Chapter 2
Z oey glanced up at the clock for what felt like the tenth time since the class had begun two hours earlier. It was her last class of the day, but she was already tired from a long first day.
Evan had driven her to school that morning.
She’d insisted that he didn’t have to, but it wasn’t too far out of the way from work and Zoey did feel like a large ball of nerves so she appreciated being able to relax on the half hour drive to school.
After he let her out at the front of her school, Zoey got a sweet kiss from Evan before he drove off.
Zoey felt like a little fish in the big blue ocean as she walked with the other students into the school.
Her first class was at nine in the morning and she was feeling pretty good after it.
It was meant to be an intro class to nursing so she felt confident that she would do well.
Her second class was at noon and had a lab portion right after it.
That one looked a lot more difficult. They would be learning about different medications and how to give shots.
The professor warned them that there would be a lot of quizzes and memorizing.
Zoey was feeling a lot less confident about that one.
Zoey was racing out the door seconds after the professor released them for the day.
She was exhausted but couldn’t help the little hop in her step as she hurried out of the building toward the parking lot where Evan was supposed to meet her.
She squeaked when she ran straight into a male chest. Her bag and books went hurtling onto the pavement.
“Zoey!”
Zoey blinked and looked up from her spot on the ground to see Evan looking down at her with concern all over his face. His lab coat flew up behind him as he dashed toward her and lowered himself to look into her eyes.
“Evan,” Zoey said in a daze, shaking her head to clear it. “I thought you were going to meet me at the parking lot.”
Evan effortlessly helped her off the ground and after making sure she wasn’t injured, bent to pick up her bag and books. He smiled apologetically at the students that stepped around them. After stuffing Zoey’s books into her bag, Evan shouldered it before putting his free arm around her.
“You need to be more careful,” he scolded as they walked. “Why were you in such a hurry, anyway?”
Zoey grinned up at him sheepishly. “It was a long day,” she said. “I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.” She frowned then. “You didn’t answer my question. Weren’t we supposed to meet in the parking lot?”
It was Evan’s turn to look sheepish. “Yes, but I thought it would be more fun to surprise you. ”
Zoey’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know where my class was?”
Evan chuckled. “I’m keeping track of your classes, remember? That includes which buildings they’re in and at what time they start and finish.”
Zoey blushed, feeling like a child at the extent Evan was going through to make sure she did well in school. “You don’t have to go that far, y’know,” she muttered.
Evan smiled before ducking his head so he could kiss her forehead. “I will go as far as I need to so that you succeed,” he said. He squeezed her a little as they walked. “But if I ever make you feel uncomfortable, you need to let me know and I’ll back off a bit. Deal?”
They were approaching the car now. Zoey looked up at Evan in surprise as he opened the door for her. “You’d really back off if I asked you to?” It was obvious in her voice that she didn’t believe him.
“No,” he admitted. “Not completely, but if you were truly uncomfortable, I would find a way to compromise with you.”
They decided to stop at one of their favorite restaurants on the way back. Zoey was starving and swung her legs happily in the booth as she ate her shrimp fettuccine.
“How was your first day?” Evan asked her. He asked it casually, but Zoey could hear the weight behind it.
She set her fork down. “It was fine,” she said. She couldn’t stop the grimace that spread over her face. “I’m really nervous. It looks like the classes are gonna be pretty hard. I hope I can keep up. ”
Evan reached across the table to put a hand over hers. “You’re going to do great,” he reassured her. Determination stole over his features. “I’m going to make sure of it.”
Zoey looked around the semi-crowded restaurant nervously, sensing the direction this conversation was headed. Their booth was in the corner and the other tables around them were empty, but they were still far from alone.
“Can we talk about this later?” she asked in a soft voice.
Evan smirked. “Too embarrassing?”
Zoey’s cheeks colored. “Of course it is,” she said. She looked away from him, down at her plate. “I feel like a child.”
Evan frowned. “You know I don’t see you as a child,” he said. He slid his hand under the table and placed it on her thigh, making her jump a little. His smirk returned. “In fact, I think you are quite grown up.”
Zoey blushed and looked down at her plate. She felt really shy all of a sudden. Evan was staring at her with such intensity. It embarrassed her, but she also felt something else. She felt beautiful and sexy.
