The Girl Next Door

Before Devon can continue yapping, Dr. Hayes takes her position at the front of the classroom. I glance around and realize the lecture hall is packed to the gills. Since this is a required course, there’s a mix of students. The freshmen are the easiest to pick out. They look all fresh-faced and eager to learn. The older ones, like me, look bored and want to get this over with.

“Hello everyone and welcome to Composition!” This woman is a little too bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for a nine o’clock on a Monday morning. She needs to take it down a notch. Or maybe several. “My name is Rebecca Hayes, but you may call me Dr. Hayes.”

A few people chuckle as she continues talking. I fidget as boredom sets in before sneaking a peek at my phone and wincing.

Three minutes.

Only one hundred and eighty seconds have ticked by so far. How am I going to make it through this class for a full semester?

I force my attention to the professor as she delves into the requirements and expectations. A small part of me dies when she mentions a fifteen-page paper due at the end of the semester.

Fuck my life.

She might as well expect me to write a full-on book.

“Damn, but she’s hot,” Devon whispers, his eyes laser focused on Dr. Hayes. “I’ve got a boner with her name written on it.”

I scrunch my nose and glare. “Seriously, dude? I didn’t need to know that. From now on, keep all dick comments to yourself.”

“What can I say? It’s the truth.” He glances around the lecture hall. “Trust me, I’m not the only one with a chubby. Why do you think this class is so jammed packed?”

“Because it’s a requirement.” Duh.

“Did you check out her legs?” He doesn’t wait for an answer. “Doesn’t she make you hot for teacher?”

He snickers when I roll my eyes.

“She’s fine.”

Note to self—find a new place to sit.

I can’t have Devon chirping in my ear all semester, or I’ll end up failing the class.

“Bro, she’s way better than that,” he murmurs, salivating all over himself.

This guy is killing me. It takes effort to harness all of my concentration and tune out his noise. I don’t understand why he’s flipping out over this woman. Sure, she’s pretty with blond hair cut in a sleek bob and deep brown eyes that sparkle with intelligence as they sweep over the lecture hall.

Most professors aren’t exactly style icons. The word dowdy comes to mind. Although there’s nothing frumpy about this woman. The black pencil skirt and white blouse she’s wearing hug her generous curves. The first two buttons of her shirt have been left open, displaying a hint of cleavage.

All right, fine. I get it. She’s a hot professor. But there’s no way my mind can go there when I’m concerned about the workload she’ll be piling on. Had I remembered this course was a requirement, I would have taken it last spring when I wasn’t in season.

Now I’m fucked.

This class will bury me alive.

I clear that depressing thought from my head and zone back in as she says, “I’d like to introduce my teaching assistant.” She points and smiles to someone sitting in the front row. My gaze follows her line of sight until a girl rises from her seat and turns to face the lecture hall.

A little zip of surprise sizzles through me when I realize it’s Mia.

“Damn, she’s hot, too.” Devon rubs his hands together with anticipation. “This is going to be an awesome class.”

I shoot him a scowl. “Shut the fuck up, Baker.”

“All I’m saying is that she’s hot.” He holds up his hands and shakes his head as if he can’t understand my irritation. “It’s a compliment. Chicks love compliments.”

I huff out a breath. “You really don’t understand anything about women, do you? One of these days, some nice girl is going to kick your ass.” My annoyance drains at that thought. “I only hope I’m around to see it happen.”

“Please,” he snorts, “the ladies love me. I have to fight them off with a stick.”

Devon isn’t wrong. The entire football team, even the benchwarmers, have their fair share of jersey chasers. It’s a perk of being an athlete at Wesley. Most of these guys enjoy taking full advantage of it. It’s easy for the attention to go straight to your head.

Both of them.

Once again, I focus on Mia.

Maybe this class won’t be so bad after all.

Not that I wasn’t expecting it, because it seems to be her modus operandi, but Mia has gone into avoidance mode. I’d hoped that we could level up our relationship after what occurred at Bang Bang, but that hasn’t happened.

Which is fine.

She wants to be chased?

I’m game.

Chapter Fifteen

Mia

“I’ll see everyone on Wednesday,” Dr. Hayes announces, dismissing class for the day. Before the last word leaves her mouth, people scatter like rats trying to abandon a sinking ship.