CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
LILY
Ironically, Professor McAvoy’s lecture today wasn’t penetrating. Ten minutes in, I switched the recording on my phone, hoping it would pick up the seminar. Because my brain certainly wasn’t. And it was ironic because she’d handed our Gender and Psychology papers back to us as we came into the lecture hall, and she’d stopped me when she handed over mine. Professor McAvoy had taught a few of my courses over the years and we’d met to discuss my future career. Moreover, she was my dissertation advisor since she specialized in gender and psychology.
She’d pulled me aside as I approached her desk for my essay and told me in concern, “This isn’t your best work, Lily. Now is not the time to drop the ball. It’s not awful by any means, so there’s no need to panic, but I want you to know I noticed a shift. Let’s get things back to where they should be for you. Do better with your research proposal.”
I was an A student.
The essay was a B.
I really needed to pull myself together. My career would be there long after some guy who …
Throwing Sebastian from my mind, I tried to focus on Professor McAvoy. But my mind kept going back over the events of the last few days, including getting a B on an essay.
I’d been staring dazedly at my tablet, so it took me a second to realize someone had interrupted our class.
My classmates’ murmuring brought my attention to the front of the class and my heart faltered in my chest.
The sight of Sebastian standing next to Professor McAvoy caused a flush of heat through my body so strong, my palms started sweating.
What the …
“I’m in the middle of a class,” Professor McAvoy stated impatiently, as if it was not the first time she’d said it to him.
“I understand.” Sebastian’s voice carried upward through the smaller lecture hall. “And I respect your time, but this is incredibly important. And possibly educational for any would-be therapists in the room.” There was a teasing note in his words.
Professor McAvoy, it seemed, was not immune to Sebastian Thorne’s charms. “Fine. Enlighten us, Mr. …?”
“Thorne. Sebastian.”
“The floor is yours, Mr. Thorne. I’m eager to hear what is so important that it warrants interrupting my fourth-year class.”
I sat upright, as if my body was preparing to flee before my mind even considered it.
However, Sebastian nodded and turned forward, his eyes finding mine immediately, like he’d known where I was from the moment he stepped into the room.
My breath caught.
He’d shaved his beard since I’d seen him a few nights ago and I could see now in the sharp angles of his handsome face that hehadlost weight.
What the hell was he doing? My eyes widened with the nonverbal question.
His lip curled up in one corner, but there was a panicked edge of sadness in his expression that made my chest throb. “Hullo, Sawyer.”
The physical evidence of the impact our estrangement had on him, along with the gently affectionate words, made me want to burst into tears.
I couldn’t speak around the thickening in my throat.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your class, but I didn’t think I could get you to listen any other way. I thought about calling into the podcast, but you could easily walk out or hang up … and really, I need to say this face-to-face. Also, apologies to your classmates.” He gestured to them. “But hopefully, no matter which way this goes, they’re thoroughly entertained. I’m about to get metaphorically naked in front of them, after all.”
“Literallywould be better!” a girl shouted from the back, and everyone tittered but me.
I was too much in shock.
Sebastian grinned. “Sorry, but I only have plans to get naked for one woman for the rest of my life … if she’ll have me.” His gaze returned to mine and softened with such tenderness, I swear I heard the girl two seats down from me sigh cartoonishly.
What … what … I think my brain exploded.
