Page 22 of Claiming His Student

And the worst part is that I’ll have to face him today. He’s coming to Dylan’s final lecture to observe and make sure he doesn’t step out of line, I guess. The last thing I want is to be in the same room as him if he’s not going to even speak to me, but I want to be there to support Dylan at the university one last time.

I stand in front of Dylan’s bedroom mirror, staring at myself and wondering how things got to be this way. Dylan comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my middle.

“You okay, baby?”

“I don’t know. I...I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to have to watch you leave the university. You don’t deserve it. You’re the best professor we’ve ever had. No one can replace you.”

“Well then, it’s a good thing you’re not losing me, isn’t it?” he growls in my ear before kissing my cheek tenderly. “If the replacement professor is awful, I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

I turn around to kiss him. “How did I get so lucky?”

“I’m the lucky one,” he says. “Even if I had to lose my job to get you it was fucking worth it. I’d walk through hell for you, Cora. I hope you know that.”

The thing is, I do. I thought it would be harder for me to accept that he loves me the way I am. I’ve always had male attention, but not always in a good way. I know my curves change things for me...men either fetishize me or condemn me for my weight. But not my Dylan. He just loves me in every possible way. I don’t have to try and convince myself of the way he feels because he shows me all the time. He’s proved to me that I’m special and now I feel much more confident in myself.

“I’d walk through hell for you too, Dylan,” I tell him. He kisses the top of my head.

“You already did, agreeing to come to class and face your father today, leaving home for me, but don’t worry. I’m never going to let anyone hurt you again. I’m always going to be around to look after you.”

I kiss him once again. “I know. I believe you.”

The drive to the university is quiet and tense. Even with Dylan’s hand on my knee comforting me, I can’t shake off my nerves. How will it be when I see my father again? Will he look right through me like I don’t even exist? I close my eyes. I feel sick. He hasn’t responded to any of the messages I’ve sent him. I really don’t want to do this, but I have to.

I can feel the color leaving my cheeks as I get out of the car and kiss Dylan goodbye. We agreed to enter the class separately to avoid a scandal, even though I don’t particularly care anymore. The worst has already happened by Dylan losing his job. It feels weird not having him at my side, having to pretend that nothing has changed when my whole world has turned topsy turvy.

I’m glad to see my father hasn’t arrived yet, and Penny is waiting for me when I arrive in the class. I told her everything after I got engaged, and I could tell she was surprised, but she at least tried to be happy for me. More than my father ever did. Still, Penny is coming over for dinner this week to get to know Dylan and I couldn’t be happier with how she’s handled it.

“How are you feeling?” she asks me the moment I sit down. “I know today must be hard for you...having to pretend you’re not having a hot affair with your teacher...your Dad being here after what happened…”

I sigh. “I just can’t believe that is happening to me. I used to lead such a boring life… and now it’s like drama follows me everywhere.”

“Don’t worry, you just have to get through this class and then you don’t have to associate with your father again if you don’t want to. I’ve got to admit though I had my fears that you’re rushing into things. But Dylan does seem like your type of man. Smart, studious, sexy as hell.”

I manage a smile. “Watch it. That’s my fiancé your drooling over.”

“Can you blame me?” Penny says gleefully. “Anyway, my point is he’s clearly made you happy. And sure, you have no idea what the future will hold but if you’re deep enough in love then I know you’ll make this work.”

“I will, for sure,” I say. Then I sigh. “I just wish my Dad was around to be a part of it. He might never get to meet his grandchild.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Penny says gently. “I think that he’ll come around, just give him some time.”

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