"No."
"I guess you've been too busy doing other things to get a proper tour?"
I could feel myself blushing. "Well, today he was helping me study for my Stat test next week."
"How professor-like of him."
"Yeah." I looked up at the huge picture on one of the walls. It was of a bunch of guys smiling. It took me a second to find James. He was in the center. He looked so happy. It didn't look like he had a care in the world. I recognized his friend Mason Caldwell that I had met in New York to the left of him. Otherwise, I didn't know anyone else in the picture.
"Do you think that was from when he was in college? He looks almost exactly the same," Melissa said.
"I don't know. But yeah, that's why I never would have guessed he was my professor when we first met. He doesn't look 27."
Melissa smiled at me. "Have you met any of his friends?"
"Yeah, that one." I pointed to Mason. "It was weird though. Apparently they lost touch after he moved here. James is kind of closed off. I'd like to meet more of his friends."
"Well, it'll be fun to meet his brother. I bet you can ask him tons of questions."
"Mhm." I suddenly felt nervous about meeting Rob. James had made it clear that his parents probably wouldn't like me very much. I hoped that his brother and sister would be more accepting.
"I actually need to get going," Melissa said. "Maybe we can hang out this weekend? I know it's a little awkward, but the Sigma Pi formal is on Saturday and I could really use your help getting ready."
A while ago I had hoped that Tyler would ask me to the Sigma Pi formal. That seemed like ages ago. "No, that's not awkward at all," I said. "Actually, that sounds great. I'll probably want to give James and his brother some guy time anyway. I don't want to be third wheeling with them."
Melissa laughed. "I'm pretty sure Rob would be the third wheel in that equation. Let me say bye to James before I go."
Addiction - Chapter 28
Thursday
"There you are." James wrapped his arms around me and kissed the back of my neck.
"When was this picture taken?" I had wandered back into the room with the pool table after Melissa had left. There was something captivating about the picture. There were no pictures hanging in any of the other rooms in his apartment. And the only other picture I knew of was a small framed one of him and his siblings on his desk. This had to be important to him.
"When I was in college." He kissed my neck again.
"You look so happy."
"I'm happier now."
I couldn't help but smile. I was glad I could make him happy. "I recognize Mason. Who are the other guys?"
"They're my frat brothers."
"You were in a frat?"
"Why do you seem so surprised?"
"I don't know. I usually consider frat guys to be immature. But maybe you were immature back in college."
"Hmm." His lips tingled the back of my neck. "Is thinking about getting laid all the time immature?"
I laughed. "Yes."
"I was definitely immature then. And I guess I'm still immature. Because all I could think about all night was fucking you."
I swallowed hard. I loved when he talked like that. His naughty words seemed to have a direct line to my groin.