Page 74 of Where We Met

I see tears start to form in her eyes. I had no idea it hurt them. I was so worried about inconveniencing them, that I didn't eventhinkabout hurting them.

"I didn't want to be a burden for you guys," I whisper, feeling the pain of admitting those words out loud.

"What?" Shannon gasps. "Burden us? You couldnevermake us feel like that. We love you. It's not a burden to help the people you love."

"But I lied to you guys. I've pushed you away. How could you still want me around? Aren't you angry?"

"You did it with good intentions. With me, intention matters, and you didn't do it to hurt anyone. If anything, you did it because you thought you were doing us a favor," Aubrey tells me, which oddly makes me feel a bit better.

"Okay, can we move on to the good stuff? Like how you were living with our hot-as-sin professor without telling us? Please, please tell me you've seen his penis," Shannon says.

I laugh when I see that she is completely serious.

"Honestly, I think you need to see somebody," Tricia says to Shannon. "Like a sex addiction therapist or something."

Shannon rolls her eyes. "Oh, please, like you weren't sitting there wondering the same thing."

I look over at Aubrey who shrugs apologetically, letting me know Shannon may have a point.

Shannon is always the one in the group who says what others are thinking without a care in the world. As hard as it is to talk about, I tell them about Luke and me. From how it started, to where we are right now, also answering Shannon's brief questions likehow big is heandhow good is he in bed?

I get to the part where my dad suddenly appeared at Luke's front door, ready to drag me away like we were committing some massive crime and needed to be separated immediately.

"I just don't understand why he couldn't just call me first. Talk it out with me instead of barging in and taking over."

"He's your dad. He's worried about you. And he doesn't know Luke," Tricia says soothingly. "He's just trying to protect you. It's always been his job. Give him some time."

"I guess. I just wish he trusted me enough to know I wouldn't just sleep with a professor for a good grade or something like that. I…I love him."

Aubrey looks at me. "I don't want you to freak out on me. I'm only saying this because I love you. But don't you think your dad doesn't know what to think or if he can trust you when he finds out you've been lying to him all semester?"

I open my mouth to defend myself, but I can't think of anything to say.

She's right. Why would he trust me if I wasn't honest with him from the beginning? I lied about so much, he must think I've lost my mind. Maybe I have.

Shannon stands up. "I'm opening a bottle of wine, and we're going to binge some shows. A girl's night cures everything."

An hour into watching our favorite show, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Professor Luke: How are you?

I don't know how to answer that question. Part of me is relieved to have everything out in the open and have my girls back, but I already miss Luke.

Me: Talked everything out with the girls. Luckily they don't hate me for lying. How are you doing?

Before he responds, I go into my contacts and change his name. We are well past him needing to be stored in my phone as Professor Luke. It's too impersonal.

Luke: Of course they don't hate you. They know your heart. I'm hanging in over here. Vino seems pretty depressed without her buddy. She's not the only one feeling that way.

I have to ask him.

Me: What are we supposed to do now?

I hold my breath as I wait for his response. I see the three little dots appear and disappear over and over. The suspense is killing me, and it's clear he's struggling with his words.

Luke: I don't know, Princess. Maybe we just need to give it some time. I don't want to come between your relationship with your father. That's too important and I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

Panic starts to restrict my breathing and my body starts to heat up.

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