Page 9 of Where We Met

“Oh, my Lucas. You’ve always doubted yourself. When are you going to realize how amazing you are?”

“I’m fine, Ma. You worry too much. Listen, I’m at the park with Vino. Can I call you back when I get home?” I ask.

There’s really no reason to get off the phone. I just know once she gets on this topic, it goes on forever.

"You better call. I will show up at your house next time. Goodbye, sweetheart."

I sigh. "Bye, Ma. Love you."

I put my phone in my pocket as my brain starts working overtime.

I don’t know why she always thinks I’m too hard on myself. It’s just in my nature to worry about others first, but that isn’t a bad quality to have.

I’m lost in my thoughts, not paying attention to Vino or anything around me, when I feel the leash jerk me forward. Before I know what’s happening, I’m being pulled to the other side of the path and am tangled up with another dog and a woman.

Vino and the other dog are jumping around each other in excitement as their leashes continue to twist together.

“Vino,” I yell. “Calm down. I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention when—” I stop talking when I look up.

It’s her. The girl in my class. Savannah.

The one who occupied my mind all last night with her captivating smile and alluring eyes.

“It’s okay.” She smiles at me. “Bailey, sit.”

Both dogs listen to her command as we lean down to untangle them. I’m mere inches from her mouth, her hair is down and blowing into my face. It smells like vanilla and something else… maybe some kind of flower. Whatever it is, it makes my dick twitch.

I make quick work to let go of Vino’s leash and unravel it from the other one so I can stand back up and get some distance.

“We keep running into each other,” she says with a hint of shyness to her voice. It’s sweet and sexy all at the same time.

“I suppose we do,” I reply.

I don’t know what to do. How to handle being around her. I know this attraction I have toward her is totally inappropriate, but I also don’t want to be rude.

She looks around like she isn’t sure what to do or say next.

My heart is racing at the thought of her ending this conversation and leaving, which makes me blurt out, “I loved your answer the other day. It was pretty clear you know what you’re talking about and have a knack for understanding other cultures.”

She looks at me with confusion, but at least the panic I was feeling is subsiding.

“Oh, um, I wasn’t sure. You kind of ignored my response,” she bravely admits.

I rub the back of my neck as tension begins to build. I did do that, but only because I was surprised by her response. It was so thoughtful and spot-on. Brains and beauty are a killer combination, and I wasn’t prepared to see she had both in spades.

Instead of giving her the correct response that a professor should have, I panicked and feared that if I did, everyone in the room would see through my feelings.

But I can’t tell her that. It would be far too dangerous. Merely being in her presence is already risky enough to my inhibitions, but if she knew the kind of things I had fantasized about…

“I did,” I admit without elaborating.

The look on her face is a mix between shock and disappointment. It makes my chest feel weird knowing I put that there.

She nods her head as if she understands what I mean.

“Got it. Well, I’ll see you in class on Monday. Have a great weekend, Professor Luke.”

She begins to walk away.

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