by Terri Lane
“Me too.” James’s whole expression softened and I could tell that he was about to say something a little more serious. “I didn’t want the tour to end and for us to go our separate ways.” No, nor did I! “I haven’t ever felt this way about anyone before.”
Oh God, I hadn’t either. James was everything to me. I felt my eyes welling up slightly under the honesty of his words. The fact that he was totally taking any game playing out of this thing we had was fantastic. “Me too,” I replied thickly, wanting to match his truthfulness.
Neither of us had any idea of whether or not this thing could last. Maybe we’d realize that our attraction to one another was just a passing phase, maybe the distance and the pressures of the job would get in the way, maybe it just wasn’t meant to be…but as I stared at James across the table I wasn’t convinced that anything could get in our way.
“So, did you know why Daphne wasn’t on tour?” I asked innocently, wanting to get back onto lighter topics before I started sobbing. James shook his head, so I filled him in. “She’s having a baby. She’s telling Liam tonight.”
His face fell for a moment, and I had a feeling that maybe I’d said the wrong thing. Maybe it was a shock to James to learn that his friend’s life was moving on too quickly, but then he broke out into a big grin and relief flooded me.
“That’ll be me and you soon,” he declared with absolutely no fear. “In fact, maybe we should get out of here so we can get started.”
As he grabbed my hand, I knew that he was joking but his happiness to discuss our future felt nice…this really could be the start of forever.
THE END
= Bonus Book 19 of 20 =
Learning with the Dragons
It wasn't Linne's first time being in Professor Halthorne's class, but it was her first time entering as a teacher's assistant. A little trepidatious, but willing to overlook the butterflies in her stomach and help others work on the subject matter that meant so much to her was what was important. She was a young woman in her mid-twenties with straight black hair and bright eyes. She was lithe and lean with a small frame and not much in the way of curves.
She used her slim body to squeeze past groups of students and, with her laptop case in hand, she set to work getting comfortable in the back of the class, a place she had always noticed other teachers' assistants positioned in. She opened up her computer and set to work.
A young man with shaggy blonde hair and brilliant green eyes sat down next to her and looked to Linne to ask, "You're the TA?"
She nodded and closed her laptop to give him her full attention. Something about him caught her off guard as she focused on him fully. She realized her breath was caught and she hadn't inhaled before laying eyes on him as he spoke and she inhaled sharply as his words came out.
"I may be able to help with your workload. This is my last semester here before I graduate. I'm on track to have a job with the biggest tech developer in the state and I know my way around. I'm Riley."
"Riley," Linne said, breathing somewhat normally again. "It is very nice to meet you. I could certainly use your help. This is my first time doing this sort of thing. I want to do right by Halthorne."
"Is he cool?" Riley asked.
Linne smiled, nodding, "Very."
"That's good, I'd hate to have a terrible teacher and receive bad marks or some such," Riley told Linne as she looked to the front of the room as the door had opened.
"Let's get going," Professor Halthorne said after he had set his own laptop on the table in front of the white board.
"Talk to you later," Riley said, running a hand through his blonde hair and smiling before turning around.
Halthorne wrote out his name, then underlined it. "That's who I am. Now, who are you? Why are you here with us today? You want to get into tech developing. If you didn't, you wouldn't be here. We're going to go around the class and get to know each other."
And that is what they did. They went around the room, one row at a time, until they had gotten to the back of the room to Riley and Linne, the last ones to state their name and a little about themselves.
"Hi, I'm Riley," the blond said, then chuckled. "I guess it's my turn? I am getting into tech because I love using tech and I love to figure out even more how it works and what other people can do with it. I guess that's it."
"Well put," Halthorne said.
It was Linne's turn and she said, "Hi all! I'm Linne."
"Ah, this is Ms. Barsthed. She is our TA this year and the best I could wish upon you kind folks. She'll be here and in my office to answer any questions you may have. Think of her as the liaison between you and a better grade," the professor said.
"Thank you, Professor Halthorne. You're too kind to me," Linne said to him, then to the class spoke. "Yes, you can come to me with any questions you may have. This is a really fun class and you have a fun professor for it!"
"Eloquent, as always," Professor Halthorne said with a smile.
"Thank you, again," Linne said as she nodded to the class. "And thanks to all of you for taking this class!"
The professor nodded in agreement and went on to the syllabus with the rest of the class, then over the textbook and requirements of the class beyond what the syllabus offered. The class ended and Riley turned to Linne and lifted his blonde brows on his lightly freckled face.
He asked, "What are you doing after this?"
Linne looked at her phone, seeing the time and calculating just how much time she had until she had to start on a project for work.
She said, "I have a few hours with nothing to do."
"Then want to grab a coffee?" Riley asked.
Linne nodded happily, then grabbed her laptop case and pocketed her phone and followed him out, stopping to exchange smiles with the professor before leaving with Riley.
"I know the campus sells coffee, but if you really want a good cup of joe, you'll go off-campus to the local coffee roaster. You know the one I'm talking about, right?" Riley lilted the tone of his voice to denote the question and turned to her as they walked down the hall.
