Page 8 of Perfect Professor

“Admit it. You’re falling for your professor.”

Adrianna opened her mouth, then closed it. How could she deny what was so obvious? Somewhere along the line, her desire for that one-night-stand had shifted into something far more dangerous.

Far more precious.

She drew in a sharp breath. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.” Her words were raw, confusion and longing twisting within her chest. “Being with him felt so right.”

“Oh, honey.” Sympathy softened Tiffany’s eyes. She reached over, grasping Adrianna’s hand. “Wanting someone and being with them are two different things. No matter how strong the attraction is.”

“But what if it’s more than that?” Adrianna clutched at her friend’s hand, needing the anchor of her support. “What if he’s the one?”

“He’s your teacher,” Tiffany said. “No matter how you feel about each other, that fact won’t change. And it will always make the situation wrong.”

Adrianna stared at their joined hands, her chest tight. She knew Tiffany was right. Knew she should end this now before her heart was shattered into pieces too small to ever be made whole again.

But how was she supposed to let Mickey go when she’d only just found him?

Adrianna shook her head, blinking back the sting of tears. “I don’t know if I can do that. Forget him, I mean. It’s not like I’m in my twenties. I’m a grown ass woman.”

“You have to try.” Tiffany gave her hand a squeeze. “Before this goes too far and you end up getting hurt. Or worse, hurting your future and his career.”

“It already feels too late for that.” Adrianna drew in a shuddering breath. “I’m falling for him, Tiff. Hard and fast. And the thought of never being with him again...” she trailed off, unable to put that bleak possibility into words.

“Adrianna, listen to me.” Tiffany shifted closer, her gaze intent. “You’re young, you’re caught up in the rush of a forbidden romance. But this isn’t real. It’s infatuation and fantasy, not the forever kind of love you’re dreaming about.”

“How can you be so sure?” Adrianna demanded. “You don’t know how I feel about him. You don’t know Mickey the way I do.”

“Because he’s your teacher,” Tiffany said again. “And a relationship with him will only end in heartbreak for you both. Is that really what you want?”

Adrianna stared at the ground, a war of emotions raging inside her. She wanted to cling to her blossoming love for Mickey, to the hope of a future together. But she couldn’t escape the truth in Tiffany’s words.

This was impossible. No matter how much her heart wished for a different ending.

“You’re right,” she said at last, the words scraping her throat. “As much as it kills me to admit it, you’re right.”

Tiffany reached over and squeezed her hand. “I know how hard this is. But you’re making the right choice. It’s the mature, responsible thing to do.”

Adrianna nodded, blinking back her tears. “I just wish...I wish things could be different. That the timing was right, and we didn’t have so many obstacles in our way.”

“Life is rarely that simple, sweetie.” Tiffany’s smile was gentle and knowing. “But there are other guys out there. Ones who you won’t have to hide your relationship from or feel guilty about seeing.”

“I know,” Adrianna said again with a sigh. “It’s just going to be difficult facing Mickey in classs. How am I supposed to pretend that nothing ever happened between us?”

“The same way you’ve gotten through difficult things in the past.” Tiffany bumped her shoulder. “With your head held high and that inner strength of yours. It may be awkward at first, but it will get easier. The hurt will fade, and you’ll be able to move on to find someone who can commit to you fully.”

Adrianna stared up at the cloudless blue sky, the sun warm on her face. She wanted to believe there was truth in Tiffany’s words. That she could get over Mickey and this heartbreak and eventually find happiness again.

Maybe not today, or even next month. But she had hope for the future, however fragile. And for now, that would have to be enough.

6

Adrianna swirled the dark red liquid in her glass, the aroma of cherries and oak wafting up to her. She sank into the plush cushions of her sofa and let out a slow breath, her eyes drifting shut. This was harder than she thought, and even though her best friend had told her to stop thinking about him. It wasn’t that easy.

A sudden urge pulsed through her, an urge she’d felt many times before but always resisted. Her fingers tightened around the stem of the glass as a vision of Mickey Hanks flashed in her mind. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the low timbre of his voice, the feel of his hands sliding up her thighs...

Her eyes snapped open and she sat up straight, shaking her head. No. She couldn’t give in to these desires. It was unethical. But god, she wanted him. Needed him. Her phone lay on the coffee table, taunting her, daring her to reach for it.

She bit her lip, torn between her craving for the forbidden and her duty to do what was right. The war raged inside her, heating her blood until she thought she might burst into flames.

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