Lessons From the Professor(21)
“I guess Carissa decided to change her overnight plans. You said you wanted to meet some of my family. It looks like you’re about to get your wish granted.”
She wrung her hands together, nervous about what her sister would say.
“Are you ashamed to be seen with me?” he asked. His body tense as he studied her.
“No, it’s nothing like that—”
“Sutton, I saw another car in the drive way,” Carissa said. She entered the living room and froze.
“Who’s this?”
“This is my … boyfriend Sidney.”
“Hello,” Sidney said. He stood and offered his hand as she walked over and shook. Her eyes narrowed as she gave him a careful once over.
“I’m Carissa. I can’t say I’ve heard much about you.”
“Carissa!” Sutton felt her face heat as she fought the urge to cover her eyes with her hands. She knew this would be a disaster, and it would only be matter of days before the rest of the family blew up her phone.
“Well, we are both private people.”
Sutton tried to read Sidney’s face, but it was a blank canvas. Her stomach knotted as her stomach twisted itself into knots. A few hours ago she’s been sure they were well on their way to happy coupledom. Now, she could only watch helplessly as they crashed and burned.
“Hmm. It’s nice to meet you. How do you know Sutton?”
“Leigh’s husband is my best friend.”
“Oh, are you in the health care business as well?”
“No, I’m actually a professor.”
“What do you teach?”
“Human Behavior Studies.”
“That must be a very interesting field.”
“I think so,” he said, a smile on his lips as silence fell over the room.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your night, so I’ll just head to my room now. It was good to meet you, Sidney. Good night, Sutton.”
Carissa fixed her with a glare that spoke volumes. She had plenty to say about her new beau.
“Well, that killed the mood,” Sutton said. A heavy sigh left her lips as Sidney frowned.#p#分页标题#e#
“If you aren’t ashamed to be seen with me, I’m not sure why you were so rattled.”
“Sidney, I told you I’m not ashamed of you! I just don’t look forward to the third degree my family is going to give me.”
“Because I’m eighteen years older than you?”
“No, because they’re nosey as all get out, and think they know what’s best for everyone.”
“And what will you say?”
“What do you mean?”
“What will you tell them about us?”
“That I’ve met a nice intelligent man who works as a professor for a local university. We get along swimmingly, I enjoy spending time with him, and I look forward to seeing where things will go from here.”
“Maybe we need to take some time and think about what we both want.”
“Sidney, why are you acting like this?”
“Like what, Sutton?”
“So cold and stand-offish.”
“I’m too old to play games. I want a woman who’s proud to be on my arm, and has no problem facing a bit of adversity to be with me. Our age difference will always make people talk, and our other activities have the potential to cause even more speculation if they were to ever be discovered. I need to know you’re prepared to deal with that before we go any further with this relationship. I had a wonderful time tonight, but I think its best that I be on my way now.”
She felt like she’d missed something vital as he stood and headed to the door with her trailing behind him.
“It’s hard for me to believe this is all coming from a chance encounter with my sister. I can’t help but feel as if I’ve missed something here, Sid.”
“Do you think my request is unreasonable?”
“Not at all, it’s your complete one-eighty that has me boggled.”
“Women aren’t the only ones who wish to protect their hearts.” He pursed his lips and clenched his jaw. Whatever was going on right now was not just about what had happened in the living room.
“I think that’s unfair. There’s something you’re not telling me.”
He glanced away from her, but the avoidance of eye contact spoke volumes. He was hiding something.
“I don’t think I’m the only one who needs to reevaluate what they want, Sidney. We can’t work through our issues together if you choose to keep me in the dark on things. I’ve been very open with you from the start—”
“Except when Jackson called.”
“I explained that to you.”