“Wanna stay up with me for a while?”
I can barely keep my eyes open, but I say yes anyway. I grab my comforter and pillow and sit on the chair across from her.
“Can I ask you something?” She looks at me.
“Sure.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
I swallow. I hadn’t expected that kind of question. “I’m not really sure. Sometimes when I think back, it feels like it was going in that direction. As quick as it happened was as quick as it was ripped away. I’m almost positive, had it worked out, I would easily have fallen in love with him.” The corner of her lip curls up in a genuine smile. “What about you?”
“Yeah, I was in that really, really deep can’t-stop-thinking-about-you kind of love. It was intense. My body lit up any time we were together and once it was over, I felt lost.”
“I know that feeling,” I say.
“It’s the absolute worst.” I nod. “But if I had to go through it all over again, I would just to feel that again.”
“Yeah, me too,” I agree. “I want to believe that everything happens for a reason, but some days are harder than others.”
“Destiny has an evil way of teaching us the life lessons we’re meant to experience.”
“So you want to tell me about him?” I prompt.
She smiles and lays her head against the pillow. “Maybe at breakfast.”
“Deal.” I smile in return, rest my head, and close my eyes until I’m drifting off to sleep. The memory of him and his touch is so fresh in my mind. Sometimes I dream about him and wake up feeling him next to me. Then I peel my eyes open and realize he isn’t.
Those are the worst kind of mornings.
I wake up Sunday morning feeling refreshed from having yesterday off. Finals ended Friday, but after drinking all night, I needed that extra day to recover.
However, this is the official first week of summer, and I’m going to slap a positive attitude on and smile happily.
After slipping in the shower, burning my breakfast and nearly my apartment down, and my car running out of gas on the way to work, I’m ready to crawl back into bed and scream.
Why can’t fresh starts ever just be on my damn side for once?
I finally make it to work, frustration and annoyance radiating off of me as I walk inside. I called to let Ms. Jones know that I was running late. She surprisingly understood and even complimented me on how nice I looked when I finally arrived.
After assuring her I was fine to come in, she told me I was needed in the back filing paperwork.
Every possible thing that could go wrong today has gone wrong and it’s only ten a.m., and now I’m being sent to the back?
Someone up above is getting a real kick out of torturing me today.
After four hours, I feel like my body is slowly dying from boredom. I decide to take a break and head to the employee lounge to grab a snack.
Ms. Jones paces around the hallway three times before I finally get suspicious enough to stand up and find out what’s wrong with her.
“All right, spill it.”
“Huh, what?” She spins around, biting her nails. “Oh, nothing dear. Just a lot on my mind. I’m supposed to do inventory tonight, but I promised Natalia I’d go to her play.”
“Oh.” My face softens.
“But maybe I can come in late and do them after…” she starts thinking aloud to herself. “No, then security will be gone by then. Shit.”
I see the stress wrinkles around her eyes as she tries to think of a plan. I feel bad knowing how busy and stressed she can get, so I offer to help.
“I’d be happy to do it for you. I mean, I have nothing planned anyway.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’d hate for you to miss her play.” Morgan has mentioned how close Natalia and her have gotten since she moved in with him.
“Darling, you’re a gem! Thank you!” She wraps me in a tight hug, and I’m taken back by how grateful she’s being. “Shane will still be here, so you don’t have to worry about being alone.
“All right.”
“Just come after the gallery closes. Everything’s in the office, and help yourself to any snacks you may find in there.”
A nervous laugh passes her lips.
“Well, okay then. Guess I’ll be back tonight then.”
“Sounds good.”
She starts walking down the hallway before she stops and turns back around. “Oh and wear something nice. Kay, bye.” She sprints off before I can ask what she means.
I’ve never been to the gallery after hours before, but I rejoice in the fact that I’ll be alone for a while. I might even walk around and blast some music. Hell, I might even dance around in my underwear.
I use the key Ms. Jones gave me and enter in through the back. All the major lights are off except a few security lights that stay on all night long. It’s eerily silent, but it feels safe. Being here instantly brightens my mood.
I have to walk through a few of the exhibits to get to the staircase and up to Ms. Jones’ office. The closer I get to it, the more I hear faint music playing from somewhere. I stop and strain to hear where it’s coming from.
Perhaps someone left it on in their office?
I walk forward and notice from a distance that the spotlights are still on. I know we turn them off at night, so I round the corner to go turn them off. The music gets louder and soon I figure out where it’s all coming from.
“Oh my God!” I shriek, nearly jumping out of my own skin. “You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for you.” His warm smile and bright eyes captivate me. I can’t believe he’s here.
“Morgan…” I whisper, unable to believe it for myself although he’s standing right in front of me. Taking a step toward him, I see what the lights are shining on. “Holy…” It’s a large abstract painting behind him. He steps to the side so I can see it fully. It’s stunning, unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Underneath the painting is a plaque with the words A Thousand Years written on it.
I blink. “Is that me?”
My feet are frozen to the floor, but he walks toward me until we’re face to face. “Yes.” I feel his hot breath against the flush of my skin.
