Page 40 of Forbidden Professor

“Come on. Pick up,” I mutter.

Hi, it’s Eve. Leave me a message…

I hit redial again. It goes straight to voicemail.My stomach twists.

I pace around the living room and run a hand through my hair. Where could she be? This isn’t like her.

After another four hours, I give in. It’s time to reach out for help. I scroll through my contacts and tap Aiden’s name. He answers on the second ring.

“Carter? What’s up?”

“Hey Aiden. Sorry to bother you. Have you heard from Eve lately?” I try to keep my voice casual. The worry seeps through anyway.

There’s a pause. “No. I haven’t. Is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t reached her for days. I thought maybe she was with you.”

“That’s strange.” Aiden’s tone sounds serious now. “I’ll try calling her. Let me know if you hear anything.”

“Of course. Thanks Aiden.”

I end the call and slump onto the couch. My mind races. I pace around the room. Words from our last conversation echo in my head. Every word feels like a knife.

“We can’t be together, Eve. It’s too complicated. The risks are too high.”

God. I was exactly what she accused me of being. A coward.

I collapse into an armchair and run my hands through my hair. The ticking clock on the wall feels loud in the silence. Each second is another moment Eve is out there What if she does something drastic?

My phone buzzes, and I grab it. My heart pounds. It’s just a text from a colleague. I toss the phone aside and feel frustration boiling over.

Aiden doesn’t call me back. I have to go to work the next day, even though I’m miserable. So I go through the motions at work.

I’m grading papers in my office when a knock at the door startles me. “Come in?”

It’s a student with a question. I answer, but my eyes keep darting to my silent cell phone on my desk. After the student leaves, I pick up the phone and scroll through my recent calls. All to Eve. All unanswered. My thumb hovers over her name again.

“This is insane,” I mutter, but I hit call anyway. It rings and rings. Each unanswered tone raises my anxiety.

“Eve. It’s me again.” I say when her voicemail picks up. “I know I said some harsh things, but please. Just let me know you’re safe. I’m going out of my mind here.”

That’s it. I can’t sit here anymore. I need to do something. Anything. I grab my keys and head for the door. I don’t know where I’m going. I just know I can’t stay still another second.

I drive aimlessly through the early morning streets. The rising sun casts long shadows across the pavement. My hands grip the steering wheel. My knuckles are white. Before I realize it, I’m turning onto Eve’s street. I’m drawn by an invisible thread of worry and longing.

As I approach her house, my heart nearly stops. There’s a car in the driveway. It’s not hers. It’s a sleek black sedan. I slow down and watch as the back door opens.

And there she is.

Eve steps out, looking exhausted but unharmed. A driver emerges and moves to the trunk to get her bags. I pull over. My breath catches as I watch her.

“Eve,” I whisper. Relief floods over me.

I’m out of my car before I can think. I stride toward her. She notices me, her eyes widening.

“Carter? What are you doing here?” Her voice is a mix of confusion and wariness.

I stop a few feet away, suddenly unsure. “I’ve been worried sick about you.”

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