Chapter Twenty-Five
~Summer~
I ’m nervous walking into class, hoping I can be in the same room with Alex for ninety minutes without making it obvious we spent the weekend in each other’s arms. My steps falter when I spy Lily at our table, sitting in my seat, engrossed in a conversation with Blake, their heads close together.
I had completely forgotten about Blake. Nothing had happened between us last weekend when he joined Serena and I for drinks. In fact, Serena had actually seemed smitten with him, asking me a hundred questions about him since that night. She knew I was ga-ga for Alex, and wouldn’t mind in the least if she threw her hat in the ring where Blake was concerned.
I had spilled all the tea to her last night about the incredible weekend I had with Alex, the sex, sex and more sex, and of course, that he told me he loved me. She was happy for me, but also worried. She wanted to know if he was still working at Temptations, and how I felt about the fact he was an escort. I think she went into temporary shock when I explained how he had stopped working there after his first date with me in June. At least, she was silent for more than three minutes, and that’s a record for her.
I feel strangely light without my laptop. I brought a notebook in case I need it, intending to try and replace my computer later today. Both heads turn and snap to me as I approach.
“Hey guys.” I smile and wiggle my fingers in a greeting. “What’s up?”
“What happened to your cheek?” Blake’s brow draws together, concern in his voice.
“Oh.” I cover my bruise with my hand, almost having forgotten about it. “I was mugged Friday night.”
“Mugged?” He repeats, shock evident on his features. “Where? What happened?”
“I was stupid.” I attempt to wave away his worry. “I went down an alley near my building when I was leaving the library. I should have known better. But they stole my bag. I lost my laptop, my ID and my keys.”
“They hit you?” This time it’s Lily asking the question.
I nod, frowning. “Kicked me in the ribs for good measure too.”
“Guess you won’t be going down any more dark alleys again, huh?” Lily jokes, although no one laughs.
“Uh, yeah, probably not.” I stammer, then change the subject. “So, what were you two whispering about?”
“You haven’t heard?” Lily taunts, sneering with a shake of her head.
“No…” I place my elbows on the table to lean closer to them. “Tell me.”
“Professor Walker got fired.” She gloats, like it’s the best news in the world. The world that just completely tilted on its axis as I digest her news.
“What?” I brace the edge of the table to hold myself steady. “Why? How do you know this?”
“Tim told me this morning.” She states like it should be the most obvious thing in the world.
“Tim, the professor’s assistant?” I clarify.
“Yep.” She smacks her lips together on the ‘p’.
“Why would he tell you?” I blurt out, still not believing what she’s sharing with us.
She rolls her eyes, snorting. “Because I’m sleeping with him, and happened to be in his bed this morning when Vice President Johnson called and asked him to take over the professor’s classes.”
My mouth hangs wide, my stomach clenching in fear at her proclamation.
“Tim said something about an inappropriate relationship.” Lily stares at me, a glint of something I can’t put my finger on lurking under the surface. Is she referring to his job as an escort? She’s alluded to it in the past, and we all joked about it during my aunt and uncle’s party over the summer.
I need to call Alex. I grab my phone out of my back pocket noting he hasn’t called or texted this morning. I rub my stomach and make a sour face.
“I’m actually not feeling that great. I think I’m going to skip class if the professor isn’t going to be here.”
Lily’s brow shoots up. “You know he’s not going to be back, right? He was fired .”
“Yeah, I heard you the first time, Lily.” I scowl, trying to figure out what her game is.
“Uh-huh.” She murmurs, her eyes narrowing as she watches me walk away.
“I’ll see you guys later.” I call over my shoulder, my head spinning over Lily’s news. As soon as I’m outside, I hit Alex’s number. Of course, it goes straight to voicemail. I send a text asking him to call me as soon as possible.
The locksmith was supposed to change my locks this morning, so I decide to go to my building to see if it’s been done. Even though it’s only been a few days, not having my things, or being in my own space has been disorienting.
Finally, luck is on my side, and the locksmith is just finishing up when I arrive. The building manager is with him, and hands over my new keys. I thank them and then enter my room, bolting the new lock behind me, finally feeling some sense of peace.
I try calling Alex again, but still don’t get an answer. I’m about to plug my phone in to the charger when it dings in my hand. Relief floods over me, expecting it to be Alex, disappointment washing over me when I see it’s a text from a number I don’t recognize.
I swipe the message, my knees turning to jelly as I collapse onto the bed, tingles zinging over every surface of my skin as I absorb what I’m seeing.
Looks like Summer is just starting for Professor Walker
There are over a dozen pictures of us from the weekend, all of them of us having sex. My stomach rolls with nausea, my body flushing red hot as wheezing breaths puff out of me, tears begin to fall in a steady stream down my face. Who would do this to us? Before I can form another thought, my phone rings.
I gasp in relief when it’s Alexander’s name. I swipe to answer, stuttering a hello between gulps. “Summer?” Concern evident in his voice. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, attempting to form words an impossible task. “I--, pictures--, text?—”
“Where are you, baby?” His voice soothing. “Tell me where you are so I can come to you.”
“My room.” I manage between sobs.
“I’m coming.” He barks into the phone. “Ten minutes. Hold on for ten minutes.”
