Page 33 of My Forbidden Professor

There’s so much I haven’t told Jacob.

“Steph, are you okay?” Adeline says.

I blink back into the moment. “Yes! Yes of course. I just…” I suck in a breath. Now is not the time to be talking about me. “Did you tell Maddy?”

“She came up with the idea! I want the both of you standing there with me making the biggest promise of my life.”

I love the excitement in her voice and I hate to be the one who might stifle it, but there’s no option. “Photographers?”

“David has organized his usual photographer. The wedding is closed to the public. We’ll take some photos that will be released, but you don’t have to be in them. You’ll be safe, Steph. I promise.” If anyone could understand my request for privacy, it would be her. They obviously spoke about it before she asked me. Dad has used the same family photographer for a decade and pays the guy to keep our photos private. Not one has leaked in the ten years he’s been our go-to guy.

“You’ve thought of everything,” I say.

“Please say yes. Pleeaassseeee? You’re one of the most important people in my life and I want you there,” Adeline says.

I laugh. “You couldn’t stop me now if you wanted to. I’m in.”

“She said yes!” I have to remove the cell from my ear when Adeline squeals in delight. I hear footsteps as she does a happy dance.

“Hey sweetie, I’m glad we found a way to include you.” Dad’s voice speaks in my ear and I’m overwhelmed with a wave of homesickness. I wish I was there in the kitchen, jumping around like an idiot with them.

I blink away sudden tears. “Me too.”

“Tell her the other news,” Adeline says in the background.

My mind goes to ten different places at once when she says that. “Am I going to have a brand-new brother or sister?”

Dad chuckles. Chuckles. Adeline really is good for him. “Nothing like that. We’re just bringing the wedding forward.”

“Oh, how forward?”

“Well, the Rainbow Room called us with a cancellation. We can have the ceremony in two weeks if we say yes. Are you free?” he says.

“Two weeks?” My mind stutters. “That’s…so soon.”

“The Rainbow Room will be booked for a year after that if we don’t take it,” David says. “I know it’s not the most convenient, but Adeline has her heart set on it, as well as you being there with us.”

“Two weeks it is, then,” I say. I won’t be the reason they have to wait a year. The Rainbow Room is a popular space and I know how competitive it is to get a date there. Even for someone like my dad.

“I’m glad, sweetheart. I’m looking forward to it. Just come a day early to get fitted for the dress. We’ll have everything else arranged for you,” Dad says. “I haven’t heard if you caught up with Daniel? I sent him there on your recommendation. I know it’s mid-term, but a donation paved the way to get him in. He’ll have a bit of catching up to do, but he seems happy enough to put the work in. It is for his career, after all. I hope he’s seen you to thank you, at the very least.”

Anndddd the feel-good vanishes as though it never existed.

I slump back against the counter edge and the barbed wire ball materializes in my gut. I almost choke on my words but I spit them out anyway. “Um, yeah. I’ve seen him and he did. Thanks for everything you’re doing for him, Dad.”

My face scrunches at the long pause. “You know you can tell me if anything is wrong. Doesn’t matter where I am, or who I’m with. You’re my daughter and always a priority.”

“Is something wrong?” I hear Adeline in the background.

I push down a hot wave that gushes up my throat and makes my vision watery. I fucking hate lying to them. But there’s no way I can tell Dad. No way he can ever see those photos of me. No way I want him to know about the years I’ve been lying to him about Daniel. “The two of you need to stop worrying. Nothing is wrong. I just stubbed my toe when I was dancing when you asked me to be bridesmaid and I didn’t want to tell you I’d hurt myself. Now off you go and do some wedding-y things. I’m sure you’re overwhelmed with the change of date. I’ll be back home two weeks Friday to see you both. Love you, bye!”

I hang up and spin around when Jacob speaks. “You’re going to be a bridesmaid?” Jacob walks into the kitchen, our bags in hand and places them on the floor. He grins apologetically. “I didn’t mean to be nosy but I couldn’t help but overhear.”

His snug shirt reveals well-defined muscles and relaxed fit jeans show off his lean thighs. I set my cell down on the counter top, step toward him and wrap my arms around his waist, needing the warmth only he can provide. “Yes, my father is getting married and his fiancée just asked me to be her bridesmaid.”

“That’s great news.” He beams down at me, but his smile falters when he sees whatever it is on my face. “Isn’t it?”

“Of course it is! It’s a surprise, that’s all. I call Dad’s fiancée a friend. They’ve just brought the timeline forward because of a venue cancellation.” I hope my smile is convincing when in reality I’m still caught up in Dad’s admission that he made a donation to the university on Daniel’s behalf. I only hope it ended up with the university, and not in Daniel’s bank account. I’m sure it would have been substantial.

---