Professor Cline: Redeemed (Professor #2)

by J. M. La Rocca

  With those final words, he opened the door and walked out.

  The whole conversation had me on edge, but I couldn’t lie to myself and say I wasn’t curious as to what he was talking about.

  My phone beeped with a text message, and I looked down to see one from Emma.

  Are you coming today?

  I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I needed to put Donicko’s visit aside and focus. Being around him sucked all the control I thought I’d possessed out of my body. I was weak around him and he knew it, even though my mask was fully in place. My darkened days crept back into my soul when he was near, and it was something I knew he took great pleasure in.

  Looking at the clock, I let out a resigned sigh. I needed to get to class, then figure out what to do. I needed to get the ball rolling, and waiting until Friday wasn’t going to work. I need to meet with Victor tomorrow. The sooner this is over, the sooner I can try to move on.

  This was the first time since Mom died that I felt like things could change. The first time any sense of hope coursed through me. It was a good feeling, but I couldn’t dwell on anything. I knew deep down things would get much worse before they got better.

  ~*~

  The house was quiet. The smell of wood polish took over my senses as I sat at the desk in my office. The day had crept by, and I was unfocused for most of it. I’d caught Emma’s concerned stares as I’d made eye contact around the room, but I ignored her… mostly.

  I ended class early, along with the rest of the day’s classes, just to get the fuck out of there. I’d arrived home and walked straight to the bar in my office where I kept my scotch. It was becoming more and more frequent. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was turning into an alcoholic. I was actually surprised I wasn’t already. But maybe my mind could only focus on one addiction at a time, which I knew wasn’t true.

  I picked up my crystal glass and swirled the amber liquid before gulping it all down in one swallow. I closed my eyes and widened my nostrils to breathe in as much air as I could as the pain laced down my throat.

  The burn is the best part.

  The gratification was gone in an instant, just like the cutting. It was nowhere near the same, but it made me feel.

  Placing the glass on my desk, I grabbed my phone and pulled up Victor’s number. I didn’t bother calling him earlier in the day because I knew he’d be in meetings.

  I pressed his number and waited as the phone rang, then was picked up on the fourth ring.

  “Mason, my boy, what can I do for you?” he answered before muffling the phone. “Sue, hold my calls.”

  “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  “No, no, it’s fine. I’m just getting some paperwork together before I leave the office. What can I help you with?”

  I sat back in my office chair and made myself comfortable.

  “I told you the other day I needed to come talk to you, but I was wondering if you were available tomorrow instead of Friday. I know I didn’t go into detail about why I wanted to see you, but this is a matter that just can’t wait. And I’d rather do it in person than over the phone.”

  “Can you give me a little bit of information as to what you are referring to? I do have a busy day tomorrow with a court hearing, and I’m not sure what time I’ll be out of there.”

  “It’s about John.”

  The line went silent. I knew he probably wanted to ask me more, but after telling him I didn’t want to discuss it over the phone, I knew he wouldn’t pry for more. That wasn’t the way he worked.

  I heard the rustling of papers over the phone.

  “I’m not going to presume I know what you want to talk about, but if you want to discuss John, I don’t suggest doing it here. We can meet somewhere. Let’s say around two. I should be out by then, but if not, then we could get together later on tomorrow night. Where do you want to go?”

  I thought about it and nodded to myself when the idea came to me.

  “The Deli Shop on 3rd and 33rd street. I’ll be there at two.”

  “That sounds good. I’ll see you then. And Mason?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Nobody else knows we’re meeting,” he said before he hung up.

  It wasn’t a question, but a statement. He didn’t want anyone to know he was meeting me, and I didn’t either. If John found out about it, I could only imagine the complications that would cause for the both of us.

  Letting out a tired sigh, I grabbed my phone and headed upstairs. A shower and a change of clothes were what I needed. No, actually, a change of scenery was what I needed. If I stayed home, there was no telling what would be going through my mind.

  After everything that had happened in the past two weeks, the pull to cut was all-consuming, more so than usual. It was a way for me to feel clean, like every cut made me less like John. Not cutting and letting the blood run out made me feel tainted. I didn’t like that malicious feeling in the back of my mind at all hours of the day, but it was something I’d gotten used to over the years. But recently, it’d grown. I’d let it take over too much of my life. I wanted to avoid it, make it go away, but it seemed almost impossible.

  Entering my room, I went straight to my closet, stripped off my suit and exchanged it for a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. It was only six-thirty in the evening, so I hoped Luke wasn’t busy, since he was my destination.

  “Hey, man,” Luke answered after the second ring. “What’s up?”

  “You home?”

  “Yeah, why?” he asked raggedly. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was preoccupied.

  “Do you have company?”

  I could hear faint moaning and I chuckled. If anyone else answered the phone while they were fucking, I’d find it odd, but this was something Luke had done on many occasions.

  “Yeah,” he stated, breathing heavily. “Did you want to share?”

  I laughed.

  “You know me better than that, Luke. If I’m going to fuck, I don’t share.”

  Luke didn’t respond, but by the sound of his heavy breathing, he was nearing the end.

