Discern Read Online Free PDF Page B

head.
    “Well, when you’re ready, we could just hang out at my place. No rush—the offer will always stand,” he smiled.
    “Thanks.”
      Ryan strolled out of the room. He really was a nice guy. Someone I should have considered instead of Braden, but no time to regret my decisions now.
    Andrew was still sitting at his desk. I panicked, as I quickly regretted not walking out with Ryan to avoid this situation.
    I gathered up my folder and papers, resting them on my right arm. I straightened out my t-shirt and began the walk to the front of the classroom—feeling a little uneasy. I was the last student left, and I had to walk right by his desk.
    “Miss Helms?” Andrew said in a soft, alluring tone.
    ‘Damn it,’ I thought to myself. My stomach began to feel a little queasy. “Yes, Andrew?” I asked, instinctively turning in his direction.
    “It’s truly nice to see you again,” he smiled and stood up.
    The lights flickered as he stepped closer. He immediately retreated. The flickering stopped. I had to be imagining things.
    “Yes, very surprising, but then again you had mentioned your interview here at the school,” I grinned, blushing ever so slightly.
    “You seemed to be elsewhere tonight.” He had noticed. “Everything okay?”
    “I’m sorry. I was taken aback by your presence, afraid that you would be upset with me. I promise I’ll be focused next week,” I said nervously.
    “I’m not upset with you. I was merely a stranger on the same flight.” His eyes were very accepting of my rejection.
    “And helped pick up my broken necklace,” I added, remembering back to that embarrassing moment.
    “I do remember that,” he smiled. “Don’t occupy your mind with worry. You’re my student now, and so it will purely be a teacher-student relationship.” His tone reassured any worries, but promptly crushed any hopes that I might have fabricated in my mind.
    “I have to confess something,” I said nervously.
    “Okay,” he smiled.
    “I lost your number, so I wasn’t able to call, but I guess it worked out for the best,” I said, trying not to sound disappointed.
    His smile faded and his eyes dropped. “Yes, probably so,” he agreed. I sensed a genuine sadness in his tone.
    “Well, then I’ll see you around.” My signals were all mixed, as were my feelings. To be close to Andrew again reminded me of that awful night.
    “I noticed you were in my Thursday night class and was going to go ahead and give you the syllabus,” he said, keeping the conversation going.
    “Oh, thanks. That’s very thoughtful.” I wasn’t sure what else to say in this situation.
    “I remember what it was like to be a student. It hasn’t been that long since I was in school,” he said handing me the paper. It was obvious it hadn’t been long since his college days. “You really do look young to be a Professor,” I observed.
    “I managed to keep my head in the books and concentrate only on school. It was good for my career, but terrible for my personal life,” he said.
    “You won’t have any trouble having a social life around here,” I blurted out, instantly mortified. “So I’ll see you Thursday night,” I said, turning quickly, rushing out of the room as fast as possible.
    I heard a slight chuckle. “See you Thursday.” His voice trailed off as I flew out into the hall.
    He probably thought I was a complete idiot, because every time I was around him I said or did something embarrassing.
    My head was swirling with conflicting thoughts. There was definitely something intriguing about Andrew, but I had no business fantasizing about another man, when I felt I had barely had enough time to grieve the last relationship properly. Plus, I was broken. I didn’t function like a normal twenty-year-old girl, and he didn’t seem like the type to stick around for the long haul—my heart couldn’t take any more.
    The next morning, I woke to the sound of my phone buzzing repeatedly. I reached my hand from