Page 31 of Baby for the Professor
Monica was about to go back to teach Aiden but I stopped her. "Monica, I got this. Thank you for your help."
Monica got the message and shrugged. To my annoyance, she still wouldn't leave us, but sat down on the bench next to Sabrina instead.
Chapter 18
Sabrina
When I saw the woman standing side by side with Jackson, I was alarmed right away. I wasn't a paranoid person, but somehow, I had the intuition that this wasn't good. No one would just show up to teach a stranger's child. Her flirtatious glances at Jackson further proved I was right to suspect that they knew each other.
Who the hell was she, and why did Jackson invite her over?
I found the answer soon, and I didn't like what I heard. So she was Dr. Smith. I checked out her profile when I applied to the grad program. The woman was Jackson’s age. She was not only already a tenured professor but also the CEO of a financial firm. In short, she was intelligent and successful. She was also tall and beautiful, however reluctant I was to admit the fact. I only hoped she wasn't serious about Jackson because if she were, then I wouldn't stand a chance to compete with her, even though I had Aiden.
When Monica sat down next to me, I tensed up. What the hell did she want? She refused the water I offered her but started a conversation with me.
"So, how did you know Jackson?" she didn't wait to ask.
None of your business.I wanted to say. "We met at Ruby’s a few years back."
"I see!" She raised her eyebrows. "It was Jackson’s favorite place to unwind. But I didn’t know he would pick up girls there, too.”
What the hell does that mean?I resisted the urge to glare at her but chuckled instead. "I guess you didn’t know him that well."
Her eyes narrowed a bit. "Probably, but that was before. We’re a lot closer now. We are not only colleagues but friends as well. We go hiking and play tennis over weekends.”
The intelligent professor behaved like a silly teenager. I nearly rolled my eyes.Give me a break.
Of course, I was jealous, too, and didn’t respond to her comment, but she kept talking. “Jackson and I were in the same cohort when we went to grad school here at UCLA,” she said, filling me in. “I stayed here, and he went back to the East Coast. But he always wanted to come back and didn’t hesitate to apply for the job when I told him about it.”
I couldn’t figure out the meaning of the conversation, so I just shrugged. “He liked LA.”
"Your son is adorable, by the way," Monica said. "Makes me want to have a baby, too."
"Thanks," I responded. "Why not?"
"Well, it's hard to find the right guy," she said, eying Jackson as she spoke. "I have a high standard. The guy must be smart, good-looking, and loving."
Obviously, she meant Jackson.
I was jealous and angry at the same time. Did she not have a clue about my relationship with Jackson? Wait. Maybe she didn't. Jackson introduced me as "Aiden's mom," not "my girlfriend." I couldn't blame Monica for being rude. She must've assumed Jackson and I weren't together at the moment. I couldn't blame Jackson either because I wasn't his girlfriend. We had sex recently, but it didn't define any relationship at all. Hell, he might have had sex with Monica too.
I felt sick with the realization and couldn't hear what Monica said after that.
Not until she stood up and said goodbye did I collect myself and force a smile. "Bye."
I knew I shouldn't let it get to me, but after Monica left the court, my mood just turned gloomy. Jackson had never mentioned Monica to me, although, according to her, she got him the job and they saw each other regularly after work too.
There might have been pure friendship between them if nothing sexual, but clearly, she had romantic feelings for him. Otherwise, why would she help him to get the job and spend the weekend with him?
Suddenly I felt anxious. I had pictured a future with Jackson, but now I couldn't anymore. I couldn't stand the possibility that Jackson would go home to another woman after spending time with Aiden. Or worse, he would spend a weekend with Aiden and Monica. The three of them would play tennis together. Shit.
I stood up abruptly and went to the father and the son. "That's enough, Aiden," I said to my son. "You must be tired. We should go home. Grandma has made you brunch."
Aiden’s face fell. "But I want to go to McDonald's. Daddy says we're going."
Jackson looked at me sheepishly and shrugged.
I wanted to object to it but didn't want to disappoint Aiden.
