my blood pressure. So why was all this eating away at me so much?
Surely I wasn’t attracted to Ryan because I knew he was bad for me. And if I was, what kind of person did that make me? Knots formed in my stomach and I sank further down into my seat while I pondered the potential truth of Carter’s comments.
Before I knew it, class was over, and as everyone began piling out of the room, Ryan leisurely rested against his desk, rolling his pencil between his fingers as he watched me walk down the stairway to meet him, a cocky, expectant grin on his face.
I decided to keep things formal.
“Mr. Campbell, you wanted to see me?”
“Why yes, Ms. Parker, I did.” His grin turned to a frown when he heard my address, his tone uncertain. He stopped toying with the pencil and turned to grab a piece of paper. The room filled with silence as the last student shut the door.
“There’s something I wanted to show you, and I was wondering if you’d be interested in going with me.”
Going with him? Crap. “Okay...”
“It’s a writer’s conference in Portland, a month from now. I’ve had two spots reserved for months now, just in case one of my students wanted to attend. It’s a great chance to network and improve your craft.” He handed me the flyer.
I didn’t take my eyes off of it.
“No pressure or anything, just thought I’d offer.”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Sorry?”
“I mean, why me and not one of your other students?”
“Because I have faith in your work and I’m excited to see where it’s going to take you.” His eyes turned cold, his jaw set. “Is that sufficient for you?” He lifted himself from the desk, standing now.
“No, Mr. Campbell. I don’t think it is.”
“Is there a problem, Ms. Parker? Something you want to say to me?” Reaching for his tie, he began to loosen it, unraveling it with his fingers, angry eyes still locked on mine.
“I’m not sure I like being your pet. Or your science project, I don’t know which.”
“You have a smart mouth.”
“You make smart observances.”
“You’re going to make this invitation difficult, aren’t you?”
“If you’re dishonest with me, yes.”
“You’ll regret it if you don’t accept.”
“Is that a threat?”
“That’s a promise.”
I pursed my lips and peered out the window.
“Dishonest with you about what, exactly?”
My head snapped toward him again. “Are you inviting me to this because you sincerely want me to go to the conference or because you like me?”
“Like you? What is this, third grade? My answer is both. And that’s a problem because?”
“I’ve heard things about you.”
“Oh?” He plopped down onto the ledge of the desk.
“That you sleep with your students and cheat on your girlfriend.”
“Excuse me? I don’t have a girlfriend. And who I sleep with isn’t any of your damn business.” He walked around to the other side of his desk, removed his gray tweed jacket and flicked it onto his chair.
“I think it is my business if I’m going to be spending time with you off campus. And isn’t the redhead your girlfriend?”
“I’m assuming you’re referring to Alisha, and no, she is not my girlfriend. Not anymore. Damn it, Kate, who the hell do you think you are? You’re my student, I’m offering you a chance to go to this conference, and you’re going to take it. That’s it, nothing more.”
“ Excuse me?”
He veered around the desk to stand in front of me again, our faces inches apart, nose to nose. “You heard me. You’re going to go because you deserve it. You’re going to go because it’s an excellent opportunity for you, and nothing you hear about me on this damn campus or elsewhere is going to deter you, understand?” He licked his lips and rubbed his jaw, glare stone cold.
My fists balled at my sides and I could feel my face flush, a combination of fury at his audacity and nervousness from standing so close to his mouth again. I didn’t trust myself
Surely I wasn’t attracted to Ryan because I knew he was bad for me. And if I was, what kind of person did that make me? Knots formed in my stomach and I sank further down into my seat while I pondered the potential truth of Carter’s comments.
Before I knew it, class was over, and as everyone began piling out of the room, Ryan leisurely rested against his desk, rolling his pencil between his fingers as he watched me walk down the stairway to meet him, a cocky, expectant grin on his face.
I decided to keep things formal.
“Mr. Campbell, you wanted to see me?”
“Why yes, Ms. Parker, I did.” His grin turned to a frown when he heard my address, his tone uncertain. He stopped toying with the pencil and turned to grab a piece of paper. The room filled with silence as the last student shut the door.
“There’s something I wanted to show you, and I was wondering if you’d be interested in going with me.”
Going with him? Crap. “Okay...”
“It’s a writer’s conference in Portland, a month from now. I’ve had two spots reserved for months now, just in case one of my students wanted to attend. It’s a great chance to network and improve your craft.” He handed me the flyer.
I didn’t take my eyes off of it.
“No pressure or anything, just thought I’d offer.”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Sorry?”
“I mean, why me and not one of your other students?”
“Because I have faith in your work and I’m excited to see where it’s going to take you.” His eyes turned cold, his jaw set. “Is that sufficient for you?” He lifted himself from the desk, standing now.
“No, Mr. Campbell. I don’t think it is.”
“Is there a problem, Ms. Parker? Something you want to say to me?” Reaching for his tie, he began to loosen it, unraveling it with his fingers, angry eyes still locked on mine.
“I’m not sure I like being your pet. Or your science project, I don’t know which.”
“You have a smart mouth.”
“You make smart observances.”
“You’re going to make this invitation difficult, aren’t you?”
“If you’re dishonest with me, yes.”
“You’ll regret it if you don’t accept.”
“Is that a threat?”
“That’s a promise.”
I pursed my lips and peered out the window.
“Dishonest with you about what, exactly?”
My head snapped toward him again. “Are you inviting me to this because you sincerely want me to go to the conference or because you like me?”
“Like you? What is this, third grade? My answer is both. And that’s a problem because?”
“I’ve heard things about you.”
“Oh?” He plopped down onto the ledge of the desk.
“That you sleep with your students and cheat on your girlfriend.”
“Excuse me? I don’t have a girlfriend. And who I sleep with isn’t any of your damn business.” He walked around to the other side of his desk, removed his gray tweed jacket and flicked it onto his chair.
“I think it is my business if I’m going to be spending time with you off campus. And isn’t the redhead your girlfriend?”
“I’m assuming you’re referring to Alisha, and no, she is not my girlfriend. Not anymore. Damn it, Kate, who the hell do you think you are? You’re my student, I’m offering you a chance to go to this conference, and you’re going to take it. That’s it, nothing more.”
“ Excuse me?”
He veered around the desk to stand in front of me again, our faces inches apart, nose to nose. “You heard me. You’re going to go because you deserve it. You’re going to go because it’s an excellent opportunity for you, and nothing you hear about me on this damn campus or elsewhere is going to deter you, understand?” He licked his lips and rubbed his jaw, glare stone cold.
My fists balled at my sides and I could feel my face flush, a combination of fury at his audacity and nervousness from standing so close to his mouth again. I didn’t trust myself
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