Page 75 of Where We Met

Me: What're you saying?

This morning I woke up and was the happiest I had ever been. How did it all spiral so out of control?

Luke: Four more weeks in the semester. I don't want your dad finding out I haven't honored his request to stay away.

This feels like the first step in losing him. Four weeks will turn into him telling me it's never gonna work. Luke doesn't seem like the type of guy to go against a father's word. If my dad never comes around, I'll never be with Luke. A stabbing pain radiates in my chest at the thought of losing him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Luke

Oneweekwithouther.It's been impossible not to pick up the phone and call her. I walk into my house and am struck with such a strong feeling of loneliness.

I've never been lonely before, never felt like I needed a woman in my life. Once I caught a glimpse of what it's like to be with someone you truly care about, truly love…everything has changed.

The only reprieve I get are the ninety-minutes in class where I can see her from a distance. If that's all I can get, I'll take it.

When it's time to leave, she walks home with her friends, which makes me feel better. I'm glad she's safe and has her girls to be there for her.

I know she's disappointed that I told her we should keep our distance for now. I just hope she knows I am too. It's the last thing that I want.

But I also can't erase the look of pure disgust her father had for me.

I've been hell to be around at the office, that much I know.

I'm doing my best to read through a contract at my desk, when a knock at my door pulls me away.

"Come in," I shout.

Mia comes in with a file in her hand and a hesitant look in her eyes. A sign of the kind of grump I've been.

"Got the Mancini agreement right here. Thought you'd want the final look before we send it off for signatures."

"Thanks," I say as I lean across my desk to grab it.

I feel Mia staring at me, not making any move to walk out of my office.

"You need anything else?" I question her.

She takes a seat in front of me. "I thought you might need someone to talk to."

I lean back in my seat. "Why would you think that?"

She raises an eyebrow at me. "Come on. Let's not go through the part where you deny that something's wrong."

I sigh in defeat. "It's Savannah. A student of mine."

"The one living with you? The one from Gabe's wedding?"

How the hell does she know all of this?

"I take it Marcus told you," I say.

She shrugs like it's understandable. "He's worried. What about Savannah?"

"Her dad. He found out. Showed up at my door basically dragging her away."

"Oh, shit."

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