Page 94 of Student Seduction
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Emersyn
The lighting in the museum consisted of meticulously placed blue hued spotlights and about a million candles, casting a romantic vibe across the room.
Looking like a Greek god someone should sculpt immediately, and much broader than I’d remembered, Aiden stood in what looked like a designer charcoal suit with a skinny silk tie.
I’d had advance warning. I should’ve been prepared to see him. And I was.
I just wasn’t prepared for his reaction when he saw me.
He was across an entire pool of water when his eyes finally found mine, but that didn’t stop electricity from striking like lightening between us.
He belongs to someone else now. Stop yourself.
His face broke into the most incredible smile and I felt mine do the same.
I had no chill. I couldn’t help it.
He taught me to love. He taught me to let go and let myself fall into something bigger than me. He taught me how to pull back the façade of who I was supposed to be and let someone else see the darkest corner of my soul—places I hadn’t known existed inside myself.
I was so happy to see him again, those blue eyes flashing to mine reflecting the same joy. For a moment, my heart was whole again and in danger of bursting.
Drew groaned from beside me. “Neither of you has a poker face to save your lives.”
I watched as he made his way to me, the blonde at his side and another man behind them. I steeled myself the best I could, breathing deeply in through my nose and slowly out though my mouth.
Today, the man who had taught me so much, was about to teach me how to handle my hurt. How to accept the devastating loss of a piece of my heart forever while holding my head high.
“Relax,” Drew said softly. “I’m right here if you need me.”
My mind drifted back to riding in his Jeep, to making love in an Airstream, to that first day in his classroom. To the insanity of my life back then. To our goodbye in California. All of which had somehow led us here.
When his group finally navigated the crowd to reach me, I made every effort to give them the most genuine smile I could manage.
“You’re late, Mr. Singleton,” I teased. “Must be nice to be so young, carefree, and negligent with other people’s time.”
Drew laughed loudly before giving me a look that saidnicely done.
Aiden dropped his head. He looked up at me from under his impossibly long, dark lashes. “Guess I deserved that one.”
He shook Drew’s hand and told him it was nice to see him again.
My breathing slowed and I mentally patted myself on the back for handling this better than expected.
“I’m glad you could make it,” I said, surprised at the truth in my words. My heart didn’t care that he brought his future wife with him. My heart was happy to see him. “And that you brought…”
The woman with them smiled widely at me. She was so gorgeous it hurt to look at her. Her black knee-length strapless pencil dress fit like it was made for her shapely athletic body.
“Sophia Murphy,” she introduced herself, reaching out a manicured hand. She had a sexy, raspy voice and a firm handshake. “Your work is beautiful. I have to confess, I looked you up online last night after Aiden told me you’d invited us and you have some amazing pieces in your collection. What an incredible talent you have.”
She was so sweet and authentic, I couldn’t muster up a single reason to dislike her.
“Thank you so much. That’s very kind of you,” I heard myself say, but it was muffled, as if my head was under water.
“Emersyn, you remember my brother, Axel,” Aiden said as his brother stepped forward.
I almost didn’t recognize him. Axel was clean shaven, tanned, and wearing a suit similar to Aiden’s but in midnight black.
