The Professor (Forbidden Encounters 1)

I need luck today. Well, more comfort than luck really. I’m back at school for my second semester. Although I busted my ass in high school and got a full academic scholarship to St. Jacobs University. I feel out of place. Maybe you’d say I have every right to be here but not everyone thinks so, and that’s what makes me uncomfortable. A girl from the wrong side of the tracks with a criminal father, who is in prison, shouldn’t be here. That’s the kind of looks I’m expecting to get. I got them all through my first semester. Thank God for that Christmas break. I really needed the time away from the small-town judgment. I get too many scornful looks from too many residents of Oak Valley.

Blowing out a breath, I burrow into my coat. I’ll just have to steel myself against the judgement like I always do. I’m here for a purpose and I’m going to fulfil that purpose. I’ve got a lot to prove as a Knight, and I’m going to show everyone that not all Knights will end up in prison.

“Abbs! Hey Abbs!”

I look up to see a familiar face and smile. It’s Charlie, my friend from the diner where I work part time. She’s waving excitedly. I swear, I don’t know where she gets so much energy from. It’s like she’s always in a state of hyperactivity. Her bubbly personality matches her in every way. I’m glad I’ve seen her because I need the extra boost she tends to give people when she is around them.

I’ve known her for years, but we’ve only become friends since we graduated high school. She was always a year ahead, so we didn’t cross paths much. It’s kind of a weird friendship since she’s the police chief’s daughter, and I come from an infamous family known for criminal activities. Charlie is really cool. One of the few who doesn’t look at me like I’m poor scum from the worst side of town. She doesn’t think I’m going to end up like my dad. Charlie believes in me, something I find hard to come by these days.

“Hey,” I say happily.

Her wide green eyes smile just as much as her lips do. She pulls me in for a hug. “Welcome back from your fancy getaway.”

“I wouldn’t call it fancy and I got back last week so you’re way late, Ms. President of the welcome committee.”

She laughs. “I haven’t set eyes on you since you got back, so accept my late welcome and be grateful.”

I snort. “Thanks.” After I got back, I took a week off from work, so we haven’t seen each other.

She flings an arm around my shoulders and leads me towards the biggest building on the campus. “How was it? Tell me everything. Did you finally lose your v-card?”

“Oh, my God. Say that a little louder I don’t think the rest of the town heard you.” I give her a heated glare.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

I playfully elbow her in her side, and she giggles. “Really, how was it?”

“It was great. I’ve never been anywhere, so it was exciting. And warm.” Funnily enough, I would have lost my v-card if I hadn’t come to my senses. The memory of Bryce, the handsome stranger I’d fooled around with, warms me from the inside out. He’s become the star feature of all my female wet dreams since our encounter. I wonder what would have happened that night if he hadn’t been such a gentleman with self-control. He had wanted to go further, I saw it in his eyes. If he hadn’t stopped, I would have let him go further.

Charlie sighs and looks skyward. “Ugh, Christmas on the beach. Must be nice. In the meantime, I was here freezing my ass off. If my dad wasn’t such a stickler for Christmas with the family, I would have been in Cancun with you and Lucy.”

“Next time.” I push thoughts of my vacation escapades aside. I’m not even going to mention it to Charlie. She’ll get too excited...as she does about everything.

“Oh, are you implying a girls’ trip for the near future?”

I scoff. “The near future is out of the question. It took me a freaking year to save enough for Mexico.” Now that I have school to focus on, I’ll probably be doing fewer hours at the diner sometimes.

Charlie wrinkles her nose. “One day, we’ll have our wild girl’s trip.”

“One day,” I mutter.

She gives me a squeeze. “So, freshman, you survived your first semester of college. How are you feeling about starting your second, you nerd?”

“I’m not a?”

“You got a full academic scholarship. You’re a nerd. Accept it.” She shrugs. “At least, you’re a cute one.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever. I’m nervous but happy, I guess. One less day before I graduate and get the hell out of here.”

“Here as in St. Jacobs University or…”

“You know damn well what I mean.” Pretty soon, I’m hightailing it out of Oak Valley, and I intend to take my sister with me.

“But, Abby,” she whines, “why would you want to leave me?”

I laugh at her dramatic tone. “Why would I want to stay in a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business and treat me and my family like social pariahs?”

“That’s not true.”