“Oh, to be young and crushing on a handsome professor,” Emberly said with a sigh. “Who was your crush?”
“What?”
“Oh, come on. We all had one. Mine was Doctor Vera Clearwater. She was stunning, intelligent…and much too old for me.”
“I never had a crush on a professor.”
“Don’t lie to me. Who was it?”
“I don’t think I want to tell you…”
Emberly grabbed my hand, batting her eyelashes. “Oh come on, CeCe. Tell me. Imustknow.”
“Fine.” I winced, stepping over a patch of mud. “Do you remember Doctor Stonewell?”
Emberly’s jaw dropped. “He’s old enough to be our father!”
“Shhhh. I know. There was just something about him when I was younger.”
“But he was so boring. He would drone on and on about the life cycle of plants with the most monotone voice. How in the world could you find that attractive?”
“I don’t know. I?—”
“What are you ladies talking about?” Liam came up from behind us and draped his arms around our shoulders.
“We were just talking about which professors we had crushes on when we were younger. You know, inspired by Sylvie’s little crush on you,” Emberly answered.
Liam rolled his eyes. “She’s honestly driving me crazy,” he whispered. “So who was your crush, Cerise? No, wait. Let me guess.”
I stayed quiet, ignoring the warmth of Liam’s hand on my shoulder and the sudden pounding of my heart. He’d let go of Emberly, but hadn’t removed himself from me and I couldn’t decide if it irritated me or if I liked it.
“It was probably someone…boring,” he said with amusement.
“How presumptuous of you?—”
“Someone who was just as obsessed with work as you are…” he continued.
“Did you ever know Doctor Stonewell?” Emberly asked, interrupting Liam.
Liam gasped. “Oh, please tell me that’s not true.” He studiedme and I stayed silent. “Really, sunshine? I mean, I expected you’d crush on someone like Ambrose Yearwood, but Stonewell?”
I froze at the mention of my ex, my stomach doing a flip. Did he know I had actually been in a relationship with Ambrose? A year long one?
“Excuse me?” I asked, glancing at Liam as we continued our trek.
Emberly gave me a searching look and joined the front of the party, giving us space.
Liam studied me. “Yes?”
“Ambrose Yearwood? Of all people…I can’t believe—” I shook my head, unsure what to say. “Why would you think I would crush onhim?”
Liam adjusted his glasses. “He just seems like the type you’d like. All work and no play. Never smiles…uptight…”
“Is that what you really think of me?” I couldn’t help myself. “That I’m so boring, I would choose to be with someone even more tedious than you believe me to be?”
Liam’s smile faded. “Cerise. If I offended you, I sincerely apologize. That’s not what I—I don’t think?—”
“Enough. We’re here. It’s time to get to work.”
