The chair I occupy is firm against my back and growing painful. I stretch, trying to work out the kinks. That’s what I get for not moving for almost two hours. It’s so quiet, I can hear each breath she takes, and it gives me solace knowing she’s okay. I can probably rule out alcohol poisoning at this point.
But I still don’t move. I’ll be her protector in the night since I can’t be anything to her during the day.
She begins to stir, a small moan escaping from her throat.
Fuck.
My whole body tightens in response. A sound that shouldmean nothing, that should be just another unconscious noise in the night, instead sends heat curling through my veins.
It’s involuntary. A reaction I can’t control. But that doesn’t make it okay.
I watch as her eyes blink open, those beautiful brown eyes still a bit unfocused.
“What…” she murmurs, before turning to look at me and shooting upright. “Whoa, where am I?”
I grab the back of my neck, tensing. Here we go.
“Sophie, you were drunk. I found you on the side of the road… alone.”
I see the wheels turning in her eyes, her mind struggling to catch up with her current circumstances. I just watch, waiting.
Will she freak out?
Fuck, I didn’t want to scare her. This was a mistake. I’m an idiot.
“Why didn’t you take me home?” she slurs, the alcohol not having worn off completely yet.
I sigh. “I couldn’t.”
“Couldn’t, or wouldn’t?” she questions, clearing her throat and sitting up straighter in her seat. The blanket I’d draped over her pools around her waist.
My gaze drops, unable to face her. Seeing her like this, half-naked and in my house, on my couch… it does things to me that it shouldn’t. That itcan’t.
I push those feelings down and remind myself, once again, that I’m her teacher.
“Sophie… I have no idea where you live. I had no idea who to call. I couldn’t very well leave you there by yourself. You never know who would’ve found you, and what their intentions could have been.”
Her lips part slightly at that, like the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. Like she’s just now realizing how different this could have gone.
“And you… what are your ‘intentions’ here, Mr. Hayes?”
I scoff, standing from my seat. I can’t take any more of this conversation.
“I’ll get you some water. You’ll need it.”
I walk past her, nearing the exit to the room. “Thank you,” slips out from her lips, so quietly I almost miss it.
I can’t help but smile.
“You’re welcome.”
I take a few moments in the kitchen to knock some sense into myself. To talk myself off the ledge and come back to reality. I’m walking a fine line here. As it stands, I’ll likely be fired anyway if this gets out. But I can at least remain professional, as much as that’s even feasible in this situation.
Filling a glass of water, I return to find her leaning back against the couch, eyes closed.
I clear my throat. “Here you go. I brought you some ibuprofen too, if you’d like.”
She smiles, the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.
