Read Online Memoir in the Making: A May-December Romance by Adrian J. Smith - Free Book Online Page B

papers to students. She called out each student’s name and handed them back their papers. Ainsley was in the middle of the pile, and they made eye contact when Meredith handed hers back. A shiver ran down Meredith’s back. Some students booked it out of the room without looking at their papers and others opened them, immediately searching for the grade at the end.
    Ainsley was one of the latter. She flipped through each page and read over the notes, no expression on her face. Meredith packed up her own bag, more slowly than she normally would have on paper-handing-back day. She watched Ainsley with interest as she flipped through the end and read the note. Ainsley must have read it twice because it took her long enough to look up and around the room.
    They made eye contact and another shiver ran down Meredith’s spine. She put her glasses on the closed buttons of her jacket and stood up straight to give Ainsley the exact same look, hoping for some kind of reaction. It would be so much better if she wasn’t the only one struggling with the attraction to the depths she was. Meredith blanched at the thought and grabbed her bag, walking toward the door.
    “Meredith,” Ainsley said.
    “Yeah?”
    “You said in this note you wanted to talk. Have time now?”
    Worrying her lower lip, Meredith glanced at her watch on her hand and calculated how long it would be before she could run home for the day. She had no office hours on Thursday and could easily have slipped home after the class.
    “Sure. I have time now,” Meredith answered and nodded her head in the direction of the hallway.
    They walked back to Meredith’s office in companionable silence, and Meredith ushered Ainsley in, shutting the door behind them. After she shut the door, she regretted her choice and wanted to open it again, if only to make sure nothing happened, but it was already too late. She found herself walking back to her desk and sitting down in her chair, setting her bag against the base of her desk.
    “So what was the note about?”
    “I think you have real talent.”
    Ainsley didn’t say anything in response. Meredith’s stomach churned and boiled with the possibilities of what could happen. She couldn’t quite read Ainsley’s expression, but she was worried it would turn into the same conversation they’d had over a week ago.
    “Because?” Ainsley finally asked.
    “Because what? You have talent. I recognized that talent.”
    Ainsley shook her head and stood up, heading for the door. Meredith shot up out of her seat and put her hand on Ainsley’s as soon as her hand covered the doorknob. They looked at each other, Meredith barely towering over Ainsley with only the help of her heels to keep her taller. Ainsley’s dark eyes looked up at her, anger swirling in her irises.
    “What are you doing?” Meredith asked.
    “Leaving. There’s no point in me being here.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “You obviously gave me this grade because of the other night. I don’t know if it’s because you feel bad for me or what, but clearly it affected your judgment. Please, let me leave.”
    “Ainsley—that’s not why I gave you the grade.”
    “I never get grades like this on first papers of the year.”
    “Then take it as a compliment. Please, sit down.”
    Ainsley’s jaw clenched, the muscles in her cheek working quickly. They locked gazes again, and Ainsley promptly turned around and sat back down in the wooden chair across from Meredith’s desk.
    “Thank you,” Meredith whispered and sat down in her own chair. “I did not give you the grade because of the other night. It’s not how I grade.”
    Ainsley rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry if I don’t believe you.”
    “Ainsley…” Meredith paused for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to explain to Ainsley what had happened. “…There’s a reason why I have you put cover pages on your papers and why I don’t ask for the name in the header. I don’t want to know whose