Page 7 of Where We Met

“Good for you. What are your majors?” Eric asks, seeming genuinely interested.

Everyone tells him their major until it gets to me. “Oh, um, I’m International Business.”

Eric glances between me and Luke. “You’ll learn a lot from this one over here. He’s brilliant at what he does and has a wealth of knowledge to offer,” Eric tells me. “Anyone majoring in International Business would be crazy not to take advantage of having this man as their professor.”

I know what he’s saying, I really do, but I meancome on. All I can think about is taking advantage of him in ways that have nothing to do with education.

Professor Luke shakes his head while a smile remains on his face. “He’s talking me up, but I’m excited to be teaching your class this semester. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have for me, even if they don’t come up organically in class. All my information is in the syllabus.”

“That’s really kind of you,” I reply. “Thanks.”

“The offer is on the table to all of you,” Professor Eric adds. “I’m here to answer any questions too.”

After a couple more minutes of friendly conversation, we let them get back to their conversation.

“Anyone else want to take Professor Hottie up on his offer to contact him for anyquestions?” Shannon whispers mischievously.

I squirm in my seat at the thought of her and Professor Luke spending time together.

“Come on, guys.” I lean into the table in an effort to make sure my words are only heard by them. “He’s right there.”

Their shoulders shake in a fit of laughter.

“What has gotten into you? You’re being so buttoned up and… shy. I’ve never seen you like this,” Tricia says. “I think youlike likeProfessor Hottie.”

I laugh awkwardly, pretending that their words are so ridiculous that I can’t contain myself at the hilarity of it all and hoping like hell they aren’t seeing right through me.

“You guys are insane. He’s our professor,” I mouth. “Anyway, tell me about this new guy you said keeps texting you, Trish.”

That’s called deflecting. It's probably so embarrassingly obvious what I'm doing that my friends just decide to throw me a bone and pretend they fell for it.

Either way, the attention is off me and my inappropriate crush. I almost think I can focus on the girls and not on the professor sitting mere feet away from me.

I can’t stop myself from stealing glances at him through the night, though, and every time I look over, I catch his eyes on me. If they aren’t on me when I look, they eventually work their way back in my direction.

Okay, get your shit together, Savannah. No more looking at your professor.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” I tell my friends. I stand up, and as I move toward the back of the bar, I feel a hand grab my elbow.

"What's up, beautiful?" the male voice breathes into my ear. His breath wreaks of cheap liquor. I look up and see my ex's face. Ugh, he's the last person I want to deal with right now.

"Hi, Miles."

We dated for like four months last year. When I saw him getting a little handsy with a sorority girl at a party, I decided I needed to end our casual relationship. There were no hard feelings for either of us.

"You're looking good," he slurs, still holding onto my arm.

I try to pull it away, but he just tightens his grip.

"Can I have my arm back?" I ask, irritated.

He ignores my question, which makes me start to wonder what the hell I ever saw in him. I feel him pull me toward his body. "I miss you, Sav."

I try again to pull my arm free but have no success.

"Miles, let go of me," I raise my voice at him.

"Hey, buddy," a deep voice echoes from behind me. "The lady said to let her go. I suggest you listen."

---