Chapter Eleven
~Summer~
I blink several times, determined not to let a single tear fall from the water brimming at the corners of my eyes. I will not let him get to me. I said goodbye to him over three weeks ago, and was at peace with what had happened between us. Why was I letting this surprise twist bother me now? I know I was just a job to him. Or at least, that’s what I kept trying to make myself believe. When he left the money, I thought, maybe, maybe there was something more, but after his silence and now this encounter, I knew with certainty that definitely wasn’t the case.
I turn the corner into the main hall, my head down as I try to gather my wits, and slam into a hard body, my book bag falling to the floor.
“Shit.” I curse my clumsiness, bending to pick up my bag.
“Summer?”
I swing my head up, my gaze landing on a confused grin. “Blake?” I swoop my bag up and rise. “What are you still doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” His dimples appearing as his smile widens.
I shake my head, restraining an eye roll, shrugging my shoulders instead. “Just had a question for the professor.”
“You angling to be the teacher’s pet already?” A soft chuckle leaves him, his statement clearly a joke.
“Hardly.” He has no idea how cutting the comment is to me, so I’m sure my stiff tone catches him off guard as I note his expression change.
“Sorry.” He puts his hands in the air between us. “Was totally kidding.”
“No, it’s fine.” I force a smile. “We just don’t see eye to eye on some things.” I shrug again. “I’m actually going to the registrar’s office to see if I can switch into another class.”
“What?” His mouth tugs into a frown. “Who will be my lab partner if you switch out?”
I offer a small smile. “I’m sure you’ll be just fine, Blake.”
“It definitely won’t be as interesting without you there.” He confesses.
I shuffle my feet, hoisting the strap of my bag over my shoulder. “Well, it was nice to meet you anyway.” I nod my head and start to walk away. “Maybe I’ll see you around campus.”
“Hope so.” He drawls, giving me a little wave before heading in the opposite direction.
Thirty minutes later I’m dealt with another blow as my advisor explains changing Professor Walker’s class isn’t an option. He’s the only professor that teaches this course, at this level, and it must be taken in order for me to be able to obtain the degree I want.
“Is there an online course, perhaps?” I plead, hoping for an alternative that will keep me out of his class and away from him.
“I’m sorry, Summer.” My advisor shakes her head in response. “Is there an issue with the class or the instructor that merits the need for the change?”
I hold back the huff of disdain I want to expel. Would the fact that we had sex less than a month ago, and being in the same room with him makes me want to do it all over again count?
“No, no, it’s nothing like that.” More lies. “It’s a conflict with another course I was hoping to take, but it’s okay.” I concede, dread pooling in my belly like a muddy bog as I realize I have no choice but to face him twice a week. “I’ll survive.” I hope.
I t’s Friday, and I make an effort to be early to class, already seated at the table I had claimed earlier that week. I am determined to not let being in the same space as Professor Walker affect me in any way. We won’t discuss the fact that I changed my outfit exactly seven times this morning, couldn’t decide if I should wear my hair up or down, and didn’t sleep a wink last night. It’s still really warm in the city, so I ended up in denim cut-offs and a plain white t-shirt. I was trying to give off an I don’t care about you in the least vibe. Not sure if I was carrying it off or not.
“I thought that was you.” I bring my gaze up to the voice coming from beside me.
“Lily?” I confirm, having only met her once over the summer at my aunt and uncle’s party in the Hamptons.
“Yep.” She nods, continuing. “I was almost certain it was you sitting here on the first day of class, but you left to go speak to the professor before I could say hi.” I can’t help but notice the curiosity in her tone, but before I can answer, Blake’s warm voice startles me.
“You’re here.”
“I am.” I shrug. “Couldn’t switch out. Guess you’re stuck with me.”
“No complaints on that front.” One side of his mouth cocks up as he slides onto the stool next to me. “You’re about the only thing that was going to make this course bearable.”
I feel my cheeks heat and shift my attention to Lily and introduce them.
“Don’t we have Psych together?” Lily squints, assessing Blake as they shake hands.
“That’s why you look familiar.” Blake nods in confirmation.
“Where are you sitting?” I ask, sorry I didn’t see her on the first day of class so I could have sat with her, but also not sorry, because Blake isn’t such a bad partner to have.
“I’m a couple tables back.” She points. “And can you believe who our professor is?” She flashes me a conspiratorial grin, continuing, lowering her voice. “I mean, who would have thought? I wonder if anyone else knows what he’s been doing in his off time?”
My gaze darts to Blake, whose brow furrows, my eyes widening as they bounce back to Lily with a slight shake of my head. I know there’s no way she could have any knowledge of what happened between Xander and I over the summer, but I also don’t feel it’s right for us to discuss his personal life so openly.
“Definitely something to talk about later?” I half-whisper, hoping she gets my drift.
“Definitely.” She smiles demurely. “I should go sit before class starts, but let’s get lunch or a coffee sometime, yeah?”
“I’d love that.” I smile, happy to be making some friends on campus.
She gives a small wave before walking away. “Nice to officially meet you, Blake.”
He gives her a head nod, then turns to me. “Your hair looks cute up like that.” He blurts out of left field, fumbling with a pencil. “So, um, since you’re here, I was won-“
“Good morning, class.” Blake is effectively cut off as Xander, Professor Walker , strolls into the room, tossing a leather bag onto the desk as he continues to the podium. “Who’s ready for some fun?”
