Lessons From the Professor

“I refuse to do this with you.” Sutton stood from the couch and headed to her room.

“I finally have dirt on the lily-white Sutton!”

Sutton slammed the door to her room behind her, shutting out Carissa’s taunts as she eased down on to the side of her bed. How had things spiraled out of control so fast?

Chapter Ten

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look lik

e hell.”

Sutton snorted as she took in the concerned expression on Leigh’s face. It had been almost a month since she’d last heard from Sidney, and the tension in her condo was mounting by the day. She and Carissa were like ghosts, as they moved around the small space in silence. Every day she expected her Mother to call ranting and raving about all the things she’d heard from Carissa. That worry on top of her job and the sleepless nights filled wondering what Sidney was up to had taken their toll.

“I feel like it, too,” Sutton said. She sighed as she leaned her head against the locker.

“What’s going on? James said Sidney has had a bee in his bonnet for the past few weeks, too. I can’t help but think the two are related.”

“We had an argument, and he said we both needed time to think about what we wanted to get out of our relationship.”

“Why would he say that?”

“Carissa—”

“Oh God! I know she’s your sister, but I could kill that wench. She’s so jealous of you she can barely stand it.”

“We had it out. She’s convinced I resent her, and I’m jealous of her worry free way of life.”

“Ugh.”

“My thoughts exactly. It’s like a battle-field in the house. We avoid one another as much as possible and don’t speak when our paths do cross, and at any moment I expect my Mom to call and read me the riot act.”

“Why?”

“Carissa saw me in my training collar and went off on a jag about how she finally had dirt on the lily-white golden child. Dealing with her and that mess on top of this separation from Sidney is a bit much.”

“What happened?”

“I’m really not sure. I guess I hesitated to call him my boyfriend, and he thought it made me ashamed of him somehow.”

Leigh sighed and shook her head.

“You know something.”

“I do, but it’s not my place to say. Just don’t give up on him, Sutton. He has a good reason for over-reacting.”

“I can understand that to a point, but how long does he expect me to wait?”

“You can always go to him.”

“Sidney didn’t strike me as the type of man who wanted to be chased.”

“Don’t we all want to know someone cares about us enough to bring us back when we pull away?”

Sutton smiled. Leigh had a point.

“You’re right; I can at least give him a call and feel things out.”

“There’s my girl.”