Page 23 of Bad Professor

I’m getting better. I’m only slightly nervous about the first of my classes starting next week. And look at me—it wasn’t my vibrator who gave me multiple orgasms last night. I put myself out there, and into bed with someone.

I still want to tell Carlos what happened but that’s such a bad idea that it’s laughable. It’s like I have a secret surprise and I can’t wait to share. Only, who am I supposed to share this with?

Definitely not my ex-husband. Or my children.

“I’m taking a course on the history of fantasy literature,” I tell Carlos and am rewarded with his smirk. He’s never been supportive of my interests, but I’ve always loved fantasy and science fiction, and now that romantasy is such a big thing in the world of literature, I look forward to reading even more.

I spend a lot of time reading when the girls are with Carlos.

I spend a lot of time alone when the girls are with Carlos.

Except for last night. I wasn’t alone last night.

That makes me smile so much that Carlos demands to know what’s so funny.

“Nothing,” I tell him. “See you next week.”

13

Dexter

After I leave Tilly, I get a couple of hours of sleep before I’m on a private plane on the way to see Nick in Cincinnati.

I focus my attention on him, not the woman I left sleeping last night.

What did Tilly think when she woke up and found I’d left? Would she call? Will I ever see her again?

Nick, I remind myself as we enter the hospital.

My friend’s wrist is broken and needs surgery. He’s obviously in pain, and tries to rally some of his good humour when he sees us, but there’s a bitter anger underneath it all. The season is over for him, and depending how he recovers, the injury might possibly end his career.

I hope not. The mysteries of the English language have always been it for me, but for Nick, it’s baseball. He loves the sport more than anything.

I really hope he can come back from this.

We made it to the hospital first thing, visited with Nick until he was tired and his comebacks became more snaps than jests. We left him to have a nap, went for lunch, and brought something back for him. And then we flew home.

Private planes are a first for me, but it’s a nice way to travel.

“He’ll be okay,” Cady says on the flight home. She’s been Max’s girlfriend for almost six months and I’ve never seen my friend happier. It might also be the fact that he quit his job working for his father and now calls Cady his boss, as well as the love of his life.

She’s a billionaire who owns clubs and a cool resort in Muskoka, among other things. She can hire anyone she wants. They work well together.

“I don’t know,” Max frets.

“He’s pretty bleak,” I add, meeting Max’s worried eyes.

“Because he’s an athlete who’s been benched,” Cady says, flipping open her laptop. “The team will make sure he has the best surgeon to fix it, and if they don’t, I will.”

“Aw, you’re the best, babe.” Max leans over and kisses her.

Seeing them together like this makes me think of Tilly—again. Which is totally crazy because there is no way one night should have me thinking sweet thoughts about her.

I don’t even know her.

Tilly could be a homicidal maniac who has fake pictures of fake children, and I could be lucky I survived with my life, let alone my penis intact.

Casual hookups aren’t really my thing. Even the students I’ve gotten involved with lead to some sort of relationship. I’ve had one-night stands—I like women and sex too much to rule them out completely—but I prefer commitment. Stability.

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