Page 51 of Forbidden Professor

I nod. “Lead the way, Professor Morgan.”

We head straight downtown, like we’re heading to Pike’s Place Market. But at the last minute, Carter swerves and we end up at the ferry terminal. The terminal buzzes with energy as we weave through the crowd. The salty breeze whips my hair, smelling like the sea and something new. I inhale deeply, feeling the tension in my shoulders begin to ease.

“Ever been to Bainbridge?” Carter asks, his warm eyes crinkling as he smiles.

I shake my head. “Never had the chance. I’ve only been here since the start of school.”

Carter raises his eyebrows. “Well, we can’t have that. Time to broaden your horizons, Dr. Moreland.”

I laugh as we board the ferry. “I’m not a doctor yet.”

“You will be,” he says with confidence. Warmth spreads through my chest. We find a spot by the railing. I lean into the wind, watching the water churn below us. The ferry horn blares as we pull away, and excitement races through me.

“Watch,” Carter says, pointing at the skyline shrinking in the distance.

I turn to see the city of Seattle fading behind us. The Space Needle stands tall, growing smaller with each passing second. My worries feel smaller too.

“It’s pretty,” I whisper. “It’s funny. All my worries seem less pressing.”

Carter’s hand brushes mine on the railing. His touch is steady. “Sometimes stepping away helps you see things more clearly.”

I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. The skyline blurs into a haze. The weight of expectations lifts. For this moment, I am not the dutiful daughter or the struggling med student. I am just Eve.

“Thank you for this,” I say. I turn to Carter. The wind tousles his hair, and his eyes shine. My heart skips.

He squeezes my hand. “Anytime. That’s what friends are for, right?”

Friends. The word echoes in my head. I wonder if that’s all we are, all we can be. The island grows closer, green and inviting, so I push the thought aside. For now, I’ll savor this freedom Carter has given me.

The ferry docks with a soft thud, and we step onto Bainbridge Island. Carter leads me confidently up the sloped ground toward a trailhead. Soon, we find ourselves on a path that’s framed by tall Douglas firs.

“Hope you’re ready for a workout,” he says, grinning as he gestures at the steep trail ahead.

I breathe in the pine-scented air. “Bring it on, Carter. I need it.”

We start climbing. My legs burn within minutes. The trail is rugged, filled with roots and rocks. It forces me to focus. It turns out to be exactly the distraction I need.

“You okay back there?” Carter calls, looking over his shoulder. He’s barely winded.

I huff and push harder to catch up. “Do you always hike like you’re running from bears?”

He laughs. The sound echoes through the trees. “Only when I’m trying to impress beautiful girls.”

Heat rises in my cheeks. It’s not just from the climb. “Flattery will get you nowhere. Especially when I’m questioning my life choices on this uphill nightmare.”

“Ah, but it’s worth it for the view.” He stops and waits for me. When I catch up, he points through a break in the trees.

I gasp. Below us, the Puget Sound sparkles and glints in the sunlight. “Okay,” I admit. “That’s worth it.”

We keep climbing. The forest around us is a vibrant mix of greens and browns. I feel my earlier frustrations leave me with every step.

“So,” Carter says, ducking under a branch, “how’s school? On a scale of one to ‘I’m dropping out to herd goats.’”

I laugh, surprised by how light I feel. “Let’s just say I’ve googled ‘quaint mountain villages seeking shepherds’ more than once this week.”

“That bad, huh?”

I sigh and step over a rocky patch. “It’s not the work. It’s the pressure. Sometimes it feels like I’m drowning.”

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