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I’m taking a sip of coffee when my mother places her hand on top of the one I’m not using. I set my mug down and look at her. Her eyes are filled with affection, she quickly glances at my dad, who’s seated on my other side.

Helen is across from me, happily eating a muffin, and oblivious to the way Mom and Dad are smiling at me.

“Sweetheart, are you and Mr. Knight seeing each other?” Mom asks.

Dad hums and nods his head. “You two would make a cute couple.”

Mom claps her hands together. “Oh, and he and Ruthie were absolutely darling at the convention!”

“He was so different from what I would’ve expected with his reputation and all.” Dad chuckles. “But he’s a genuinely nice guy. We really enjoyed him.”

Helen drops her muffin, listening intently. She’s been staying with me, but our parents have stayed at Gram’s place. So, she obviously missed whatever conversation Mom and Dad had last night after dinner.

“Mom, Dad, you’re right, he is great. But nothing is going on between me and Colby.”

One of Mom’s eyebrows arches. “I know we’re not hip and cool anymore, but we’re not blind.”

“Whether you realize it or not, there’s definitely something going on between you and Mr. Knight,” Dad says with a knowing look.

Helen grins. “Oh yeah. The way you two stare at each other…” she sighs and falls back in her seat, fanning her face dramatically.

“I don’t think we’re right for each other,” I argue.

“Do you feel that way because of his past? Because people can change,” Dad says. “This may surprise you, but I was quite the ladies’ man myself back in the day.”

“Oh, yes. I practically had to fight the girls off with a stick!” Mom smiles fondly at him.

My brothers are quite handsome, so I don’t have a hard time believing it. But I have to withhold a giggle since my dad is now sitting here with glasses and pleated, denim shorts.

“Colby is just a flirt. You guys are reading into this way too much. We’re just friends.”

Dad puts his hands up in defeat. “Okay, whatever you say.”

“Plus, there’s this really nice professor at work, and I’m hoping we have a date soon.” I smile, still trying to convince them all that I’m not interested in Colby. “He asked for my phone number a few days ago.”

I should be thrilled that Dexter finally asked for my number. But for some reason, I’m not as excited about the prospect of a date with him as I thought I would be.

“Oh sweetie! That’s great.” Mom rubs my shoulder affectionately.

Helen perks up again. “Oooh, the British one? You have all these hot guys fighting over you,” she groans. “I want to move to the city and meet hot guys.”

“You’re way too young to be worrying about that,” Dad says sternly.

I stifle a laugh and share a secret look with my sister. A look that says, ‘our parents are ridiculous.’

* * *

Monday morning, my lecture ends, and the students file out of my classroom. The hockey boys, of course, stop to talk to me. They both appear to be annoyed, and entitled, as usual.

“Hey Dr. Woodcock,” the blond one says, swooshing his hair out of his eyes. “Listen, our game went into overtime last night and we weren’t able to study for this morning’s quiz. So, we’re going to ask one more time for an extension before we give you a bad rating on Rate Your Professor Dot Com.”

Wow. Shaking in my boots. “I’m sorry you guys are having a hard time keeping up with your studies. And I understand your hockey schedule is grueling. But what if you make it to the NHL? You’d be balancing brand deals, team activities and duties, and possibly even a family someday. You’ll be working hard. You’ll have a lot to juggle. Maybe this is preparing you for that.” I give the boys my kindest smile. “And that’s coming straight from the mouth of my good friend, Colby Knight.”

Their faces go from annoyed, to amused. A second later, they’re both cracking up. “Wow, good one Dr. W.” The dark-haired one can barely talk in between bouts of laughter.

“Yeah, she’s great friends with Colby Knight,” the blond one titters. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year.

Their jabs don’t bother me. In fifteen years, they’ll be like Colby’s dad, talking to people about how they could’ve gone pro. And I’ll be tenured by then. Probably married to Dexter with a couple of ridiculously smart children. Only, it’s not Dr. Hawthorne I’m picturing. Instead, I’m picturing a man with dark hair and rippling arm muscles, rolling around on the floor wrestling with children. Children who have the same dark hair and bright-blue eyes as their handsome daddy. Daddy Colby. I break into goosebumps and have to close my eyes for a moment and force myself to replace the daydream with Dexter instead. I’ve obviously been spending too much time around Colby, that’s all this is. I’m definitely not drawn to him in an effervescent way that I can’t explain.