Bad Teacher

“Aww … so he is lonely …” I frown and rub my lips together.

Mom places her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m sure there’s another female bird in the neighborhood.”

“How do you know?” I ask.

“Well, I don’t know why. I just know it.”

I sigh. “Everything that lives eventually dies. Everyone will feel the heartbreak. Even that bird.”

She bends over and says, “Oh, Hailey …”

“It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but …” She smiles. “Every human and animal should be grateful for every second they spend here on earth. Life isn’t a guarantee, it’s a gift we should cherish. Just like love.”

“It’s over before you know it,” I mutter, still staring at the bird as it flutters away into the distance. “Once in a lifetime, gone, just like that.”

“You’re just saying that because you think the bird is lonely.”

“Well, it’s the truth,” I say.

“Love can always be found again,” my mom whispers. “Even if you lose it. You just have to look in the right places.”

“Even us?”

She smiles. “All of us.” Then she grabs my hand and says, “C’mon. I baked some cookies that are waiting for you.” She winks as she pulls me along. “And maybe a scoop of ice cream on top.”

A beaming smile forms on my face, and for a moment, I can forget all about the heartaches of this world.

Even if it only lasts for a moment. That moment is one I’ll cherish.

* * *

Present

Why am I doing this again?

Oh right, because I stupidly thought college was a good idea.

It would’ve been, if the dude I slept with wasn’t my fucking professor … and staring at me every other minute.

Every time he drops a question, bam, he gives me that intense look again. And each time, I blush like hell. I swear I can see him smile when I do. It’s like he thinks it’s funny. And you know what? I’m embarrassed as fuck, but I can’t keep my eyes off him either. That cocky smile just does something to me, makes me remember all the dirty things he did to me. And then I swoon all over … over a guy I can’t have.

God, this is fucked up.

But I can’t leave either.

Not again.

That would be even more embarrassing, so I stick it out until the class is over.

I pack up as quickly as I can, trying not to look at him as I get up from my seat.

But then his voice rings through the auditorium. “Oh, Hailey Walters … I still want to discuss something with you.”

I freeze in place as the other students pass me.

“I’ll see you later then,” Lesley mouths at me before walking out.

I wanted to grab her, but she was too far ahead for me to beg her to stay.

Fuck.

Now, I’m all alone with him.

I spin on my heels only to be met with a smug smile and a stare. He’s still sitting behind his desk, his hand placed firmly on the wood like he knows he’s got me cornered. Damn him.

“C’mon,” he says, beckoning me.

I step down the stairs slowly, not taking my eyes off him because I feel like he could just appear in front of me if I did. I stand in front of his desk as he looks up at me with discerning eyes that almost demand attention.

“Why so nervous?”

I swallow. “I’m not nervous.”

“I can see you fiddling your fingers.” He points, and I look down, then hide my hands behind my back, feeling caught doing something I didn’t even know I was doing.

“I just wanted to talk.”

“About what?” I ask.

“About us.”

The way he says it makes all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up … in a good way.

He leans on his desk and gets up, his chair scooting back inches from the imposing stance. “Let’s just get this out of the way, shall we? Do you want this to be awkward?”

“No, not really.”

“Me neither.” He steps away from his desk, and I instinctively turn to face him as he walks around to me. “Which is why I wanted to talk. I just want to know we’re on the same terms.”

“Depends on what those terms are,” I say, folding my arms.

“The terms being that you are my student and I am your teacher, and we are to behave accordingly.”

“Right.” I don’t understand where he’s going with this.

“We should act professionally,” he adds, nodding, as he paces around. He looks up at me as if he’s looking for an answer.

“Yes. But—”

He walks toward me, and then past me, circling around like a vulture stalking its prey. “And neither of us will talk about our private time together with anyone else. Agreed?”

“Okay … but that doesn’t mean I’m going to forget.”

As he passes me, I swear I can see him narrow his eyes. “Neither will I, Miss Walters. I could never.”