Chapter 14: Fourteen

"So I, um, saw Joel today." Danny's jaw fell open, and for a moment I was worried that she would drop the bottle of vodka she cradled in her perfectly manicured fingers.

"Already? Damn, girl! It's been a day! How did you see him when you had classes today?" I waited for her to sit before breaking my news. She plopped down on my sofa, tucking one leg under the other, pulling up her low riding halter top from the front. I had made us some alfredo for dinner to celebrate our senior year and she brought ingredients for screwdrivers.

"Ah, well that's the thing… Joel happens to be my Art Professor…" I glanced up nervously. Her eyes were blinking slowly as she replayed the information in her head.

"Joel."

"Yes."

"He's your professor."

"Yes."

"Oh my fucking God! Jen, what the hell?! What are you going to do?" She gripped my hand, squeezing it just a little too tightly.

"We decided to just keep us a secret. He really wants me in his class…"

"Shit, girl. Wait, us? Are you a couple, now?" Are we? Shit, we still never established that. After we made love in the kitchen, we showered and he left. He had something planned with Isaac and couldn't stay. We never talked about officially dating!

"Ah, um…"

"You haven't talked about it." She guessed. "Are you still fucking him?" My face flushed. The phone call, his office, the kitchen… I had never had so many sexual encounters in such a short amount of time, but I didn't want to tell her everything, so I kept my answer short.

"Yes."

"Jen, babe. You're fucking your professor. Are you sure about this? I mean, he's hot, but why would you risk his job for this?" I curled my knees up to my chest, breathing deeply. How could I explain something that I didn't understand myself?

"He's special, Danny. Don't get me wrong, he's easily the most frustrating and obnoxious man I've ever met. But… I don't know. I can't stay away from him. He's like a drug." Danny offered me a sympathetic smile before pulling me in for a hug.

"I'll support you no matter what, girl. You know that. And if he ever hurts you, I'll beat his ass. Just be careful. Men like that tend to come with a lot of hidden baggage." Ha, she didn't know the half of it.

"Thanks. I have a feeling that we won't get a lot of support elsewhere, so every bit matters." She pulled back, kissing my cheek and grinning dangerously. Oh God. That look can't be good.

"So are you two going to fuck in his office? Oh, or the classroom?" I groaned, trying to hide my blush. "Hold up, Jen! You're blushing! Does that mean you already have?!" She shrieked, and I shushed her.

"Quiet, you're going to tell the whole damn neighborhood. And we didn't technically have sex… But in his office, we did, um, pleasure eachother." She clapped her hands like a giddy schoolgirl.

"You are living in an erotic novel! Giving your professor head in his office! Oh my God, this is amazing!"

"On that horrific note, I think our dinner is done." I stood, heading to the kitchen when she called out to me.

"Hey, did you know that you have five texts? Another one just came in. Also, where the hell did you get this phone?" Shit! I totally forgot to change the volume settings!

I paused, almost forgetting to shut off the stove again, before racing back to the coffee table.

"Long story." Was my only response, as I skimmed through my messages.

She was right. There were five.

One from my mom, one from June, and three from Joel.

"*Mom*

*Hey sweetie! Just wanted to check in on how your first day of classes went. We've been thinking about you all day. Give us a call when you get the chance! We want to plan a trip to visit soon. Love you! XOXO Mom*"

My initial reaction was to smile. She was the sweetest woman in the world, I was sure of it. But my feelings soon turned to dread. Oh God, a visit? When? For how long? I couldn't seem to stay away from Joel for a day, so did that mean he would meet them? Would they find out hes my professor? Or worse, that hes just some guy I screw occasionally? I couldn't even introduce him as my boyfriend! Maybe if I warn him, he'll keep his distance. Yea, that could work. As I thought through the details in my head, I moved onto June.

"*June Lawson*

*:) I'll see you in Painting on Thursday. I look forward to seeing the masterpieces you produce*."

"Woah, who's June?" I glared at Danny, who was obviously reading over my shoulder.

"He's a friend I made in art. Speaking of, he invited me to a party this weekend at his frat house. Do you think you and Isabelle can come?" Her perfectly sculpted brows shot up.

"You're going to a Frat party? Damn, girl. Hells yes, I'll go. And I'm sure she will, too. But why are you going? Don't you have a man?"

