Page 35 of Classroom Confessions

David released me and leaned against the biology building. An open window at the end released the scent of formaldehyde into the breeze. David wrinkled his nose and pushed away from the wall. “We can talk on the way back to your office.” Striding past me, he shot a quick look toward where Katrina and Rebecca disappeared amid a crowd of students. “What happened?”

I gave him a quick rundown of Lucas’s behavior, his infiltration into my class, and what I’d seen on the quad.

“Asshole.” David speared a hand through his hair. “You’re sure she’s okay? He’s off campus?”

“I told security to ban him. We don’t need guys like that roaming around.” He never should have made it onto campus to begin with, but men like Lucas had a way of getting what they wanted. But he wouldn’t get Rebecca. I’d make damned sure of that. “You going to tell me how you found us?”

“Saw you go feral on the quad. I couldn’t leave in the middle of my lecture, but I came as soon as I could.”

Feral. That was one way of putting it. I felt absolutely fucking feral. Even thinking about that bastard having his hands on Rebecca sent my thoughts raging until I saw red in the corners of my vision.

“Settle the fuck down.” David pushed me ahead of him, into the building where I’d been a professor my entire tenure here, and guided me into my office. “Sit down.” Without waiting to see if I’d comply, he stalked over to his favorite chair and collapsed into it. “I’m glad you were there to watch over her.”

Cole walked up next. “Saw the commotion on the quad. Everything taken care of?”

“Yeah.” I dropped into my chair and kicked my feet onto the desk. I’d rather go for a run, but I still had another class to teach before the end of the day. Pretending nonchalance might not work on David and Cole, but maybe it would trick my brain into thinking there was nothing to worry about.

“Katrina made some remarks that are concerning.” David motioned for Cole to sit. “What happened with Rebecca?”

“Nothing.” Not nearly as much as I’d wanted.

“Tell us the truth.” David smacked my feet, knocking them to the floor. “What’s the damage? Did Katrina see anything?”

“I don’t know.” I replayed the moment in slow motion, savoring the memory of Rebecca’s arms around me and her lips on mine. “I had my back to the quad. All she could have seen was Rebecca’s arms around my waist.”

“What really happened?” Cole cracked open a bottle of water from my mini fridge, then passed one to David.

I held out my hand and he slapped a bottle onto the desk. “She kissed me.” She kissed me, and now that the box was unlocked, I didn’t think I had the strength to lock it again.

How was this supposed to work? It wasn’t. That was the whole shitty truth of it. No matter how much I wanted her, how deeply I felt about her, none of this worked because it would ultimately ruin her.

Or me. Us. I eyed my two best friends. Romance wasn’t in the cards for us. We’d accepted that a long time ago. Then Rebecca came along and we all fell head over heels. It didn’t make sense. Maybe that was why I dared to risk it.

“You’d better make sure you’re above reproach.” Cole swigged his water. “Katrina’s a vengeful bitch. Even something as common as a hug is enough to send the dean down here again.”

And this time, he wouldn’t be as accommodating since he had a ‘witness’ to my indiscretions.

17

REBECCA

Nerves danced along my spine and sent tingles into my fingertips as I raised my hand to knock on the dean’s office door. I’d been summoned right after my last class of the day, which was the worst time after the day I’d had.

My knock barely sounded before a gruff, “Come in” sent me hurrying into the room. Brown paneled walls, diplomas on display behind the desk, and the older man I’d seen on the website but never in person, sent my good sense scurrying for cover. “Miss Roberts.” Dean Scott stood halfway, one hand to his waist and the other motioning me toward the chair opposite him. “Please sit.”

I did as he ordered because I had no choice, crossing my ankles and tucking my feet under the chair with my bag on my lap. I thought about asking him why I was there, but words stuck in my throat. Katrina’s glee when she questioned me about Ethan came back to me. I’d left her in the dark, refusing to admit to anything, but I knew women like Katrina. Like Lucas, she thrived on chaos and confusion.

“There have been some unfortunate rumors regarding you, Miss Roberts.” Dean Scott resumed his seat with a sigh. “I first brought my concerns to your professors, who all reassured me that your behavior does not match what I’ve been told.”

Really? Which professors had he spoken to? It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I swallowed the need to know. I didn’t dare show too much curiosity.

“An anonymous report came through a few hours ago.” He tapped a single finger on his desk, where a sheet of paper rested upside down. “It says that you were seen in the arms of Professor Halstead.”

Ethan. Oh, fuck. I’d kissed him right before Katrina interrupted us. A desert took up residence in my throat. I tried to clear the dryness, but my voice still squeaked when I spoke. “I’d just suffered a terrible ordeal on the quad. Did you hear about that?” Maybe I could divert him. “My ex stalked me onto campus, then tried to make me leave with him. Professor Halstead interfered.” I didn’t have to feign the quaver in my voice. “I hugged him once I knew I was safe. I was terrified that Lucas wouldn’t leave and wanted to thank Professor Halstead. It was a mistake to hug him, I know that, but I was overwhelmed.”

“So nothing has happened between you and Professor Halstead?”

I hated the way his brows arched upward like he thought he’d caught me in a lie.

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