“I wanted to take you out to celebrate you officially starting nursing school,” he said.
Zoey grinned at him, a genuine one of thanks. “I really appreciate it, Evan,” she said sincerely.
Evan returned her grin, but then his expression grew serious. “I also wanted to discuss more of what I expect from you during the school semesters.”
“Evan, later, okay?” Zoey almost begged. She started to look around again. The people closest to them weren’t really in hearing distance as long as they kept their voices down, but still. Just the thought of someone overhearing them was extremely embarrassing.
“No one can hear us,” Evan said, as if reading her thoughts. His tone was innocent, but Zoey could see the mischievous light in his eyes. He was enjoying this. He loved to watch her squirm.
“But why can’t this wait until we get home?” she asked in dismay.
Evan’s voice was calm, but he pinned Zoey with a stern look. “I gave it some thought and decided we would have this conversation in public,” he told her. “Since I attempted to talk it out privately with you in the comfort of our home and you almost threw an impressive tantrum.”
Zoey averted her eyes when memories from the night before flooded her mind.
Evan reached across the table to tilt her chin up so she was looking at him again.
“I will be taking on more housework,” he said sternly.
Zoey grit her teeth, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Fine,” she said quietly.
Evan raised an eyebrow. “Keep the attitude up and you’ll be one sorry little girl when I get you home,” he said, raising his voice ever so slightly. He watched in satisfaction when Zoey glanced around again to make sure no one had heard his threat.
“Okay, okay! I’m sorry!” she said quickly. She swallowed hard. “Anything else?” She knew there would be but was still hopeful .
“We’ve already discussed that I’ll also be keeping track of your assignments and tests,” he said. He continued when Zoey nodded stiffly. “We haven’t talked about what will happen if you fail to turn in an assignment or don’t do well on a test.”
Zoey swallowed, but stayed quiet. She began to fiddle with the edge of the tablecloth that hung just above her lap.
“It’s no secret that I’m going to be taking your studies very seriously, Zoey,” he said, eyes darkening. “If you fail to turn in an assignment, I will be punishing you.” For her sake, he lowered his voice a bit at the threat.
Zoey nodded her understanding, her cheeks growing dark. “And the tests?” she murmured.
“Generally, you will be punished for unsatisfactory marks on tests as well,” he said, but then softened his tone slightly as he continued.
“But it will depend on the circumstances. If you do fail a quiz or test, we will sit down and review how much you studied for it as well as the nature of the test and any outside forces that might have caused you to not do well. Then I will make the final judgement to decide if punishment is necessary.”
Zoey listened carefully, her eyes widening. “So, it’s possible that even if I do fail a test, you won’t punish me for it?”
Evan nodded. “Your classes are going to be difficult,” he said. “If I feel like you honestly did your best and you still failed, I will not punish you.”
That was the end of the school conversation, much to Zoey’s relief. She poked at her food for several minutes, lost in thought .
Evan’s eyes didn’t leave her face as he took a sip of Coke. “Zoey, you’ve stopped eating,” he said, his voice laced with concern. “Is your food not good?”
Zoey shook her head. “It’s really good, Evan,” she said in a reassuring tone. A few minutes ago, she had been eating pretty ravenously, but the sudden butterflies in her stomach were making her a bit nauseous. “I just lost my appetite all of a sudden.”
Evan reached over the table and placed the back of his hand on her forehead before stroking her cheek, making Zoey’s eyes flutter shut. “Are you not feeling well?” he asked.
Zoey smiled at him, not wanting him to worry. “I’m fine,” she said.
Evan’s face turned stern then. “Then you need to keep eating, young lady,” he said.
Zoey looked down at her food and grimaced. “Can’t we take it home?”
Evan shook his head. “No, pretty girl,” he said. “You’ve only had a few bites. You were starving when we got here, so you will finish at least half before we leave.”
Zoey stared at him, studying his expression for any signs that she could possibly sway him. The hard creases in his forehead and set in his jaw made her decide the chances of swaying him were very slim. She lifted her fork and ate slowly.
Evan nodded in approval. “Good girl,” he praised.
Zoey blushed again, realizing in shock that she loved it when he said that to her. She wanted to be his good girl. She smiled at him shyly .