"June is my friend. And… Joel doesn't know. So please, don't mention it around him. I don't think he likes June very much."

"Tsk tsk. I won't say anything, but you'd better tell him not to. If Professor Joel hears him in class, he won't be very happy." Shit, she's right. I lifted my phone again to respond.

"*I'll do my best. :P But, can we keep my attendance between us for now? As in, not mentioning it in person? I don't want any attention from our classmates. As we've established, I'm not the party type and I don't want people talking.*"

There. Hopefully that'll get the message across.

I sighed before opening up Joel's message thread. Three texts? Why so many?

"*Hey beautiful. I bought you Plan B to ease your nerves. I'll drop it off tonight around six*."

"*Dinner is taking a bit longer than expected. Isaac is being a pain in the ass. Expect me around six thirty.*"

"*On my way, baby.*"

Oh God. Horrified, my eyes met Danny's. Her eyes were wide with panic, and her hands were over her mouth.

"You didn't." She muttered. "Jen, please tell me you didn't have unprotected sex with him." Damn it all! There was no way I was going to tell her about his problem. That was personal, and I don't think he'd appreciate me sharing it with everyone, or anyone for that matter.

"I'm not pregnant." Was all I could say.

"Like hell, Jen! How do you know that? And why would he be buying you Plan B?" Ugh. This was so fucked up.

"It's complicated, okay? But trust me. I'm fine." Her expression softened a tad, when a knock on the door startled us. Joel.

I leapt from the couch, rushing to the door at top speed. Then, I skidded to a halt, fixing my hair the best I could before opening it.

Damn, he looked good. He was wearing a tight, black t-shirt that clung deliciously to his toned torso and well-fitting dark jeans to go with it. The whole ensemble made him look years younger and it hit me like a ton of bricks that this was the first time I'd seen him without a button up on. Even at the craftstore he was dressed for work. The shirt showed off all of his tattoos down his arm, the large black and white compass dominating his right with a wilting rose on the left. I wondered if they all meant something to him.

He chuckled as I stared at him, stepping past me to enter the apartment. He had a pharmacy bag in hand that he set on the counter. Ironic.

"Hello, again, Joel." He jumped, knocking the bag on the floor as he finally noticed my best friend on my couch.

"God fucking-" He breathed, clutching his chest. I giggled, closing the door and coming up beside him to pick up the plastic and box.

"If you didn't act like you lived here, I would've told you before you came inside." I poked. He eyed the contents in my hand then looked back at her. "She read your message." I assured him. She cocked a brow, grinning as she took another sip of her screwdriver.

"You're drinking?" He asked as an obvious attempt to change the subject. She raised her glass in a mocking toast to him as I opened the box.

"Hells yes, Prof. On a school night and everything. Are you going to scold us?" I snorted.

"And I thought I was a bad influence on her."

"Nah, we can fight for that title, bad boy." After reading the simple instructions, I got myself a glass of water, popping in a single tablet. It said as soon as possible after sex, so a few hours should be sufficient, right?

As I finished my glass, I felt Joel's arms snake around my waist, pulling my back against his front.

"Walk me out?" He mumbled into my hair.

"Sure." He kissed my ear and I turned to face Danny, who was watching us with a barely contained smirk. She was loving this. He took my hand and led me out the front door, as I closed it gently behind us. His hands made their way to my hips, and he lifted my face for another kiss, long and sweet, on his lips. My stomach was fluttering, and I had no means of touching back down. Everything he did was so damn alluring.

"Did you tell her?"

"About your condition?" I asked for clarity. He nodded, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"No. All she knows is that you're my professor and that we had unprotected sex. Oh, and I may have let our office tryst leak out, too." He chuckled, flashing me his dimples.

"Great. By that description, she probably thinks I'm a total creep."

"Do you really care?" I challenged with a raised brow.

"No." He whispered against my lips, taking them again. My stomach rumbling betrayed me, and he smiled. "Go eat, baby. The pasta looked good." He urged, giving me one last peck before turning me around and slapping my ass. I let out a yelp, shooting him a glare.

"Asshole." I murmured, but it only made him smile wider.

"Goodnight, Jennifer." He nodded, waiting for me to disappear back into my apartment before leaving, as if something would happen in that three seconds to harm me.

"Goodnight, Joel."