She immediately dips her chin back into her text book and I swallow thickly as I continue to the counter. There’s a line so I’m stuck standing in it, directly in front of her table, as I stay completely quiet.
Her face is buried in her book that she hasn’t turned the page on since I walked in so I know she’s just staring at it, taking nothing in, and I want nothing more than to talk to her.
“Next,” I get called up to the counter.
I request my usual as I hand them a ten dollar bill, “Cappuccino, please.”
Stepping aside, the pick up counter is even closer to her table. Now I’m standing so close I can smell that signature citrus scent she carries around with her.
I suck in a deep breath as if trying to imbed it in my nasal cavity when I hear someone call out, “Excuse me?”
I turn around and there’s a man leaning around Hannah. “Is this chair taken?”
I don’t think he wants to sit, I think he wants to take it for another table, but I’m not taking the risk either way.
I can’t help myself as I round the corner of the square table, hitting my leg on the pointed edge, before flopping down on the seat like it was musical fucking chairs.
“It’s taken.” I smile up at the guy, praying he doesn’t recognize me, before looking back at Hannah who’s wide eyed and shocked.
“Hey.” I face her direction, turning my back to Mr. Seat Stealing Guy.
“Hi.”
“How are you?” I ask, my voice raspy like I haven’t talked in a while but it’s just nerves.
She stares at me for a beat, her eyes working through different emotions. I can tell by the way her brow furrows, then relaxes before her lips press into a tight line.
If she wanted to, she could just push me off the table, especially after what she’s heard about me over the last few weeks. I’m not stupid. I hear what the students say about my past dating history. Myone-date Danereputation now seems to be a running challenge for some of them.
Her now knowing all of that along with the fact that I paid to have the hostel at no vacancy so I could be alone with them for days, just adds another reason why they shouldn’t trust me.
“I miss you guys,”I sign, telling her the words that have wanted to spill out for weeks.
Squinting her eyes as if in pain, she tilts her head then looks away.
My hand immediately shoots forward. My fingers pinch the corner of her chin to turn her face back to look at me. I don’t want her to avoid my words or my gaze because I’ve never felt so strongly about a statement before.
A glass shatters in the background and I yank my hand away, realizing I’m in a very public place with a fucking student.
I palm my face in frustration and lean my elbows on the table.
“I’m enjoying your class,”she signs and I swear to god a euphoric explosion ignites in my chest.
Small talk is fine. Any talk is fine.
An unnaturally huge smile beams out of me.
“Yeah?”
She nods, short and quick, and I can see a smidge of a smile.
Her hand covers the column of her neck, lightly roaming over the scarred area of her skin and I can tell she’s just as nervous as I am. Fuck, she’s stunning in all her ways. I love that she’s confident but timid at the same time. I love how loud she speaks without saying anything.
“Hannah—” The words get caught in my throat and I pause. “Can we?—”
“Professor Campbell, your cappuccino is ready!”
I whip an unavoidable glare at the barista before turning back to Hannah, then glance down at my watch. Shit. I have to go.
