Page 14 of Baby for the Professor
"MBA? I thought you loved literature. Did you get your Ph.D.?”
"No. Didn’t even start it." She lowered her eyes and paused. She looked as if she wanted to tell me something but changed her mind. "Things have changed. That’s why. I’m more practical now."
"I see." I nodded. "I'm glad to have you in my class."
"You are?" She smiled. "Thank you."
My heart fluttered at the smile and I had the impulse to pull her to me and tell her how much I had missed her. But I got hold of myself. "Now, let's get to the syllabus.”
“Okay.”
I sat down next to Sabrina as I went over the course syllabus and lesson topics with her. She had a pleasant, herbal fragrance I couldn't have enough of.
"You’re expected to read ahead of each class meeting, and you’ll also use an online platform to do homework assignments," I said. "Do you have your laptop with you?"
"Yes. Just a minute." She took her computer out from her carryall, and opened the lid.
A baby's picture popped up in the background and got my attention immediately. He had round blue eyes and a sweet smile.
"Cute baby," I commented.
"Thanks. My son." Sabrina said as she clicked the internet browser.
Damn. Really? My heart sank to my toes. "You're married?" I asked, glancing at her fingers to make sure there was no ring.
"No," she answered, avoiding my eyes. “I’m a single mom.”
"I'm sorry," I said, although I also let out a breath of relief.
She shook her head. "It's okay."
My mind went busy as I became curious about what had happened to her. How was she handling being a single mom? Was the child the reason she gave up grad school?
For the next fifteen minutes, I focused on helping her set up an account on the website and teaching her how to navigate various pages.
"You've got three attempts for each question. You can click each icon for hints or textbook examples, even videos that offer you help.”
"Awesome," she said, smiling. "Thank you so much."
“Anytime,” I said as she logged out of her account and closed the lid of her computer.
I took my suitcase and turned off the lights as we left the classroom. Another class was still in session, but the building was mostly empty.
"How have you been?" she asked as we walked out of the building.
"I’ve been fine. After my fellowship at Harvard, I taught at a few places. Cornell, Columbia, and University of London.”
"Wow.” She gazed at me with an admiring look that gave my cock the wrong idea. It twitched excitedly in my pants. “Are you back to LA for good, or is it temporary?"
“Well, it’s a tenure track, so I’m a candidate for a tenure whenever it’s available.”
"Nice,” Sabrina said, slowing down her pace as we entered a path that went through aeucalyptusforest. It was quiet and semi-dark and we didn’t speak as we walked. Our arms touched, and her scent again befuddled my brain. I had to clutch my pants with my hand to stop it from traveling to her waist. I can hear my heart thudding in my chest and Sabrina’s uneven breathing. Did she still feel that way about me? I wanted to ask but fought the inappropriate thought instead.
Soon we reached the end of the forest. The path forked in different directions, which led to two different parking structures.
“Did you park here?” Sabrina asked, pointing to the lot on the right.
“No. I parked in the other one.” I said good night to her reluctantly. "I'll see you Thursday.”