  “Finish up and get her out. I’m on my way over,” I yelled to him with a smile and hung up.

  ~*~

  Unlike me, Luke lived in the city. It was ideal for him, though, since he still maintained his party lifestyle, and I didn’t see that changing anytime soon.

  When I arrived at his apartment building, I was announced to Luke by the front desk and made my way up the elevator. I was uneasy and with everything that’d been going on, it should’ve come as no surprise, but it wasn’t usual for me.

  I knocked on Luke’s door and in matter of moments, it was pulled open.

  Luke greeted me with a smile. “Come on in.” He walked away toward the living room. Dressed in gym shorts and a plain white tee, the only indication he’d had company earlier was his hair being a mess. Closing the door, I followed in behind him. “So,” he said, resting back on his brown leather couch. “What brings you to my place? Are you doing all right?”

  I frowned at his questions and knew what he was referring to. I hated hearing that concerned tone in his voice.

  “Everything’s fine. Just needed to get the fuck out of mine,” I responded as I sat down on the other end of the couch. “A man can’t come visit a friend?”

  Luke laced his fingers together and brought them back behind his head. “Yeah, man,” he said with a shrug. “But not you. What’s up?”

  I let out a sigh. This wasn’t the norm. I never just dropped by, but I had to get out. These were the times I went out to my usual hunting grounds and picked up women. It was what I’d always done. I was changing my own habits, and it was fucking with my head.

  “I just have a lot on my mind,” I stated, meeting his gaze before I let my eyes drift to the family pictures he had hanging on the wall to the left, opposite the expansion of windows. “Sitting alone just makes me think too much.”

  “You need to get laid, man.” Luke laughed
as he sat up and grabbed the game remote that was sitting beside him.

  I chuckled and shook my head. “You have no idea.”

  “Here,” he said tossing me a remote. “If you’re here, you play.”

  I looked down at the black controller. I’d never played a day in my life. “I have no idea what the fuck this is.”

  Luke held up his. “This is for moving your guy. This,” he pointed, “is for shooting, and this is for reloading.”

  I glanced back down at the remote. It seemed easy enough.

  “What are we playing?” I asked, looking up at his seventy-inch screen.

  “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. You got shit on your mind? This will take care of it. Nothing beats guns and gore after a long, hard day.”

  This wasn’t exactly how I’d planned on spending my night, but it was better than the alternative.

  After a few tries, I finally got the hang of it and the hours flew by. I was in my fighting zone when my phone vibrated in my back pocket. Having to use the restroom anyway, I stood up and pulled the phone out as I started walking. But once I saw who was texting me, I stopped in my tracks to reply.

  Rachel: I’m at your place. I’ll be waiting.

  Me: I’m on my way.

  Ten

  Mason

  “Everything all right?”

  I turned to see Luke had pressed pause and was looking at me with concern.

  “Yeah, but I need to go. Rachel just sent me a text. She’s at my place.”

  “John’s Rachel? At your apartment?”

  “Yeah.”

  Luke shook his head and let out a laugh. “I don’t know how you do it, man. She’s a lying, cheating bitch.”

  I chuckled because it was true.

  Luke was the only one besides John who knew about Rachel. He thought it was sick, but he kept his opinions to himself for the most part. He knew she was just a convenience for me.

  “Did you text her to meet you there?”

  That was why I was leaving. I didn’t text her, and I hadn’t talked to her since the brief exchange at the fundraiser. She knew not to go there unless I asked her to, but it was my fault for not breaking things off. I should’ve asked for the key back. After tonight, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

  “No.”

  He made a face then turned back to his game.

  “Good luck with that one, buddy.”

  “Yeah, thanks,” I mumbled and headed for the door.

  I had no idea what state of mind Rachel was going to be in when I got there, but I was about to find out.

  ~*~

  I opened the door to my apartment fifteen minutes later to see the foyer illuminated by one of the lamps in the living room. It wasn’t what I expected, but at least wasn’t in the bedroom.

  I walked through the foyer and was immediately hit with her fruity smell. She sat on the sofa with her legs crossed and her hands folded in her lap. She was dressed in what I’d assumed to be one of her many Chanel suits with a pissed-off look on her face.

  I ignored her and walked directly to the bar to place my things down, then grabbed a glass and the decanter of scotch. I knew with the way she was looking at me I was going to need it.

  “Aren’t you going to speak to me?” she chided.

  I poured three fingers of scotch and threw it all back in one gulp before turning to face her.

  “Are you addressing me?” I asked, pointing to myself.

  She scoffed before standing up and walking toward me.

  “Don’t play games, Mason.”

  “Games? You requested my presence, in my own place.”

  “Your fuck pad, you mean?”

  “Call it what you like, Rachel; it doesn’t change the fact that you are in my territory,” I stated as I stalked toward her. “You know the rules. Why are you even here?”

  “Fuck your rules,” she spat. “I’m tired of waiting.”

  “Waiting for what?” I asked, exasperated. “You’re engaged, Rachel. Does John know you’re here?”

  She looked away.

  “It’s been weeks,” she stated.

