Page 2 of Seeds of Love
Team exercise? No. No way. I work better alone—always have. Sure, I’ve aced every group project, but only because I end up doing everything myself. This project is too important to trust to anyone else.
I poke Tara with my pen, and she nods, understanding immediately. Partners. Okay. I can work with this. Tara’s brilliant, dedicated. We could actually make something amazing together.
But Professor Bam is already pulling out a jar filled with…are those popsicle sticks? “Before you all start making eyes at your friends,” she says, that classic Bam smugness in her voice, “I’ll be assigning pairs randomly. In the real world, you don’t always get to choose who you work with.”
“In the real world, your fate isn’t decided by freakin’ popsicle sticks either,” Tara mutters, and I have to bite back a hysterical laugh.
My heart pounds as Professor Bam starts calling out names. With each pair announced, my anxiety ratchets higher. Then?—
“Tara Hawkins and…Ryan Chen.”
Tara shoots me an apologetic look, mouthing “I’m sorry.” I force a smile, even as panic starts to build. It’s fine. I can work with anyone. I’m professional. I’m?—
“Alexandria Ford and…Freddie Donovan.”
The world stops.
No. No way. This can’t be happening.
For a moment, all I hear is static. My vision tunnels, and I swear the cosmos is laughing at me. Of all the students in this class, of all the possible partners…
I turn, against every screaming instinct, and catch his eye. He’s wearing that infuriating smirk that makes me want to throw my notebook at his stupidly perfect face.
I wait until the classroom empties, my heart hammering against my ribs. Maybe I can fix this. Professor Bam knows how much this means to me. She’ll understand.
“Professor Bam,” I begin, my voice embarrassingly high. “You’re looking lovely today.”
She peers over her cat’s-eye glasses, one eyebrow raised.Damn it, Alex. You’re blowing it.
“Spit it out,” she says, shuffling papers with practiced efficiency. Professor Bam might be barely five feet tall, but she’s the most formidable presence on campus. Twenty years of groundbreaking research and three major environmental patents tend to have that effect.
I straighten my spine. “I was wondering about the team aspect of the project?—”
“No.”
“You haven’t even heard what I?—”
“Alexandria.” Her eyes twinkle behind those vintage frames, but her voice is steel. “The whole point iscollaboration. Even your precious soil microbes work in communities.”
“I know, but I can handle this alone and besides?—”
She holds up one hand, her collection of bangles creating a symphony of tiny chimes. “Your abilities aren’t in question, Ms. Ford.” My cheeks warm at the praise despite everything. “But GSRI doesn’t want lone wolves. They want leaders. Team players.”
The mention of GSRI makes my stomach clench. She’s right—of course she’s right. She’s been my mentor since I walkedinto her introductory class with organized binders and too many questions. Which is why her next words sting even more.
“And no,” she continues, reading my mind like always, “you can’t swap partners with Ryan Chen.”
“How did you?—”
“Oh, sweetie,” she mimics my voice with frightening accuracy, “you think I don’t know your bestie?”
I nearly choke. Did Professor Bam really just say ‘bestie’?
Her usual voice returns, amused but firm. “That’s why I use the popsicle sticks. Adds a touch of whimsy to the science, don’t you think?” She’s already turning back to her work, clearly considering the matter closed.
“Right.” I force my voice to stay professional, even as panic bubbles in my chest. “Thank you for your time, Professor.”
As I turn to leave, she calls after me: “Oh, and Alex? Give Freddie a chance.”
