Page 28 of Oops, My Professor Got Me Pregnant!

Nico walked Lauren to the door, where she put on her shoes then straightened up and smiled at him.

“Good night, then.”

“Good night.” Nico smiled down at her and they both paused, just looking at each other. Lauren’s blue eyes were very wide and her cheeks had that slight pink flush that Nico remembered from their first day together. He wanted badly to kiss her. Those pink lips looked so soft and Nico could remember only too well how intoxicating it had felt to kiss her, like the whole world stood still for them.

But they’d only just reconciled and Nico didn’t want to push Lauren into anything she wasn’t interested in. So he just smiled at her, then reached for the door to let her out. As he turned, she lifted onto her tiptoes and pressed a quick, soft kiss to Nico’s cheek. Then she slipped out the door and disappeared into the warm spring night.

Nico stood in the doorway for a moment as she walked away, her long legs on display under her skirt, her hair looking like a waterfall down her back, then closed the door slowly and leaned against it. He and Lauren had agreed to take things slow, but all Nico wanted to do was take her into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless.

Instead, he went into the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea. Then he went back to the living room and sat on the couch, lost in thoughts of Lauren and hopes for their future.

For the first time in a long time, Nico felt optimistic about his dating life. Maybe, just maybe, things were really going to work out this time. Maybe he could balance being a father and having a romantic life at the same time.

CHAPTER 11

NICO

The next morning, Louis woke bright and early and ready for a day of school. He told Nico, in excited bursts between bites of cereal, that he needed to write a story for his French class and that he was going to write about Lauren.

“You only just met her,” Nico pointed out. “What exactly are you going to write?”

Louis rolled his eyes, looking for a moment very much like the teenager he would eventually become.

“It doesn’t have to be a real story, Papa. I’m going to write about how you and Lauren and I travel back in time to save a special dinosaur egg.”

“That sounds like a very exciting story,” Nico said. He took a sip of his coffee. He would need it for the day ahead.

“Yeah.” Louis looked proud of himself. “I think it will be. When’s Lauren coming over next?”

“I’m not sure, kiddo. Probably not for a little while.” Louis looked disappointed, and Nico tried to pretend that he didn’t feel the same way. He would have loved to have Lauren over again as soon as possible, even tonight, but he felt that he needed to give her space and time. Plus, they’d agreed only yesterday to take things slow, and a second date in two days wasn’t exactly slow.

“Man.” Louis shook his head sadly.

“I know, bud.” Nico ruffled his son’s hair. “Now go get dressed, or we’re going to be late for school.”

As Louis ran upstairs to switch out his pajamas for his school uniform, Nico took another sip of his coffee. If he were being honest with himself, the fact that his son was just as enamored with Lauren as he was felt like a good sign.

Although it was also a sign that Nico needed to be careful. If both he and his son were head over heels for Lauren already, and she changed her mind about wanting to be in a relationship, it would hurt both of them. This was one of the main reasons Nico had steered clear of relationships for the past few years — along with the fact that he had no time.

Nico’s phone beeped with a message, and he set down his coffee to check it. The message was from Lauren.

I had a nice time last night.

Nico smiled and wrote back.

Me too. Would you like to meet up after classes? Louis will be at soccer practice and I know a good hot chocolate place a few blocks from campus.

Apparently, all it took was one message from Lauren for him to drop all his concerns about taking things too quickly. At least they’d be meeting without Louis, which was probably best for now. Nico waited, phone in hand, for Lauren’s reply.

Sure! My last class ends at four.

Nico grinned as he tapped out a reply. He felt like a teenager glued to his phone, checking for new messages. He and Lauren texted back a few more times, agreeing on a time and place to meet and swapping a few jokes. With great effort, Nico managed to put his phone away when Louis came back downstairs, dressed and with his backpack on. They walked together to Louis’s school while the young boy shared more of his story ideas. At drop-off, they hugged goodbye and Nico checked his phone again as Louis ran inside. There was another message from Lauren asking about a French word she’d heard that morning. Grinning, Nico texted back.

The rest of the day was spent alternately teaching and checking his phone between classes for more messages from Lauren. Nico knew that he was already breaking his plans of taking things slow, but the feeling of texting with Lauren was too wonderful to stop.

After his last class, Nico had another half an hour before Lauren would be ready for their date, so he returned to his office to grade a few papers. This wasn’t his favorite part of his job, and he found it even more difficult to concentrate today than usual. Finally, his watch showed that it was time to meet Lauren, and Nico made his way to the quad where they’d agreed to meet.

Lauren looked as lovely as ever today. She was wearing a pair of black slacks and a blue button-up blouse, and her hair was pulled back with a clip.

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