“Watch the language,” Elisa snapped as she rushed over to lift Gregory out of his stroller. “And give my sister a chance to explain before you go all caveman on her behalf.”
“He hasn’t done anything wrong,” I hurriedly explained. “He doesn’t even look at or call on me. We’ve barely spoken to each other, not even in class, which is saying a lot considering professors and students are supposed to interact.”
Elisa handed the baby off to Brysen and sat down next to me again, hugging me to her side. “Is that why you’ve been so distracted lately? You’re suffering from unrequited love?”
“I think so,” I sighed. “There have been moments when I would have sworn the connection went both ways, but I think it’s time for me accept the fact that he would have done or said something if he was even remotely interested in me.”
“Unless he’s been biding his time until you aren’t his student anymore,” Brysen grumbled.
“You mean like you did when you pretended you didn’t want to buy our house so I’d be forced to show you a dozen homes you had no interest in buying?” Elisa teased.
Brysen pointed between himself and my sister. “Our situation”—then his finger turned in my direction—“is entirely different from some professor perving on your baby sister.”
“Ignore that part and focus on the first part of what my caveman hubby had to say because as he once told me, he’s a man so he understands how guys think. Which means it’s entirely possible that your professor really is interested.”
“Well, he did tell me he wanted to see me after the exam tomorrow.”
Elisa jabbed a finger into my side. “See, maybe Professor Hottie has been keeping his hands, eyes, and voice from you all semester long because he didn’t trust himself around you. Now that your class is over, he could be ready to make his move.”
“I don’t know,” I murmured, finding it hard to believe it was remotely possible. Not after the way he’d ignored me for months. “If he was waiting because of the college’s fraternization rule then why would he act now?”
“Because you won’t be an undergrad student there after this week,” Elisa answered.
If only it were that simple. “But he doesn’t know I’m graduating early. And, what happens if I choose to stay here for school? We’d have the same problem.”
“You’ll have months before the rule will be an issue again,” she reminded me. “And that’s only if you decide not to go to Berkley. Who knows what will happen in those months? It might not even be an issue by then.”
My conviction to move past my feelings for Gabe flew out the window. How the heck was I supposed to pass any of my exams when the only thing I was going to be able to think about between now and tomorrow afternoon was whether or not Brysen and Elisa were right?
Gabe’s class was my favorite, and not just because he was the professor. The exam should have been a breeze because I’d been obsessed with American literature for years. I knew the material inside and out, but I couldn’t for the life of me focus on a single question. I’d barely slept in the last twenty-four hours. All I could do was obsess about what was going to happen when I met Gabe in his office after class. I didn’t crack open a single book as I counted down the hours until his class began. A decision I might come to regret, once I received my grade for my senior seminar since I had no idea if I was coherent during my presentation this morning or not.
I might not fare any better on Gabe’s test either. It felt like I’d been sitting here forever, but I was only halfway through the questions. I glanced up to check the clock and blushed when I found Gabe’s gaze on me. He was blatant in his perusal, his hazel eyes locked on my legs. I uncrossed them and a surge of power rushed through my veins as I watched his eyes heat. Then he lifted his gaze to my face and shook his head, gesturing to the test packet on my desk and circling his finger in a you better get moving gesture. So with damp panties and a brain that was exclusively focused on whatever he wanted to talk to me about in his office, instead of on my answers, I finished the exam and hoped I managed to pass.
When I handed him my packet, he slipped something into my palm. “Wait for me in my office.”
His voice was a low murmur, sending shivers down my spine. Glancing down, I found a key in my hand. I gave him a slight nod and hurried from the classroom, stunned by this turn of events. It was starting to look like Elisa and Brysen were right. Why else would Gabe give me the key to his office?