Page 23 of The Right Kind of Wrong

CHAPTER 8

Evelyn

The next day it was the same routine; Nathan and I arrived at the university together, the tension between us a bit less, or at least it felt that way to me. It may have been that whatever I felt was lessening, or perhaps the fact that Josh and I had been texting nonstop for the past twenty-four hours. Either way, I was thankful for the distraction.

When my first class was over, I still had an hour and a half to spare before meeting Josh for lunch. I ended up walking to the fine arts section of campus, specifically to Nathan's classroom. When I got there, he was sitting on the desk, engaging another student about Michelangelo. I recognized the painting that he showed on the screen from his studio.

I leaned against the doorway, getting the attention of some of his students, none of them dared speak up, though. They were concentrated on the discussion, and more than one girl had dreamy eyes looking at Mr. Nathan Maxwell.

I couldn't blame them.

He looked hot.

Finally, he stood from his desk and I waved, getting his attention. “Evelyn,” he said with surprise.

“Mr. Maxwell,” I said. I wasn't trying to be flirty, not at all, but the way he smirked told me that's exactly how the words came out. “May I take a seat?”

He scratched the back of his head before gesturing for me to sit. I did so at the far end of the classroom where I was still able to study everyone in the room. My gaze kept flying to Nathan though. He hadn't shaved in a few days and the bit of stubble on his face made him that much more handsome.

That wasn't what had everyone so entertained and involved in the discussion though. It was the way he spoke with so much passion about art, the way he looked happy. He didn't have that at home, he didn't have that glimmer in his eyes. He didn't have the freedom to be this easy going.

Nathan dismissed class about half an hour later, leaving us alone. He closed the door to the classroom, crossing his arms over his chest, eyes set on me.

“It's hard to give a lecture when you're here.”

“Why?” I asked, standing up and throwing the backpack over my shoulder. “I think you did well.”

“You're distracting.”

I stopped at the desk across from him, sitting on it before speaking up again. “You look happy here.”

“Happier than at home?”

“Mmhm.”

“I don't have to walk on glass here, don't have to try and avoid arguments.”

I gave him a small smile. “When is your next lecture?”

“Two hours, actually. Do you have class?”

“No, actually I'm heading out for lunch in a little bit.”

“Mind if I join you?”

My eyes widened. For some odd reason, I felt strange letting him know I was going out for lunch with someone else like I was betraying Nathan.

“I'm going with a friend, Josh Nicholson.”

If he was surprised he didn't show it. He cleared his throat, grabbing some paperwork from his desk and placing it inside a folder. “Natalie's son?”

“Yeah. He's in my philosophy class from yesterday.”

Nathan stopped what he was doing, studying me quietly and sighed. “Be careful with him. I've heard things about him.”

“Well, people talk,” I said with furrowed brows. “Just like they talk about your marriage with Hannah, or the way they may talk if they see us alone in this classroom with the door closed.”

His eyes darkened, angry and hurt. “I'm just saying, be careful. You haven't seen him in a while, he may not be the same guy from before.”

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