“I’m sure that we have nothing more to discuss.”
“See, I think that’s where you’re wrong. I’m certain that you want to meet up with me for this coffee. I mean, after all, you skipped art class. And people are going to start talking soon if they notice that you continue avoiding calling on me in class. I just want things to go back to the way they were before you remembered I was a card-carrying member of the NWBDS.”
“NWBDS?”
“Yeah. Niggas with big dicks society.”
I knew that I was doing too much. But I loved seeing the way that she blushed. It was cute and shit the way she turned red, and her eyes widened. She looked around as if she were looking for an escape as she replied, “There’s nothing more to discuss.”
I folded my arms over my chest and cocked my head at an angle. “See, I’ma have to test you on that. Because if you don’t return to Chelsea’s classes, then I’ma have to call you out on that in your class, Professor Pisces.”
“I’ll be in class,” she replied with a fiery attitude as she lifted her chin.
“I have your word on it?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s shake on it.” I extended my hand, and she extended hers. When I took her hand, I clasped it firmly and shook it. When I finished, I slowly caressed the center of her palmwith my thumb as I licked my lips and winked at her. “See ya tomorrow night, Professor P.”
I wonderedif Professor Hall would really go back to the way that she had been before I showed up at her art class. The next morning, I arrived early for her class, which was my first class of the day. I only had two other classes after hers, and my day would be over. I had eight more months to go before my twenty-sixth birthday, upon which everything would fall into place for me financially.
I headed down the hall and spotted her standing outside of her class, talking with another professor, Professor Jimenez. As I approached, I noticed how she began fidgeting with the cross that she wore around her neck. She had noticed me. Good.
I wore a navy and white tracksuit that matched my gym shoes, and I could see her taking in my attire from head to toe.I shifted my backpack to my other shoulder as I approached her and Professor Jimenez.
“Morning, beautiful ladies,” I greeted with a smile that was big enough to make sure that my dimples flashed.
“Good morning, Mr. Gates,” Professor Jimenez greeted with a flirty smile. “Well, I see your students are arriving. We will finish this discussion later, okay?”
“Sure,” Professor Hall replied in an unusually high-pitched voice as I made my way past her, and Professor Jimenez walked away.
I turned around to see Professor Hall walking into the classroom behind me. “You smell good. What are you wearing?”
“Princess. It’s the newest perfume in Chris Perry’s line.”
I nodded. “It goes with you very well.”
“Thank you.”
She headed to her desk as I headed to my seat and dropped my backpack onto the floor. I headed down the aisle and walked toward her desk. She had already made it there by the time that I did.
When she looked up from grabbing her coffee cup and saw me, her eyes widened.
“How may I help you, Mr. Gates?”
“Will you drop that shit when it’s just the two of us?”
“I’m afraid that if I do, then I might forget when it’s more than just the two of us.”
I smirked. “I’d love to hear you call me that under different circumstances.”
“Such as?” she challenged.
“In my bed, underneath me, on top of me, in front of me. However you want to do it, baby girl.”
She blushed and dropped her gaze to the floor. “Salem.” Her voice was breathless when she called my name.
“What?”