"Every time I talk to Professor Bryant, you always pop up Noah. This has to be a joke, right?" Coach Benson asked, jabbing a finger at Noah. Noah leaned back in his seat, tossing a casual arm around Melanie's chair, and immediately, she tensed up. What the hell was he doing? But if that wasn't enough to make her heart race, what he said next nearly made her heart stop.
"It's because she belongs to me."
Melanie looked at Noah wide-eyed, her mouth hung open enough that flies could make a home in it. What the hell did he just say? Melanie glanced at Coach Benson, who also looked surprised. Melanie wished the floor would swallow her whole as she tried to find a way to salvage the situation.
"You're full of jokes, Noah," Melanie said as she hit his arm in a gesture that was supposed to be playful, but her hit was more than a light tap. She was pissed.
Noah didn't respond to her as he continued to hold a staring contest with Coach Benson, daring him to say something. Melanie quickly stood on her feet and grabbed Noah's shoulder.
"Don't mind him, Coach Benson. He just needs some air," Melanie said as she pulled Noah onto his feet. Not waiting for a response, Melanie dragged him out the front door. When they stepped outside in the cool air, Melanie found that it was taking all of her not to slap the life out of Noah for what he had said back there.
Her heart was racing, and her bones felt jittery like they would pop out of her own skin. She tried to push away her anxiety, but it was hard to after what Noah just said to Coach Benson.
"What the hell is your problem?" she asked as she stared at him incredulously. But a stubborn look was on his face, one that told her, he knew exactly what he had done, and didn't regret it. That pissed her off more.
"All night I've wanted to celebrate with you," Noah said as he tugged at his necktie, loosening it. "But instead, all I could do is watch every man in the room eye-fucking you. And I can't even tell them that you belong to me. I can't tell them that they shouldn't look at you like that because you belong to me."
Melanie sighed. "How much have you had to drink tonight?"
Noah growled as he stepped forward, closing the space between them. "I'm not drunk. I'm in my right mind. Do you know what it feels like to watch as men try to talk to you but not be able to say anything? Do you know how frustrating that is? I'm just telling Coach Benson what he should know so he'll back off."
"But the problem is that it isn't your right to tell him anything," Melanie spat, annoyed by everything Noah was spewing. "I don't belong to you. And what you did right now is not okay. What if he misunderstood something? What if he thinks we're in a relationship?"
"And what if he did," Noah challenged. "He's right then."
Melanie sucked in a breath as she took a step back from him, surprised by his words. Noah didn't get it. But why would he? He was a young man, and what would come if people knew about their relationship wouldn't affect him. No. Instead, he would be praised by his friends, who would congratulate him for being with his professor. But this was her life and her career, and right now, Noah was being petulant like a child who wanted his toy. But Melanie wasn't a toy, and she didn't have to put up with this.
"No, he wouldn't be," Melanie stated clearly. "Because we're not in a relationship, and from what I see right now, we'll never be. You're childish, Noah, and you need to grow up."
She walked away from him, back into the restaurant where she found Abigail and Melanie told her that she was leaving. Abigail wanted to ask her what was wrong and was going to leave with her, but Melanie stopped her. Melanie didn't want to ruin her friend's good time because she was in a bad mood. So, she left on her own, making sure to avoid Noah, who once again was surrounded by people, including his family.
Melanie had made her decision clear. There would be no relationship between them.
CHAPTER
34
MELANIE
T
HE NEXT MORNING AFTER THE GAME LAST NIGHT, ABIGAIL made her way over to Melanie's apartment, and they were currently on her couch watching day-time soaps as they ate ice cream. Melanie usually wouldn't eat ice cream this early in the morning, but she had gone to sleep in a bad mood that stayed with her into the morning. Last night had pissed her off so much. She couldn't believe Noah had done such a thing. She could only hope that Coach Benson had believed her, or that he had gotten drunk enough that he wouldn't remember what Noah said, or this could be the end of her career. She doubted the school board would take kindly to the fact that she had done inappropriate things with their star hockey player.
"So, you're telling me Noah got jealous because the coach was flirting with you again, and Noah told Coach Benson that you belonged to him," Abigail repeated blinking, and when Melanie confirmed it with a short nod, Abigail burst out into a squeal. Of course, that would be her response. Abigail never took anything seriously.
"I can't believe you're mad because of that. I probably would have dropped my panties right there," Abigail said. "You're tripping, Melanie. Clearly, that boy likes you a lot."
"You don't get it," Melanie said, shaking her head. "What if someone had heard that? What if Coach Benson misunderstands it or remembers it? Noah was wrong. He shouldn't have done that, and it was childish of him. But I'm glad he did it because it reminded me of just how young he is. A relationship will never work between us."
"Isn't the semester almost over soon?" Abigail asked. "You have a week left, right?"
Melanie nodded. She already had her questions for the final exam done, and if Noah studied hard enough, he would be able to pass it. She wasn't going to let up on her students in the final run. Her final exam was hard, but if they actually read the material and understood it, they should be able to pass it without a problem. Soon, this course would be over, and that also meant she wouldn't be Noah's professor anymore.
"Melanie, I really think you shouldn't be that upset. I saw the drinks they were passing him last night. He was probably drunk," Abigail said over a mouthful of Rocky Road ice cream. "Besides, the semester is almost going to be over, which means he's going to see you less."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Melanie asked with a frown as she sat her spoon down, wondering what her friend was hinting at.
"I'm just saying," Abigail said with a shrug. "If someone tells you that distance makes the heart grow fonder then they're a liar. I think you're going to miss out on a good opportunity because you're being stubborn. If I thought this was just some stupid fling, then I wouldn't encourage you, but it's clear that you like Noah, and that he likes you. You should see how you are around him. I've never seen you this comfortable and yourself with another man before. Usually, you're super awkward or overbearing, and it runs them off. But when you're with him, you're different."