"I don't think I do."
Riley nodded and said, "Then let me lead the way. You'll likely love it."
"I do like a 'good cup of joe' if I do say so myself," Linne said.
"Using my own words against me, Ms. Barsthed?" Riley said and nearly laughed as he again turned to look at her as he walked the campus' halls. "So, what turned you on to tech developing? I gave my reasoning. Now it is time for yours."
"My reasoning?" Linne asked, thinking back. "I took a required course for my core units with Professor Hawthorne and never looked back. He made the industry and the study of it so interesting. There was no way I couldn't."
"Did you grow up around here?" Riley asked of her as they got out of the main building.
Linne shook her head to say no, then added, "No, I moved from the East Coast."
"I envy you. Did you enjoy it?" Riley asked as they walked underneath great redwood trees on campus and made their way down a meandering walkway beneath the great trees. The sounds of birds chirping could be heard above their conversation and the light splashing of a creek that ran through the campus was nearby.
"Not really," Linne said, wrinkling her nose. "I like it here a lot better. Nice weather, nice people. What more could I want?" She lifted her arms, as if to bring to light all of the wonders around them.
"That's good," he said to her. "You should like where you live."
"What about you?"
"What about me what?" Riley asked.
"Do you like where you live? Did you grow up here?" Linne asked.
"I do and I did. I do and did, indeed," Riley said as they exited the campus. "I like the questions about myself, but I really want to get to know you." He looked at her as he said this and moved to walk backwards, looking at her in the sunlight. She had dark black hair that fell to the small of her back and light brown, almost orange eyes.
He turned back around and fell in line to walk ne
xt to her as they went across a crosswalk. He smiled like he knew some secret about her and she questioned him.
"What? What is it?" Linne asked.
He just kept smiling and said nothing, looking straight ahead as he did so.
"You have to tell me, Riley. What is it?" Linne pleaded.
He shook his head to say no to her, lips pressed tightly while he stared away from her.
She stopped in the middle of the crosswalk and balled her free hand into a fist.
He broke his silence as he stopped walking forward and took a step back to where she was now standing.
"You really want to know?" Riley asked, a little shocked but smiling wider than he had been before. "I'll tell you."
Pouting now over, Linne smiled and nodded and her eyes widened in excitement.
"I find you beautiful," Riley said as he put a lock of her straight black hair in between his fingers and twirled it.
Linne opened her mouth and drew her head back a bit as she breathed in, then pushed her face forward and gave him a light peck on the lips.
Surprised and caught off guard, Riley kissed her back, but opened his mouth against hers and let his tongue meet hers.
Just then, car horns erupted and the two realized where they were. They both nearly jumped in surprise and looked to one another, eyes locking. And, then, they laughed overjoyed and ran across the street towards the coffee shop.
***
Riley grabbed Linne's hand as they walked and she felt the soft texture of his hand against hers and smiled.
"Just around this corner," he told her.
"I can't wait."
They were quiet, but both were giddy and out of breath, almost, as if that one kiss had knocked the wind out of them eternally.
When they got there, Riley ordered an Americano and Linne got a latte. The two chose to drink their coffees in an alcove that was freed up for them as they approached. They sipped in it delightedly, at first. Then, they opened up again.
"So," Riley said. "What makes you tick?"
Linne replied, "Not a lot of abnormal stuff. Work. Play. That sort of thing."
"Do you like to be around people or be alone?"
"A mix of both," Linne told Riley after he had asked the question.
"Which do you like more, animals or people?" Riley asked, leaning forward.
"Animals, most definitely," Linne told him. "People are not as nice as animals are."
"Ain't it the truth?" Riley asked, smiling. "Do you like adventure or staying at home?"
"Do I have to decide?" Linne said. "I think both has a place in my life."
Riley shook his head, "You have to decide."
"Fine, adventure."
Riley smiled, "Adventure, huh?"
"Now you," Linne told him ambiguously.
"What?" Riley asked.
Linne told him, "Now you answer those questions."
"Oh! That's what you meant," Riley said. "Well, I like to be around people. I prefer animals, though, like you. And I like to stay at home."
"We're a little bit different and a little bit alike," Linne said.
Riley leaned forward even more and whispered, "It wouldn't be fun if we were the same exact person, now would it?"
"No, it wouldn't be," Linne agreed. "So, is that all?"
"I like having met you, Linne," Riley said. "It's very refreshing to meet someone as down to earth as you."
"I thank you for the compliment." Linne then added as she laughed quietly, "I just like blonds."
He smiled and rubbed a hand through his hair, pushing his eyebrows up and down as he made eye contact with her.
"Then it's a good thing I am one, isn't it?" Riley asked her rhetorically.
"It is indeed," she said. "What do you like about me? If I may know."
"I like you. I just do," Riley shrugged. "Is that not enough?"
"No, no." Linne said, "It's more than enough."
The two looked across from one another, then after a brief silence both laughed at the same time. There was a connection between them, that could not be doubted.
"How do you feel?" Riley asked out of nowhere.
Linne put her lips against the latte's foam and took a small drink before answering. She wanted to think about her answer.