  I knew why she was there. She’d grown attached, which I knew was inevitable, but being the asshole that I was, I didn’t care.

  “Why haven’t you texted me?”

  I shook my head as her gaze landed on mine.

  “It’s over, Rachel. We can’t do this anymore.”

  I turned around and poured myself another drink.

  “It’s because of that girl, isn’t it? The one from the night at the fundraiser. I saw the way you were looking at her and the way she was looking at you. Are you fucking your student?”

  I closed my eyes and breathed in through my nose. One, two, three, four, five. I will not throw this glass against the wall and scream in her face to get the fuck out.

  I knew she was trying to retaliate.

  “Again, Rachel, why does it matter who I’m fucking?” I moved until I was a few inches away from her. “You knew what you were getting yourself into when you allowed me to stick my dick in your pussy. I warned you that this wouldn’t go anywhere. I’m sorry John’s not keeping you satisfied at home, but this is no longer working for me.” I walked away from her and set my glass on the bar, then turned to see her narrowed gaze fixed on me.

  Her mouth was set in a tight line, and I could see the tension rolling off her body. I expected her to blow up, yell or something, but that wasn’t what I received. The last thing I expected was to see a single tear rolling down her face.

  “You really don’t care, do you?” She turned her head and wiped away her stray tear.

  I felt the smallest amount of remorse. I should never have let the kind of relationship we’d had carry on for so long. I knew she was getting attached, but instead of breaking it off, I kept it going. In my mind, it was my way of getting one up on John. The fact that his fiancé was coming to me for pleasure meant he wasn’t man enough to do it himself.

  It was twisted, but everything in my life was twisted in one way or another. I just kept adding to that pile.

  “I wish I could say I did. You were just a convenience for me, and if admitting that makes me an asshole, then so be it. But just remember, you’re the one who kept coming back for more when you knew it was just a fuck for me.”

  She scoffed as she walked to the couch to retrieve her bag then turned to face me.

  “You know, John’s right. You’ll never amount to anything because you’re not man enough to step up to the plate,” she stated before walking toward the foyer.

  I laughed.

  “Because a gold-digging whore is an achievement?”

  She turned abruptly with her mouth hanging open.

  I shouldn’t have stooped down to her level, but I couldn’t help myself.

  “If you think I care for one second what that man thinks about me, you’re more delusional than I thought.” I turned and refilled my glass. “Goodbye, Rachel. Leave the key.”

  I threw back the scotch and kept my back to the room until I finally heard the door slam.

  Letting out an exasperated sigh, I shook my head. I had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last time I dealt with her, and I wasn’t looking forward to the aftermath.

  Eleven

  Emmalynn

  I peeled my eyes open at the sound of my phone going off and looked over at the clock.

  Ugh. Who the hell is texting me at seven in the morning?

  Sitting up, I grabbed at my aching back. I needed to figure out what I was going to do about a place to stay. My body would only be able to handle sleeping on this air mattress for so long. I was used to my Tempur-Pedic, and I’d downgraded tremendously. Reaching over to Mel’s side table, I grabbed my phone and pulled up the text.

  Victoria: The Brew. 8?

  I smiled. I felt like I hadn’t seen my friends in forever and actually, I hadn’t. I’d been so consumed with school and being stuck inside my own head that I hadn’t made time for anything else. I neede
d to get my head out of my ass.

  Me: Yes. I just got up. I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.

  It was a Thursday, so I didn’t have class until eleven. It gave me enough time to meet her before I’d have to go.

  I walked out of the bedroom and bumped right into Quinn.

  “Oh shit. Sorry, Quinn.” I said as I grabbed onto her shoulder. “I haven’t seen you around lately. How are you?”

  “Great.” She smiled. “I’ve been staying with Dan a lot. And actually, I’m only here to get more of my clothes.”

  “Oh, wow. I didn’t realize you guys were that serious.”

  From what I’d heard, they’d only been dating for three months.

  Quinn blushed, something I hadn’t seen her do before. “Well actually, we’ve been talking about moving in together, but I’m not sure if I want to make that move or not. So, we’ll see.” She shrugged as she reached her room and walked inside.

  If Quinn did end up moving in with Dan, maybe I could just take over her room and help Mel with the bills. That would help me out so much. But I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Mel and I never talked finances, and I had no idea how much she made or if she could afford to live on her own.

  After my shower, I headed into Mel’s room to get dressed. The place was quiet, so I knew everyone had left for the day. I took a few minutes to enjoy it by lying back on Mel’s bed. My days of relaxing were few and far between.

  Years ago, I would imagine what my life would be like five years from that day. Would I be a successful lawyer? Would I be married? Would I have kids?

  Nothing ever turned out how I pictured it, but I was okay with that, until recently.

  I’d made so many plans with Tim. We had our five-year plan—or rather, I had our five-year plan. It’s never easy to go through heartbreak, but I was learning not to make plans anymore. I needed to live day-by-day and not put ideas in my head. No more plans. I’d keep my goals because those were important, but I couldn’t keep making plans for myself. I’d only end up feeling like a failure.