Page 11 of Campus Daddies

“I’ll just help Birdie clean up before I go.”

Knowingly, I grab a roll of paper towels and a bag and offer them to her.

Her hands are soft and warm as she takes them from me. “Thanks.”

I’m able to keep from ogling those long legs as she climbs the stairs again, thankful that merely staying in place keeps me from it. I’d be a goner otherwise.

God, it’s been too long.

Two pairs of feet thunder down the stairs, and Birdie gives Sofia a big hug before the headlights from Charles arriving flash into the front windows.

“I’ll see you both again soon, alright?”

I open the door for Sofia, offering her my hand to shake on her way out, even though I could use a hug just as badly. “Thank you, Sofia.”

Her smile is big and genuine. “Any time. And I mean that.”

When she walks out the door and bounces down the steps, a pang hits me like the one I had when my wife did the same thing two years ago.

5

SOFIA

Birdie is such a special young lady. It’s obvious that she’s lonely, even with as wonderful as she is. It makes me wonder why.

Whatever it is, it’s ramped up her creativity. That girl is brilliant. Lots of time to practice can shape talent into something fierce. Her paintings are stunning. The texture she constructs with the paint creates dimension in an innovative way. I’d hang her work up in my townhouse in a heartbeat.

Connecting with Birdie lights a fire under my ass. I want to imbue more creativity into my own project. Beyond simply trying new things and catching my progress, morphing my approach to the empowerment box, I want to allow myself room to tap into as much creativity and fun as I can.

I want to remind myself of what it was like to freely create without worrying about how my boss, my sponsors, or my teachers will react to it. No grades. No paycheck. Just unadulterated fun.

My list of possible outings and events for my project floods me, and it takes me less than ten minutes to compile a long, long list with potential.

I find myself sinking into the naughty thoughts that plagued me last night. I forgot how big Braxton is, a mountain of a man who didn’t seem so intimidating in front of a classroom—most teachers seem larger than life when they’re up front.

But at his house, with him in those fitted slacks and tight button-up shirt. How he’d rolled up the sleeves to reveal his beefy forearms. The way the thin fabric stretched across his shoulders and chest and biceps…

I’d never separated him from the teacher, from the friendship he has with my dad. But taking him out of context, without something else as a buffer… God, that man has some serious sex appeal.

Shaking myself out, I tell myself it’s just my hormones. I’m on day twelve of my cycle, so no man is safe from the daydreams.

It’s just unfortunate that Braxton plagued my fitful dreams last night. Nothing like making my life awkward for no reason.

Getting myself back on track, I set up my external cameras, two of them, around my table in the corner of my favorite coffee shop on campus. I’m working hard to both make this authentic and not disturb anyone.

Creativity will have to wait because I have some serious research to do for our trip to the city for Film Club.

Twenty minutes into my rabbit hole, I’ve come up with a few possibilities that might interest the group as a whole. A shadow crosses over me before the clink of a teacup and saucer on my table breaks my focus.

Golden curls, freckles, and a suave smile greet me as the club’s faculty sponsor sits in the seat across from me. I haven’t left much of the table uncovered, but he seems to have procured himself a corner for his own mug of coffee.

I narrow my eyes at him as he settles himself back in his seat. It’s aggravating just how good-looking this man is. And what’s worse, he knows it.

“This is quite the setup you have.”

I frown and look down at the tea he put beside me. It smells sweet and floral. A bit of milk has turned it pale. I take a tentative sip and add a packet of honey from the table.

Professor Knight grins at me. It’s all in his eyes, but it’s still a damn grin.

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