Page 19 of Damien

I’m not sure what to say or how to start the conversation that he and I need to have, but greeting him is better than the way he is ignoring me.

I cross my arms in front of my chest and wait for him to finish whatever he is doing.

After a few moments, I start to feel stupid for standing next to his table while he is blatantly ignoring me.

I turn away from him to not let my emotions show on my face, but his voice stops me.

“Shae,” He says before pausing and glancing around at the very busy cafe. “This isn’t really a good time. It’s so public here.”

It seems like there is more he wants to say, but he stops.

“Okay, yeah, I understand.” I mumble, but I don’t really understand.

It’s not like I am trying to fuck him here and now. Although, if I am being honest with myself, he does look downright delectable.

“What I mean is, I am busy right now and about to have a meeting.” He closes his laptop and puts it into the bag that is resting at his feet.

“A meeting in a cafe? While dozens of students are hanging around?”

I’m not saying he’s lying, but of all the places for a professor to have a meeting, he chooses the cafe.

What kind of meeting is this?

As if reading my mind, he says, “It’s not work related. It is with an old friend.”

His reply is mysterious and leaves me wondering who this old friend is.

Instead of walking away from Damien and this pointless conversation and letting the thoughts and questions consume me, I channel my inner Mara.

I speak bluntly, like she does.

“Ah, I understand perfectly. So, you can make time with other people, but you can’t text or call me so we can figure things out? Especially after everything that’s happened between the two of us.”

He looks ashamed and lowers his voice as he glances around at the crowd that’s filling up all the tables.

“I did text.” At my frustrated look, he adds, “But I promise to text more later when I am not surrounded by people that can eavesdrop on our conversation.”

Even though I lower my voice to a whisper, my anger still comes through. “Why can’t you just tell me what is going on between us?”

Why do I sound so needy and clingy?

Why do I need to know right here and right now?

Before knowing he was my professor, I wasn’t expecting to see him until this summer. We practically paused our relationship until we saw each other again.

Neither one of us was expecting our reunion to be so soon.

“Can we discuss this later? Please?” His voice is barely above a whisper, but it is urgent, and he is begging.

Over the past week, I’ve never seen him like this. He was always so sure of himself.

Assertive and confident.

Before I can respond, a woman’s strong perfume assaults my senses a few seconds before she bumps into me.

She doesn’t apologize for the bump. She only has eyes for Damien, and right now, his eyes are glued on her and her perfectly maintained body.

Her love-struck eyes change to disgust and annoyance as she glances from Damien to me. “Sorry, am I interrupting anything, Damien?”

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