“I know.”
Hannah grants me one of her soft, pity smiles that only appear when we’re talking about my father.
“I have lots of studying. I’ll be here for a while then head back to the apartment and I’ll be home when you get back.”
“Okay, baby. I love you.” I kiss her on her forehead and head out of the coffee shop.
Skimming the campus, it’s always bustling with students moving back and forth between buildings. I find that a lot of them spend most of their time here, studying, or working on big projects, so more often than not, it’s busy.
My eyes catch those familiar dark blonde locks exiting the main building. He pauses at the top of the steps as he slides his hand into the pocket of his slacks and pulls out his phone.
Tapping on the screen he lifts it to his ear, that trademark smile unveils itself, as his lips move in conversation with whoever is on the other line.
I turn away, hating to see how happy he is talking towhoever the fuck is calling but I can’t help myself, so I look back again.
This time he’s pulling the phone away from his ear, his gaze is trained on me, and I bask in the attention. He’s avoided my gaze in class, not looking at either one of us during lectures, taking thestay out of our waycomment literally to heart.
So, snagging his attention now makes my stomach flip, even though I don’t want it to. I turn away and increase my stride, finding my way into the parking lot and around the barrier away from his dangerous gaze.
Over the past few weeks there seem to be a lot of rumors flying around about Dane. Some about his past and previous relationships, others about what he does with his money and how he goes off the grid.
I hate not knowing the truth and I want more than anything to ask him what’s real.
If the three of us were real.
33
DANE
Icross the campus, heading in the opposite direction Ethan was going. Naturally I keep stealing glances back over my shoulder to see if he’s still within view.
Of course he’s not because the moment he saw me looking at him, he sped up like an escaped convict needing to flee the country.
I’ve done everything he asked. Okay, he asked one thing. But still, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my entire life.
Restraint that I’ve had to endure these last few weeks, watching him and Hannah come in and out of my classroom. Handing me assignments with nothing but statistical numbers and meaningless words, as I pray for some sort of olive branch hidden on the paper.
A penciled heart, a ‘we miss you’, or maybe a “I’m sorry we left you alone in Paris after the best night of our lives”note. Perhaps their fucking phone number.
That would be nice.
But, nothing.
Nine more months.
I only teach for nine more months. If a woman can literally grow an entire human from a tiny little nucleus into a ten-pound baby with a functioning brain and beating heart, I can certainly reset mine within that time, right?
Yes. Yes, you can Dane Campbell. You’ve been through worse.
Wrapping my hand around the cool, metal door handle, I pull it open and hold it for a couple of students walking out with coffee cups in their hands.
“Thank you, Professor Campbell,” they say in unison.
I nod and smile, then step in through the doorway; my eyes instantly lock on those familiar ocean blues surrounded by chocolate brown waves.
Jesus Christ, I can’t catch a break. Both of them are fucking everywhere.
Campus. Coffee shop. My fucking dreams.