“Why? Why are you here?” I’m too stunned to ask him anything else.
“I told you. I’m here for you.”
“You painted that?”
“Yes.”
I blink, looking into his eyes. “But you haven’t painted in almost a year.”
He grabs my hand and rests it on his chest. “I was finally inspired.”
Tears start blurring my vision, and I resist the urge to wipe them away. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re the teals and yellows of my life, Aspen. Happiness and laughter. I’ve had a lot of tough lessons in my life, but one thing for sure. I’m not letting that go.”
“But I broke your heart…” I begin to say, hot tears falling down my cheeks. “I lied to you.”
His jaw tenses as he wraps his other hand around my hip and pushes us closer together. “I know about Claire. I know she blackmailed you and that you had no choice. I know that you only said those things because she made you.”
My eyes widen in surprise, feeling terrified that she’s for sure going to go to the board. “I couldn’t let you lose your job over me,” I start to explain, but my throat closes up.
“Aspen, stop.” He wipes the tears under my eyes. “I’ve been falling for you since the moment I first laid eyes on you. When I first saw your paintings, I knew I needed to know who that girl was.” He brushes his finger across my cheek, and I shiver. “But more importantly, I knew you were going to change my life.”
I close my eyes and smile, pulling in a deep breath as he continues.
“I should’ve fought for you. I should’ve known better, but I let my own insecurities make me think less of you. I thought by letting you go that ea
sily, I’d be sparing my own feelings. But it didn’t. It only made me realize what an ass I was because I should’ve been more confident in our relationship. I knew you better than that and for that, I’m sorry. God, Aspen. I’m so damn sorry.”
My breath hitches at his words. He sounds so vulnerable, but his words are genuine and strong.
“I’ll fight. I’ll fight for you. For us. And this time, I won’t let you walk away from me. When I saw you at the hospital, I shouldn’t have let you walk away. You deserved for me to fight harder even if you were the one ripping my heart out.”
The corners of his lips tilt up in a sly grin.
“I’ve waited for someone like you to come into my life, and I’m not just going to let you get away. I admit I was scared. But with you, all that doubt and uncertainty vanishes. Every day without you has felt empty and pointless.”
And just like that, the world around us fades away, because here at this moment, it’s only him and me. No one else matters.
“How can I love when I’m afraid to fall…” I repeat the words of the song that he titled the piece from as the tears continue falling down my cheeks. I know my eyes are bloodshot and my makeup is smeared, but I don’t care.
“But watching you stand alone, all my doubt suddenly goes away somehow,” he continues the song, his eyes staying fixed on mine. He brushes a finger, wiping my cheeks.
“I’m sorry I had to hurt you. The impact of not having you in my life really opened my eyes to what heartbreak was, and now that I know, I never want to feel that way again.”
“I promise you, Aspen. You’ll never have to. Because this is it. I want you, and I don’t care who all knows.”
“But how?” I choke out. “How can we be together?”
His deep dimples reappear, giving me all the reassurance I need. “I’m not working at the college anymore. I won’t be your professor, and we won’t be breaking any rules.”
I shake my head. “I can’t let you quit your job for me. Not when you have Natalia to take care of. I can’t be that selfish.”
He pulls me closer, his lips brushing softly against mine. “It’s too late. I took another job offer. A much better one, in fact.”
My brows rise. “You did? Where?”
“You’re looking at it.”
“Here?” I gasp.
“Aunt Mel is retiring next year, and Mr. Cross asked who she’d recommend taking over her position. She mentioned me before I even told her about you. Once I did, she made it official. So I’ll do a year of training, working under Aunt Mel until she officially retires.”
“Oh my God!” I squeal, nearly laughing and crying at the same time as I tightly hug him. “You’re going to work here?” I ask, pulling back.
“That’s right, Ms. Evans.”
“Great, you went from being my professor to being my boss.” I snort. “I’m pretty sure there’s a work policy on dating employees or something.”
“Well…I won’t officially be your boss until next year, which means we have the whole year until we have to start breaking the rules.”
I laugh, wrapping my arms around him. “You sure do love pushing the limits, Professor Hampton.” I press my mouth to his, pulling his lower lip in between my teeth and sliding my tongue inside.
“And you sure love the consequences.”
“Only when they double as benefits.” I wink.
He laughs, tightening his hold on me. His features turn serious as he grips my chin with his fingers. “Falling in love with you has been the best experience of my life. I hope you know that. I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. I love you, Aspen.”
The smile drops from my face as I soak in his words. My heart rate speeds up as the tears surface, my body humming at how those words affect me.
“Falling in love with you has been the hardest experience of my life, but it was worth every moment to hear you say those words.”
The corners of his lips tilt up in a satisfied smile, his dimples appearing just enough so you can see the creases in his cheeks. He brushes a thumb over my chin and pulls me to him, his mouth covering mine in a slow, soft kiss.
My body takes over, eager to taste and feel him again.
And it’s everything and more.
