Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
“So, I’ve heard.” He rubs a palm against my back. “I can’t risk doing the right thing anymore, though.”
I nod, inhaling his scent. “Since you’re awake, we should run down to that bakery and get cinnamon buns.”
“Or you could stop trying to distract me from the fact that you’re not in bed.”
“It’s not working?”
“No.” He smiles. “Not at all.”
I stare into his eyes as he runs his fingers through my hair.
“Do you want kids?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Come again?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not pregnant yet.”
“Yet?”
“What about marriage? Can you see yourself getting married again?”
“Where is this coming from?”
“I’m just thinking about the future and our timelines for dreams.”
“You have plenty of time for that.” He looks amused. “Just live your life as you want and things will be fine.”
“I’m thinking we’ll have to try for the baby after I finish graduate school, or maybe we can plan for me to complete half and I’ll take a gap year or so until the baby turns two. That depends on whether you’ve proposed to me by then, right?”
He kisses my forehead. “Go to sleep, Genevieve.”
As if he can tell that isn’t happening, that I’m willing to stand out here all night and talk about the future, he grabs my hand and pulls me into the bedroom.
He pushes me onto the mattress and kisses me until I forget every thought. Then he grabs my ankles and buries his head between my thighs, slowly devouring me until I orgasm.
I succumb to sleep shortly after, and when I wake up again, Liam is right where he should be.
5
GENEVIEVE
Thesis Week
Iarrive at the theater two hours early. Armed with tea and donuts, I begin setting up the stage for what I hope will be my best presentation to date.
It’s “Love is a Choice,” and even Liam had to agree with every point after he heard me rehearsing again yesterday.
Me
I hope your morning meeting with the board goes well!
I’m already in the classroom ready to hear about it.
It’s not until Principal Peterson steps onstage that I realize I’m not alone.
“Good morning, Miss Edwards.” He smiles. “I see that you’re super excited for today.”
“Very much so, sir.”
“Mind if I indulge in one of these?” He points to my donut box.
“Not at all.” I push it closer.
He takes out the one I bought for Liam, but I don’t mention it.
“I hope you’ll consider paying us the occasional visit during your college years,” he says. “You’re the brightest student I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Punishments, aside, you know.”
I smile. “Thank you for the compliment, sir.”
“It’s not a compliment, it’s a fact. If you need any last minute calls to admissions or recommendation letters in the coming weeks, just say the word.”
“I will, sir.”
He steals one more donut before taking a seat, and my classmates begin filing into the room to set up.
Ten minutes before class starts, I notice that Liam still isn’t here.
Me
Hey. You okay? Is the board meeting running that long?
Principal Peterson stands and approaches the stage.
“Good morning everyone,” he says.
“Good morning, Principal Peterson,” we say in unison.
“Before we begin, I want to be the first to let you know that Professor Donovan put in his letter of resignation this morning. It’s effective immediately.”
WHAT?!
Whispers and murmurs swirl around the room, and my heart jumps out of my chest.
He has to be joking.
“He regrets that he couldn’t be here in person to tell you, but it was an urgent and deeply personal matter.” He shoots us a sympathetic glance. “I’ll find a way to inform him about your presentations, and we do hope that he’ll return someday.”
“Now!” He smiles. “Let’s get started with Thesis Day! Miss Edwards, since you were here bright and early, would you like to go first?”
“He said it was an urgent and deeply personal matter?” The words tumble from my lips.
“Uh, yes.” He taps the mic. “Sorry if anyone else didn’t hear me clearly. He didn’t offer any further details. You can take your place up here whenever you’re ready.”
Stunned, I make my way to the stage and force a smile.
I complete my presentation just as I rehearsed with Liam, except this time I have to ignore the painful splintering in my chest.
“This concludes my presentation,” I say at the end, and everyone in attendance gives me a standing ovation.
Just as he predicted.
I call Liam the moment class ends.
No answer.
I try again.
No luck.
Knowing that this has to be a mistake or the start of a bad dream, I rush to his cottage and slam my hand against the door.
It swings open seconds later, revealing Miss Shaw.
“Hello, Miss Edwards.” She smiles. “How are you today?”
“Confused,” I say. “Mr. Donovan wasn’t able to attend our thesis presentations, and I—I mean, we were wondering if we could see him here instead.”
“Of course, I’m just here to account for all the academy’s property.” She motions for me to follow her inside. “I’ve heard your class has been quite impressive this year. He bragged about it before he left.”