Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 34941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
"She just said she wasn't your girlfriend," I correct. "And she's my student. I know you don't attend much class, but let me remind you of something—this is college."
"Dad! Come on," he groans, turning his attention back to the girl next to me. "Noelle, baby, just come back home and we can talk. You're not yourself lately and–"
"I'm not myself?" She stands, putting her hands on her hips. "Are you kidding me? I broke up with you, and you can't accept that. What? Did you think it would just magically fix itself if we both ignored it for long enough?"
"Why wouldn't it? I'm your boyfriend, and you're my girl. Isn't that enough?"
"No," she says. "It isn't. And I'm not."
"Then what is? If it's money, or school, or something else, I can help you."
"This isn't about that." She’s fuming, and I get more pissed by the second, watching her gather her things and storm past Danny out the door. "Thank you for your help Professor," she says, stopping to look at me one more time. Her face softens. "It was...fun. A lot of fun. See you in class."
"Noelle, wait," Danny calls, taking off after her.
I stand there, staring at the empty doorway. I could have just ruined my career for a girl. Hell, I probably still would if she walked back in here right now. Instead, I'm stuck with my disrespectful son.
"What the hell was that about?"
He scoffs. "She's just playing hard to get is all. So she was here for a tutoring session or what?"
"Sure," I snap dismissively. "Something tells me you're mistaking 'playing hard to get' and uninterested. Leave the girl alone, Danny."
"What? So you can move in?" He sneers. "Yeah, right. I saw the way you just looked at her. You're too old for her, and I'm her boyfriend."
"You were her boyfriend," I repeat, enunciating the past tense. I've never wanted to strike my son before, but I feel my hands balling into fists beside me.
"Whatever. Noelle and I will work things out, don't you worry about it. She's a student anyway like you said." He waves his hand as if he's done with the subject. "Anyway, can I borrow a few bucks? My card is maxed."
"No."
"Dad, please. You've got money."
"Your card is maxed because you spent it all. Now go home and get to work on that term paper you've been avoiding."
He glares but doesn't protest. Instead, he leaves, slamming the door behind him. I sit in the quiet office, thinking about everything that just happened.
"Fuck."
I can't believe I was so close to giving in and kissing her, and if it wasn't for Danny barging in, I might have.
2
NOELLE
I'm almost running as I leave Professor Nolan's office, turning down hallways until I know I'm completely alone. Once I'm there, I lean against the tile wall and slide down it like my muscles have given out, the cold of the ceramic welcome after feeling like I was about to burst into flames.
When my butt hits the floor, I cover my face with my hands and groan. What in the world is wrong with me? I definitely shouldn't have been lusting after my professor, and all of that is made so much worse that he's apparently Danny's dad because of course he is! I can't have a single thing, even a crush on an admittedly off-limits older man, without Danny showing up to ruin it. The fact that logically, he can't help who his father is isn't lost on me, but I'm too annoyed to let logic get in the way of my bad mood.
How can they even be related? Professor Nolan is a gentleman and a scholar. He's serious and dedicated and has this presence that just oozes maturity. On the other hand, Danny is immature and selfish, and while I don't think he's necessarily stupid, he's certainly not as smart. If it wasn't for Danny, I'd still be at the top of my class. Instead, I'm struggling just to pass this quarter before the break.
I didn't see how Danny was ruining my life at first, too caught up with finally having a boyfriend. Danny gave me 110% of the attention I thought I wanted, to the point I was talking to him as soon as I woke up and until the very second I went to sleep. It was fun...for a few days being the center of attention like that. But having to give Danny an equal amount of attention gave me basically no time for school, and when I tried to slow things down, he whined and complained and guilt-tripped me until I gave it. It became a game where he could see how much of my time he could take up, buying me gifts knowing I didn't have money to do the same, and telling me I could repay him instead with my time.