“I love you, Morgan,” I whisper against his lips. “More than I ever thought was possible to love someone else.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
ASPEN
For six years, my life has revolved around one thing—pain. I’ve let it take over my life, fueling the guilt and anxiety for everything I lost. Although I will always love my sister and the years we shared, I can’t let it control my life any longer.
Letting go will be a constant struggle, but with Morgan by my side, I have no doubt I’ll be able to better control my anxiety. The strength I get from his support gives me confidence that I can overcome the things I’ve struggled with for so long.
I’m not sure if it was finally knowing the truth of what happened and why, or if it’s because of meeting Morgan—perhaps a combination of both—but my life is full of hope instead of constant guilt. Finally, the weight has lifted, and I’m starting to see a future full of possibilities and happiness. He’s peeled back layers I never even knew existed. He’s managed to dig his way right into my heart, the very thing I’d sworn off years ago.
Natalia and I started painting together. I bought her an easel and her own painting and drawing supplies so she can work whenever she wants. Morgan signed her up for some art workshops for kids her age at The Art Shoppe. When she isn’t burying herself with drawing, she has her face stuck in a book. She tells me about every piece she creates and even let Ms. Jones put a couple of her pieces up in the gallery after several plea attempts.
My favorite ones are the drawings of her mother. She can’t remember much about her, but she draws what she does remember. She tells me stories about her and her dad, the fun things he’d take her to, and all the pictures he’d take of them together.
I can see a lot of Ryan in Morgan and think about how much it must hurt Natalia to see the resemblance. But for her age, she’s handling it quite well. In fact, she’s starting to act like a typical eleven-year-old, laughing more easily and slowly opening up about her feelings. We’ve been able to bond over teasing Morgan about his lack of cooking skills. I’ve been trying to teach him and show him some of my techniques. He’s getting better—in that the smoke detector goes through fewer batteries than before.
Morgan and I take turns sleeping over at each other’s places. If Natalia spends the night at a friend’s or Morgan’s parent’s house, he stays with me. Otherwise, I stay over there and make sure they stay fed.
Music plays softly as I work in my studio. Different shades of purple and red paint cover my jeans and hands. The blend of warm and cool colors is the perfect mix for the abstract I’m currently working on.
The paintbrush strokes effortlessly along his jawline and cheekbones. His green eyes are bright in the mix, showing his softer and gentler side. Light purple and deep red cover the rest of him, representing the very meaning of this whole piece.
I hear him walk up behind me. My body shivers as he gently wraps his arms around my waist and nuzzles his nose in the nape of my neck.
“Mm…you smell good.”
“That’s the smell of paint and working for hours, or what normal people call sweat,” I tease.
“Strawberry,” he murmurs. “You smell like strawberries…and cream.” He nips on my earlobe, pulling it in between his teeth and sucking lightly.
“Don’t get any ideas,” I threaten. “The last time you mentioned strawberries and whip cream, it took three hours to wash it out of my hair.”
“That’s only because you kept distracting me in the shower.” He kisses down my neck, sending goose bumps over my skin. “But at least you were thoroughly cleaned.” I feel the corners of his lips tilting up in an amused grin.
“Can you at least wait until I’m finished? It’s almost compl
ete.”
He growls in my ear. “You have five minutes.” He pulls back and slaps my ass.
Thirty-seven minutes later, I step back and examine the painting. “It’s finished,” I call out. I smile as I study it. I can’t wait to frame this one.
“What’s this one called?” He rests his hands on my hips and pulls me against him, his chest to my back.
“The Professor,” I answer with a smile.
“He’s very…brightly colored.”
I lightly elbow him in the stomach. “It’s you.”
He presses his lips against my neck. “What’s it mean?” he softly asks.
“The colors represent healing and love.” I turn around and face him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “You’re the purples and reds of my life.”
He leans down and presses his mouth to mine. “You’re the purples and reds of my life,” he repeats my words. “Many, many, many reds.” He brushes his tongue along my lower lip and pulls it in between his teeth and sucks it lightly before releasing it. “I love you, Aspen Evans.” He kisses my lips. “I love how passionate you are. I love how much you love Natalia and me. But I think the thing I love most about you is how adorable you look covered in paint.”
“If you think that’s adorable…” I take the brush covered in purple and wipe it across his forehead, leaving a nice bright streak over his skin. “You should see how adorable I am when I kick your ass at paint wars.”
He pulls my body against him, making me gasp and laugh at the same time. He grabs the brush from my hand and wipes it all over my cheeks and nose. “It’s super adorable how you always think you can beat me. Too bad that’s not going to happen!”
I manage to push out of his grip just long enough to grab another tube of paint. “You’re so dead!” I scream, smearing it on my hands and covering it over his arms and neck.
We continue chasing each other around the room, laughing, and eventually surrendering to each other. I release the brushes and paint from my hands and wrap them around him, holding him close to my chest.
“I love you, Morgan Hampton. Thank you for bringing happiness back into my life.” I arch my neck and smile up at him, his warm eyes making me fall harder and harder for him every single day.
Pushing the Limits: A Student/Teacher Romance Page 31