"Very good, Riley," Linne told him. "I feel better than I expected to after meeting a stranger on my first day as a TA for my professor."
"Very good is good to hear," Riley told her. "And he's not just your professor, anymore."
"Well, he holds a special place in my heart," Linne told him honestly.
"For opening you up to tech developing?" Riley asked.
"Yes," Linne told him with a terse nod, not willing to say more.
"Well how well do you know him?" Riley asked.
Linne laughed nervously, "Next topic, please."
"Really?" Riley asked, looking very concerned. "Why?"
"I don't think you want to know," Linne said, knowing that it was more of a problem of what Jimmy Hawthorne would think knowing she had told one of his students a secret.
Their own private secret.
"What would he say knowing you were dating one of your students?" Riley asked Linne.
Linne deflected the question easily by saying, "My next time seeing you, where is it going to be?"
"What do you mean?" Riley asked, baffled at the sudden change of subject.
"If you're going to take me out on dates, where is our next one going to be?" Linne asked forwardly.
"I haven't thought about it," Riley told her honestly.
"Well I need to know if I'm going to go soon. Or will you text me?" Linne asked.
"You have to go?" Riley said forlornly, a shadow falling over his green eyes.
"I do, indeed. I'll see you again, though." Linne added as she handed him her phone, "Here is my phone. Add your number."
"Will do!" Riley said ecstatically. "A date sounds like something I can really get into with you. I'd enjoy that."
He began adding his number and was almost done when a text appeared on Linne's screen. His face went from smiling and jovial to nearly blank and a little bit like he had just seen a ghost.
"What?" Linne asked, not knowing what he had seen. She grabbed her phone and looked at the screen, where there was a message from Jimmy Hawthorne.
***
It was as if all of the blood had drained from Riley's face and he was staring into a black abyss that was her phone until she took it from him.
The text was explicit and said, "Meet me in my office at 7 tonight wearing very little, if anything at all."
"Riley," Linne muttered as she read the text from the professor. "I'm so sorry you had to see that."
"No, no. It's fine." Riley said after breathing in deeply. "You can have relationships."
"You looked pretty upset just a minute ago, Riley," Linne commented. "You sure?"
"I'd still like to see you, Linne. I don't care... If he doesn't care, that is," Riley said, adding the last part to be sure.
"He won't," Linne said reassuringly.
"Then," Riley said, getting comfortable once again. "Would you still like to go on a date?"
"I think I would," Linne said.
"You just 'think'?" Riley asked.
Linne gave a short, subtle laugh out loud then nodded.
"I know so," she said, looking into his green eyes with her fiery orangey brown ones. "I most definitely know so."
"I look forward to it," Riley said, picking up his things and his Americano cup and got up, then bent over and kissed her swiftly on her cheek. "Goodbye for now, my lover girl."
"Goodbye for now," she said to him with a wistful smile.
***
Linne took out her key to the office and opened it up with a swift motion and pushed her shoulder into the door while looking around. The professor was in a corner of the room at his desk and when he heard the door open, he looked up and towards Linne. A bright smile lit up the dark-haired man's face and his fa
ce, pushing his blue eyes into near-crescents.
"Linney," he said, closing his laptop as he did. "You made it."
"That I did," Linne replied, as she took her bag off of her shoulder and set it down.
"I wanted to see you so badly," he said, getting up and immediately went towards her.
"Me, as well," Linne breathed out. She put her hands up so that they cupped the professor's face in them as he approached. His face was rough with a seven o'clock shadow and his sapphire eyes closed for a moment as he reveled in the feeling of being close to her.
"My true love," the professor said.
"Jimmy," Linne said after she had kissed his neck a half dozen times. "I love you, too."
"How was your day?" Jimmy Hawthorne asked. "Have a good time with that student?"
"I did," Linne said.
"I like you making other friends," the professor said. "Do you like him?"
"I do," Linne said to Jimmy Hawthorne. "I think I do, at least."
"It's always so hard to tell in the beginning."
"That it is," Linne said. "How was yours?"
"Lots of work. Lots of dealing with her."
"Your wife?" She asked.
"Soon to be ex-wife," he corrected.
Linne said, "I'm sorry you have to deal with that."
"I don't know why I burden you with it," Jimmy said.
Linne said, "Because I like to be here for you."
"That you do," Jimmy said.
Linne went on to say, "There's nothing I would rather do."
"Nothing?" Jimmy asked teasingly.
Linne said, "Nothing at all."
"Not even hang out with cute students after class?" Jimmy Hawthorne asked.
"Well..." Linne said, biting her lip and looking away.
"Aw, you're so adorable when you do that," he told her.
"Am I really?" Linne asked. Then she added, "I mean, thank you."
"No need to thank me. No need to ever thank me or apologize to me."
The pair coalesced and then Linne knelt down so that she was sitting on the large couch in the office. She still held Jimmy Hawthorne's face in her hands and he crouched down with her. They kissed, feeling one with another and basking in the feeling. Jimmy's tongue went hungrily past Linne's lips and moved around inside of her mouth.