Page 30 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

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OLIVIA

It washard to sleep last night. I kept awake through the darkness, even after Ava arrived home – half-drunk - in the early hours of the morning, just like the other night. But this time she wasn’t singing, which is a disappointment.

I only have slight moments of falling asleep, simply to wake a few minutes later. It’s like I’m sick with a fever.

I keep replaying that moment outside the gym over and over in my head.

We’re alone...

When the sun starts to stream through the window, I turn to look over at Ava. To know that she’s in the same room will calm me, I’m sure, but I see her bed is empty. She must’ve left in one of those brief moments I fell asleep.

What happened at the gym was a dream. Well, it certainlyfeelslike one. I know absolutely nothing about my professor, and he knows absolutely nothing about me, but that didn’t stop him from straight-up asking me out on a date. Why would he do that? I’m sure it goes against student-teacher relations in some handbook somewhere. Why would he break all the rules so flippantly? For me? The man is so confident and sure in himself to even attempt something like that.

And why is he pursuing me, of all the pretty girls at this college who would readily fall at his feet?

Running into him last night was seriously bizarre, and I'm completely at a loss for how to wrap my cranium around it.

The dorm room door unlocks, and Ava comes in.

“Ah, you’re awake,” she says cheerily as she spots me in bed with my eyes open. By her side she’s holding a brown takeout bag.

“Morning,” I say to my roommate, pulling myself up to a seated position. “I thought you’ll be hungover after last night. What are you doing out and about so early on a Sunday morning?”

Ava laughs. “Oh, I rarely get hangovers. And besides, I was craving an almond croissant from The Oak. See, I’ve got you one as well.”

She hands me the takeout bag. My stomach grumbles when I see the gorgeous mouthwatering croissant inside.

“Wow,” I say. “Thank you.”

“Thank my dad,” Ava says. “He drove me to the coffee shop to pick them up. Did you think Iwalkedall that way?”

“I walked it the other day.”

“That’s because you are crazy, Olivia. I’m a normal person who doesn’t run in the rain or walk a million miles into town.”

I bite into the delicious pastry. “How can a bit of food be this freakinggood?”

“Honestly, I think it’s magic,” Ava replies. “Or they put addictive drugs in them.”

“How was the rest of the night?” I ask. “You got back so late, and you were alittledrunk.”

“Sorry if I woke you,” my roommate says. “It was nice. Did some dancing. Had a few shots. Luke says he was sorry to see you go.”

I give her a look. “I bet he didn’t say anything remotely like that,” I reply sharply.

Ava sighs in defeat. “You’re right, he didn’t. I was just trying to make him seem polite.”

We both chuckle.

“And how are you?” Ava asks me in a serious tone. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I reply.

“You went home pretty quickly. You said you were sick.”

“It just wasn’t really my thing. I wanted to go.”

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