Page 12 of Filthy Professor

“So all illusion?”

He scoffed. “It’s an art.”

“It’s a lie,” I said, the familiar fight a welcome reprieve from talking about Kat.

“It’s art,” JJ said, taking a sip of his coffee. “So, how was it? I’m going to assume you banged the reporter, so you don’t even need to say it. After all that difficulty, though, you went and had a one-night stand anyway?”

I scoffed. “It was more than that.”

“Sex with a stranger’s rarely anything else.”

“You’re such a cynic.”

JJ raised an eyebrow. “And you’re looking for something serious after being married for so long? Didn’t that mess you up enough? Don’t you want a break?”

I sighed. JJ didn’t get it, and I wasn’t sure he ever would. “She’s different. She’s actually into archaeology.”

He hummed. “Well, that is a huge point in her favor.”

“Except that she ran right after we . . .”

He chuckled. “Aww, you were that bad, hey?”

“Oh, shut up,” I said, frowning, but I was soon laughing with him. Taking a deep breath, I checked my phone. “Well, as stimulating as this conversation was, I have to go.”

“The girl?” JJ said as I pushed up from the table.

I nodded. “We have a time to finish the interview this morning, and then I have a surprise for her that hopefully makes a difference in things.”

“Good luck, man,” he said, saluting me with his mug, and I nodded, then headed out back into the warm weather and to my apartment. Turning my sound on, I waited for Kat to call, but as nine o’clock turned into 9:20, I had doubts about whether I’d hear from her at all, and I had to be at the university by half past ten.

Chapter 9

Kat

With my head throbbing, I blinked my eyes open to sunlight streaming through the window. Covering my eyes, I recalled the night before, with my sister, shots, and Elvis. It had turned into a multi-movie marathon complete with too much whiskey. Groaning, I flipped away from the window and closed my eyes as Emma burst into my bedroom.

“Damn it, Em. Don’t you ever knock? My head is killing me.”

“Good morning to you too, sunshine. I thought you might like to know you’re late for your call. I just woke up,” Emma said, plopping down onto the bed next to me.

I cringed as it bounced. “Please don’t shake me.” Her words took a moment to register. “Oh, shit!” I said, grabbing my phone off my nightstand. Ten o’clock?

Me: I’m so sorry, Harrison. Elvis marathon with my sister got a little crazy last night. Can you still talk?

I got up and made a beeline for the kitchen with Emma hot on my heels, and she rounded the kitchen island to start coffee. As it brewed, its gurgling was the only sound to fill the room. “Nothing?” she asked, breaking the silence.

Shaking my head, which only pissed it off worse, I sat down on one of the stools. “No, but he has his class in a little bit.”

Emma hummed, pouring me some coffee as my phone vibrated on the island. I grabbed it.

Jamie: I need your story in my email by noon.

My mouth dropped open, and I typed my reply.

Me: It’s not ready yet. I have follow-up questions I need to ask him first.

“Shit. Jamie wants the story now,” I mumbled before taking a sip of my coffee.

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