Page 19 of Hello Kitten

Despite trying to avoid Adrian in class and while T.A.ing for the rest of the week, I have a feeling he hasn’t forgotten what this weekend is. No text messages. No post-it notes on my essay. No emails.

Of course he won’t email me. He only knows my school-email…right?

As I pack Friday after my two classes, Beth watches. “Are you sure?”

“I can handle this alone,” I assure. “I know my mom will have invited the guy I told her not to.”

She laughs, one that dries quickly. “Wait, he’s not a teacher here, right?”

My head falls back and I turn around to give her a hard look. She puts her hands up. “Now it’s a mandatory question for you to ask before you hookup with a dude. I didn’t think it would need to be, but there it is.”

I shake my head. “Everything will be fine. I made it clear twice over. The text and me being really obvious in the hallway when I wasn’t sure he got the message. Nothing since then,” I say.

She gives me a look then shrugs. “I’ve done all I can do.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m going to go meet Danielle. We’re going off campus for shopping and dinner. Text me when you get there, okay? And remember—pink dress. No white,” she reminds before heading out.

I finish packing, making sure I don’t have a stitch of white. I have black for the rehearsal dinner. I have ‘appropriate’ casual dresses and nice clothes for the other events, have my makeup, have everything I could possibly need over a weekend.

Just before I zip up my bag, I slip my laptop in, then lingerie and a vibrator just in case I’m feeling myself. With that, I nod, double check that I have my wallet and my phone, then head out.

This is easy. Really easy.

Hopping in my car, I turn the ignition, ready to head out of the parking lot. The music stops as my phone rings. I press the button on my steering wheel, answering the phone without checking who’s calling.

“I’m on my way. I promise. I’ll be there for dinner tonight for the ... reunion or whatever it is. Seriously, don’t start throwing guys at me right away or I’ll stay in my hotel room until the wedding,” I say, expecting my mom’s voice.

“You have a stop to make before you head to the destination and no guys are going to be thrown at you,” Adrian says in a dangerous, commanding voice.

I break hard at a green light, hear honking behind me, then swallow. “I was clear.”

“You haven’t told me you don’t want me there, Emily. Until you do, I’m going,” he says clearly.

“I did! And I'm not picking you up,” I sass.

“Do you think that would stop me from coming?”

“Are you threatening to show up if I don’t come pick you up?” I ask.

“Answer me honestly, kitten,” he says in his low husky voice before groaning. “What do you want?”

My grip tightens on the steering wheel as I bite my bottom lip. “I don’t want you to be my professor.”

He sighs. “Come get me.”

“That’s not—”

“Do we need to work on how to answer questions when I see you next?” he asks, and I grit my teeth. Fucking ass.

“I’m perfectly capable of answering a question if you’d let me,” I counter. “I don’t need you there, Adrian. I have something that vibrates and always gets the job done.”

“Emily,” he says in a growl that I feel as much as hear.

“Don’t use that voice,” I whisper.

“My place. It’ll give you a solid bit of time to decide whether to knock on the door,” he says sharply.

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