“Okay, so. Let’s get to the good stuff,” she says, smiling wide, her straight, white teeth peeking out between full, red lips. “Parties. Just because this town doesn’t have any clubs, doesn’t mean there aren’t any parties. The guys in Cashis Hall throw some of the best parties. The top two floors is where the party usually takes place.”
“On both floors?”
She nods. “Yep. Their doors stay open, and people just flow in and out.”
“Wow.”
“North Village is upperclassmen. They have townhomes and shit. The parties are okay, but…” she trails off, making a face. “And there’s one frat that throws amazing themed parties. Anyway, there will be a party this weekend. Celebrating the end of our first week and all that, and you better believe we’re gonna be there.”
I hesitate, but Ayanna doesn’t let me come up with any excuses.
“You won’t be the only new person there, so don’t think that.” She balls up her trash and puts it in the brown bag. “This will be a way to meet some more people. I mean, I know I’m pretty awesome, but I have a few more girls you should meet. Also, boys! There will be lots and lots of boys. And alcohol.”
I crack a grin. “Okay, I’ll go.”
“Oh, it was never a question.” She smiles and I laugh.
I’m loving Gaspar already.
5
My last class of the day gets out at four-fifteen, but I normally don’t leave campus until five-thirty or so. Sometimes I head to the library to grade papers, more often than not, I stay in my classroom or office and get the next day’s course work prepared. Since I don’t have papers to grade, I take the opportunity to leave earlier and run some errands before I go home.
As I’m leaving the building and heading to my car, a familiar voice calls out my name.
“Elijah.”
My steps slow down before coming to a stop. I spin around and force a grin. “Lorraine, how was your first day?”
She smiles, her high-heeled feet bringing her closer to me as the knee-length, tight black skirt accentuates her figure. Her white blouse already has a couple buttons undone, showing off her ample cleavage.
“Same as all the other first days, I suppose. And yours?”
“I guess I’d have to agree with you.” Except for the fact that a student I slept with over the weekend is in my class. But nobody needs to know that.
We continue the conversation as we walk to the parking lot. Lorraine teaches English Literature, and she and I have had a few encounters outside of work…of the sexual nature.
“How was your summer? Busy?” Her tone has a bit of a bite, and I can tell she’s wondering why I never reached out to her while we were off.
“Well, not any more than usual. How was yours?”
“It was fine. A little lonely. I ended up going and visiting my mom.”
“Well, that’s nice. I’m sure she enjoyed that,” I say, ignoring the part about being lonely.
Lorraine is a nice woman. She’s beautiful, sexy, and extremely smart. However, she’s quite clingy. After our first time together, everything was fine. After the second time, she tried staying at my house for the entire weekend. A three-day weekend, at that. The third time we were together, she started talking about taking a vacation together.
Maybe it’s because she’s recently divorced and trying to keep up with her ex-husband, who’s already moved on with someone else.
She makes a noise in the back of her throat. I’ve definitely annoyed her. “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Yes, you will,” I reply with a tight smile. “Have a good day.”
“Mhm,” she murmurs, giving me a wave with her fingers as she departs to her car.
Once in my black Audi, I put my briefcase in the passenger seat and head to the gas station. I have to fill up before I drive out to Royce’s place. I’m surprised he’s even home, considering he basically lives at his bar. But the text I got was also sent to Cillian, and he wants us at his house as soon as we can get there.
I drive up to the pump, kill the engine, and step outside. Loud music blasts from a car at the pump across from me. Students go in and out of the convenience store to either stock up on junk, energy drinks, or cigarettes. This particular store has some pretty good food inside, and since it’s near the campus, a lot of students head here to grab a quick and cheap meal.
As the gas fills my near-empty tank, I lean against my car and send a text to Royce to let him know I’ll be on my way soon.
I’m vaguely aware of another car pulling up on the other side of me, but then I hear my name being called once more. This time, it’s a little different.
“Eli...Professor Kingston?”
I glance up and find the person attached to the voice. Nova.
“Hey.” I glance back at my phone, hit send, then toss it through the open window and onto my seat.
“Didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” she says, coming around to the pump and inserting her debit card. “Must be my lucky day.”
I fight my instinct to flirt back. It’s obvious that’s what she’s doing, but I can’t enter this game with her. I have to make it clear that what we did on Saturday only happened because I didn’t know she was a college student. And now that she’s my student, nothing can ever happen again. “A lucky day to you is the first day of school, and running into a professor at a gas station?”
She grins, puts the nozzle in her tank, and leans against her car so she’s looking directly at me. “When the professor is you, yes.”
A tiny smirk threatens to play on my lips, so I angle