Half the girls in the room giggle in response, but my face remains a mask of steel as I return the stare he has focused on me. What in the actual hell? Didn’t he just lecture me on being professional three days ago? He thinks he can toss out a seemingly casual remark like that, which I know is laced with innuendo? I should be used to these games of his. The hot and cold vibes he can’t seem to gather under his self-control. Unbelievable.
He flashes the tiniest of smirks, then shifts his focus to scan the rest of the room, launching into a lecture about how physics impact our everyday lives. I’m only half listening, my mind wrestling with how to handle Xander’s frustrating behavior. Blake taps me on the arm and I frown, turning to face him.
“The professor asked you a question.” He hisses under his breath.
I swing my head to the front of the room. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”
His eyes are laser focused on mine; his mouth set in a firm line as he steps out from behind the podium to walk closer to me. “No, I’m sorry. Are we boring you, Ms. Knight?”
A tingle sweeps up the back of my neck, every hair rising when he stops directly in front of me, dread pooling in my belly as I gape at him.
“Cat got your tongue?” His gaze flicks down to my mouth for just an instant before darting back to my eyes. “Perhaps you think you’re still on summer break in that outfit.” His lips purse as he openly scans me from head to toe.
Guess I chose the right outfit. The devil on my shoulder stomps with glee. Somehow, I find my voice and stutter out a response. “No, no. I’m sorry.”
Before I can say more, he cuts me off. “Stop saying you’re sorry.” He shoots me a piercing glare. “The question was, which form of energy do you think is more powerful; potential or kinetic?”
“Well, I, ah, think it would depend upon specific scenario’s, sir.” My fingers fidget with the corner of my laptop as I wait to see if he’s going to interrupt me again. He arches a brow with a tilt of his head, so I continue. “Kinetic energy is due to an object having motion. But what that motion is can determine how much or what kind of energy. A rollercoaster that is climbing up, instead of down will obviously have much more energy at the bottom of its path. Whereas, potential energy is based upon position, state or arrangement changes. When changed the amount of energy stored is released, which in some cases are the results of kinetic energy.”
I stop here, looking to him for a reaction. He continues to stare at me for what feels like forever, my heart dancing a tango as I attempt to maintain a calm fa?ade. The corners of his eyes crinkle as he assesses me, before finally, finally, turning on his heel to stride back to the podium.
“Very good, Ms. Knight.” He spins around, his gaze on me for only an instant, before he addresses the class again. “Anyone want to argue that point?” Hands raise around the room, and the focus is finally off of me.
“Holy shit.” Blake whispers, leaning closer to me. “Good recovery, Summer.”
“You think?” I mumble back, shaking my head in disbelief that anything about that interaction could be construed as good. Thankfully, the rest of the class is uneventful, at least in terms of me being put on the spot. I don’t waste a single second when class is dismissed, scooping my laptop into my bag before practically sprinting out of the room, not leaving an opportunity for Xander to make contact with me in any way.
“Summer.” I hear my name being called as I exit through the door, but don’t stop, fearing the worst, and not wanting to confront it. Him. The man who still haunts me nightly in my dreams, and now my days.
“Hey.” A hand clamps around my bicep as I slip out the building doors into the freedom of fresh air and space. I whirl around, expecting to come face to face with Xander, my features softening when instead my gaze lands on Blake.
“Oh, it’s you.” I breathe out, unable to mask the relief I feel.
“Who else would it be?” I’m met with a frown. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes.” The corners of my mouth tug up to form what I hope is a convincing smile. “Just have some things on my mind.”
He realizes he’s still holding my arm, and releases it, nodding his head, I think to placate my response. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.” I confirm, forcing a wider grin. “What’s up? Did you need something?” Other students brush by us as they exit the building, so I motion for him to move over to the lawn area, out of the way of traffic.
“Uh, yeah, so I was wondering if you were busy tomorrow night?” His cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink. “If maybe you wanted to get a drink, or maybe some dinner?”
“Are you asking me on a date?” I clarify, because honestly, I’m not very experienced in this area.
He chuckles, running a hand over his mouth, then replies sheepishly. “Whatever makes you more comfortable. If not a date, then it’s just us hanging out on a Saturday night.”
My eyes widen as I’m unable to hide my surprise. “Well, I’m supposed to meet my cousin, Serena, for dinner tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay.” His foot scuffing the grass, his head tilting down as I notice his disappointment.
“But, um, maybe we could meet you somewhere after for a drink? Our reservation is at seven, so it will still be fairly early when we finish up.” I offer in an attempt of consolation.
His eyes light up as they meet mine. “That sounds like a great idea.”
“Okay.” I nod, smiling. “Let me see what’s in the area around the restaurant and I’ll text you an address. Probably be around nine?”
“Perfect.” His grin growing even wider. We exchange cell numbers, and then Blake hurries off, explaining he’s got another class to get to.
I watch him walk away, then shove my phone in my bag, slinging it over my shoulder, my attention shifting to a lone figure standing just outside the doors of the building. He’s as still as a statue, his face an unreadable mask of stone, his eyes focused entirely on me. I glower back, my physical being frozen in place, my mind racing with a million thoughts. I wait a full minute and then take a step in his direction, his response an immediate shake of his head before he swivels to storm back into the building.
What in the actual hell?