Dr. Anderson, I have an appointment in Advisement.” I smiled at Dean Canmore, then looked to Delaney and gave her a nod. “Dr. Anderson, it was a pleasure meeting you.”
Dean Canmore spoke up. “Of course, Professor, I won’t keep you. Dr. Anderson, if you need anything, Professor Taylor is one of our most admired faculty here. He has a wonderful rapport with the students. I’m certain he would be happy to help you if you needed it.” Dean Canmore looked at me with a smile.
“Of course. Happy to help any way I can. I have to get going but again, welcome to Lynn Falls University, Dr. Anderson.” On that note, I moved passed them and into the advisement office.
***
Later, I had sent out a 911 text to the guys to meet for a drink. My best friend, Vinny invited us all to come to his restaurant, Leonardos. None of us were big drinkers, so whatever he had at the restaurant would be fine. Vinny and his wife Bianca started the restaurant a few years ago. They recently hired a full-time manager for the place so they could spend less time running the day to day and more time with their family.
I walked into Leonardos and met Vinny sitting in the corner booth toward the back of the restaurant. It was a weeknight, and they were always busy, but Vinny always kept that booth reserved for our group in case any of us needed it for a date or just to catch up for a bit.
Reaching the booth, I nodded at Vinny and sat down. “Hey man. I love this damn booth. I feel like royalty here.”
Vinny laughed. “You’re a clown. I charge a sitting fee.” We laughed as Vinny nodded towards Carter, “There’s another clown. Pretty soon we’ll have a table fulla Jesters.”
Carter walked up, smiled and pushed me over, “Scoot over. You get to sit in the bitch seat.”
Rolling my eyes, “I’m no bitch. And you’re lucky I’m tired. When Hudson gets here, you’re gonna be my co-bitch.”
Carter shook his head, “Not happenin’. What’s up Vinn?”
“Not much, man. It’s just nice to be here and not have to worry about managing anything.”
I shot a text off to Hudson and told him to sneak up and push Carter inside the booth. When I looked up, I saw him walking in. He came up beside Carter and pretended to sit to push him over. When Carter was shoved over, I said, “Welcome to bitch life.”
“Fuck off. This is shit. I hate sitting on the inside of the booth. That’s what we get for being early birds.”
Hudson and Vinny laughed. Hudson joked, “Awwww, you hate it? Man up.”
Vinny always makes us pull our shit together, so he slid cans of soda around the table and started the meeting. “Alright idiots, we’re here. Cole, what’s up with the emergency text?”
I popped the top of my can of Sprite, took a sip and said, “Ok, so here goes. When Darla and I broke up, it was because things were getting too serious, way too fast, and it really wasn’t what I wanted. You remember me telling you guys that?” They all nodded, so I continued. “I’ve been bullshitting these last few weeks before classes started back up. Went to Euphoria a week ago and met this gorgeous woman. Gorgeous doesn’t even feel like the right description.”
Carter chimed in. “Snappin’! You got the shits for her now. Y’all datin’, Mr. I don’t want anything serious?” He chuckled and downed his root beer.
“Shut up, and root beer is nasty. No, but for real, it was the best one-night stand of my life. Tara. Her name was Tara and I wish I had gotten her number, honestly. I woke up and she was gone. But we both said it was just one night.”
Hudson took a drink and asked, “Sooo... what’s the problem?”
“Earlier today I was introduced to one of our newest Advisers. Dean Canmore introduced to me to Dr. Delaney Anderson...” They were just staring at me. “Dr. Delaney...otherwise known as Tara, my one-night stand.”
“OH SHIT!” Carter yelled and laughed, before he sunk down in the booth realizing how loud he was and looked around. Then he whispered, “You banged your new colleague and now you want more.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I banged my colleague. Can’t have more though because there’s a no fraternization between colleagues’ policy. It’s such horse shit because, you guys, I would drink her fuckin’ bath water. You don’t even know. She is perfect and I feel like I’m being punished right now. She showed up in this tight ass pencil skirt and talked to me all professional like I didn’t just fuck her brains out last weekend.” The server came by with beers from the back that Vinny ordered for us and I downed mine in 3 seconds flat. “I need some water.”
Vinny spoke up, “Sounds to me like there ain’t much to figure out here. I hope you remember your one night with her because that’s all it’s ever gonna be… unless…you do something crazy.”
My voice was now practically a whisper. “Wrong. How am I supposed to stay away from her? You guys don’t get it.”
Hudson said, “Don’t get fired, bro. You don’t need that mess. Keep… your... distance.” He was being his usual serious self.
I said, “Boring. Where’s the fun in that?” All three of them shook their heads at me, so I tried to change the subject. “Enough about me. Hudson, what’s up with you? You and Amelia good?”
“Yeah man. We’re fine. The biggest thing is planning this simple wedding. We’re trying to keep it really small. It’s getting there though.”
“I’m happy for you man. I can’t wait to be your best man.” I laughed.
“Bullshit.” Carter shook his head. “We already know I’m the best man. You fuckers can get bent.”
“What am I, chopped liver? I saved Amelia and Hudson’s lives. That’s gotta count for somethin’ here.” Vinny’s arms were outstretched. We all laughed.
“Relax. All three of you are my best men. I wouldn’t be here without you.” Hudson raised his drink to us.
I said, “Ok, ok...this is beginning to feel like a Lifetime movie. Cheers, you assholes.” We raised our glasses.
Dinner came and went as we fell into easy random conversation, but I sat there unable to stop my thoughts from going back to Delaney. I was going to come up with a plan to get close to her again.