I can’t stop scrolling through the photos. There are over a dozen. Someone was watching us? All weekend? Panic seizes me as I wonder if these were sent to anyone else. I can’t seem to catch my breath between my heart racing and my crying.
I jump as a fist pounds against my door. “Summer, it’s me!” Alex shouts from the other side. I run to the door, yanking it open after I unlock it.
I’m in his arms a second later, cocooned in his warmth, in the stead-fast safety of him. He holds me, easing us into my room, shutting the door with a kick of his foot, calming me with kind words until my sobbing subsides.
“Look.” I shove my phone at him, my body still trembling.
“I’ve seen them, baby.” He takes my phone and sets it on the table.
“What?” I exclaim, a new wave of anxiety striking. “Did you get the text as well?”
“No.” He guides me to the bed, wrapping an arm around me as we sit. “Someone sent them to the head of my department.” He gives a slight shake of his head. “Anonymously of course.”
I twist to face him, a hiccup escaping through my nerves. “I heard you got fired.”
“Actually, I resigned.” He clarifies. “But news sure travels fast.”
“Wait, you resigned?” My hands reach for his. “Alex…”
“It’s fine.” He assures me. “I’ll fill you in more on that later.” He brushes a kiss to my forehead. “Let’s just worry about you right now.”
“What are we going to do?” I inhale a deep breath trying to steady my voice.
“I’ve already got a team on it.” His fingers brush the loose tears still falling over my cheeks. “What I’m trying to figure out is how anyone could have even known we were in Block Island. Did you tell anyone?”
I sniffle, dragging my knuckles across the bottom of my nose. “I mean, I sent a text to Serena Saturday morning. I told her about the mugging and that you were going to take me to Block Island for the weekend.” I swing my gaze up to his. “But Alex, she wouldn’t do this!”
“But could she have told anyone else?” He wonders out loud.
The thought hits me like a lightning bolt. The one person who seemed entirely too smug and not surprised at all over Alex’s firing. “Lily.” I hiss out.
“Who?” Alex’s brow furrows.
“Lily. She’s in your physic’s class. And she’s friends with Serena.” I purse my lips, my mind racing as I recall each conversation we’ve had. Her obsession with Alex and his job at Temptations.
“Call Serena.” He grabs my phone and hands it to me. “Ask her if she told anyone.”
I do as he requests, my stomach plummeting when she admits she had drinks with Lily on Friday night. When I tell her what’s happening, more than a few expletives spew from her. “She kept bragging about how she was sleeping with Tim, and how the professor was next on her hit list.” She lets out a gasp. “This is all my fault, Summer. I got so angry when she claimed she was going to add him to her body count, I blurted out that she had no chance because he was seeing you.” She lets out a huff of distress. “I am so sorry! I had no idea she would ever do anything like this.”
“I know, Serena.” My lips turn down as I stare across at Alex who’s listening to our conversation silently. “You couldn’t have known.”
“What can I do to fix this? I need to do something. Besides kick her ass of course.” She declares angrily.
“Nothing right now.” I sigh, my mind reeling with all the information it’s trying to process. “I need to talk to Alex and figure things out. I’ll call you later?”
“Please. Let me know if you need anything.” She pleads, offering another apology as we hang up.
“I’m sorry, Alex.” New tears springing to my eyes as I realize this is all my fault. If I hadn’t shared our secret with Serena, none of this would be happening.
“Don’t you dare apologize.” He cups my cheeks, peppering kisses against my nose and then my lips. “This is not your fault.”
My phone dings alerting me of a new mail message, and my stomach plummets in fear. I open my email, scan the new message and turn my phone to Alex. “It’s from the dean. They want to see me at two today.”
“You’ll be fine.” His lips purse in a tight line. “You’ll be getting a written warning and nothing more.”
My brow scrunches. “How do you know that?”
“Because it was part of the deal I made with them. I resign, and will leave quietly, as long as you are allowed to continue with your classes without any further punishment.”
“No!” I jump to my feet. “I am not going to let you ruin your career for me!”
“I’m resigning.” He rises to stand next to me, wrapping a hand around the back of my neck as he captures my gaze. “No mark against my record. I can go work anywhere else I want.” His head falls back on his shoulders as he exhales, then looks at me again. “Honestly, I’m so fucking bored with teaching. This gives me an opportunity to decide if I want to work at my family’s company, or travel, or just hang out and be your boy toy.” One side of his mouth kicks up in a sexy grin.
“You don’t have to do this for me.” I breathe out, stepping into his body, hugging my arms around his chest.
“I’m not.” He plants a kiss on the top of my head. “It’s for me, and probably long overdue.” He tilts his head to look me in the eye. “But Summer, just to be clear, I would set the world on fire for you.”
“It kind of feels like it’s already burning.” I murmur, shrugging my shoulders.
“Nah.” He grins. “This is nothing but a little hot spot.” He gives me a quick peck. “Do you know the best part of all?”
“There’s something good in this?” I marvel at his optimism.
“I’m not your professor anymore.” His cheeks lift as he flashes me a broad smile.
“Oh.” I exclaim as he lowers me to the bed, realization dawning.
“No more rules.” He declares, spending the next thirty minutes enjoying his new found freedom.