Chapter 14 IRRITATED?

Chapter 14 IRRITATED?
“Thank you, Nick. I swear I don’t know what I could have done without you,” Ruby said as the car rolled smoothly into the lot. She gathered her bag against her chest, letting out a dramatic sigh of relief, her eyes flicking to him with genuine gratitude.

Nick cut the engine and glanced at her, lips tugging into a small, teasing smirk. “Dinner, perhaps?”

Ruby’s head snapped toward him, her eyes widening before narrowing playfully. “What? No,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes with a laugh bubbling out of her throat. “I can’t. I promised Zahra I’d watch movies with her. Girls’ night.”

“Alright then.” he smiled a mischievous smile. “You'd better run before you’re late.”

Ruby chuckled, shaking her head as she reached for the handle. “Thank you.”

The night air rushed against her as she stepped out.  

Ruby shut the door with a soft thud, but instead of walking off immediately, she leaned against it for a second.

Her eyes flicked up, catching him through the window. A sudden and smaller smile tugged at her lips.

“Maybe… we can have that dinner some other time?” she asked with a lighter tone. 

Nick’s gaze held hers for a moment before he nodded, his smirk mellowing with a softer glance. “I’d be glad.”

Ruby’s smile deepened. She gave him a small wave and then turned, walking away with her bag tucked close.

As she pushed through the campus hallway, the noise of chatter and footsteps filled her ears. Ruby her gaze caught a figure in the corner of her eye, broad shoulders and tall frame. Her heart lurched, but before she could confirm, a voice called sharply behind her.

“Don’t tell me you spent the night with Nick?”

Ruby froze mid-step, then turned. Zahra stood there, eyebrows raised, and Nash slouched casually at her side.

Ruby groaned, rubbing her forehead. “Do you two really go around together at all times?”

Zahra glanced at Nash before looking back at her friend. “No, we don’t. We have Mrs Val’s class.”

“Then go. I have a class right now and I’m already running late.” Ruby tried to wave them off, but Zahra wasn’t letting go.

“No, no. That’s not what I’m asking.” Zahra folded her arms, her tone suddenly sharp. “You haven’t been spending the night at home, you don’t even call, and I got your text at three in the morning, Ruby. Are you dating Nick again?”

“What? No, I’m not,” Ruby replied quickly. 

"You are lying!" Zahra snapped. 

Ruby took a deep breath and replied slowly, almost through her teeth. “I went to a party with—” she blinked, catching herself with another breath leaving her lips. “With a friend. That’s all. Uh, you’re wasting my time. See you at home.”

Before Zahra could push further, Ruby turned, leaving her with the most confusing, half-answer possible.

All day there had been no sign of Leslie. She didn’t even have his class until evening and it didn't seem like he was going to show up. After their first night, he had a way of showing up everywhere, even unexpectedly. Now he was just absent. Nowhere.

Her mind wouldn’t stop circling. Was he mad at her for leaving? She hadn’t even taken his number. Maybe it was just sex, nothing more. 

And his words. God, his words kept clawing at her memory, replaying like a broken record.

“Do you really think you can go back to being just my professor? Pretend that your student wasn’t the first man you had sex with? Because I remember. Every face you made. Every moan and scream when you begged me to spank you, to fuck you. I remember how wet you were for me. And you remember too, don’t you? How many times have you come on my fingers, on my cock. You want it… You’re just lying to yourself. Licenses? That’s just a tool to distract yourself from thinking about my cock slamming into that wet pussy until it’s dripping. You want me to fuck you so hard right now, don’t you?”

He had made it clear he didn’t want to stop. So why disappear? Did he change his mind already, like every other man who made promises only to burn them to ash?

“Ms Allaire?”

The voice snapped her back to reality. Ruby blinked and lifted her head, finding Anna Newton at the front desk. But her gaze slipped past Anna and there he was. Leslie. Seated just behind her, eyes lowered, glued to his phone as though she didn’t exist.

Ruby swallowed, trying to steady her pulse. Just as she opened her mouth to answer Anna, her phone chimed, startling her.

“Oh, God!” she gasped, hand flying to her chest. “I’m sorry about that, guys. Just give me a second to mute it.” She reached for her phone and froze.

A text lit the screen. From him.

Leslie: You look pretty, Ruby.

Her throat tightened. Slowly, she lifted her eyes, only to find him still staring at his phone like nothing had happened. Then another buzz.

Leslie: Can I see a back view? Since I didn’t get to see you this morning.

Shivers raced down her spine, a mixture of heat and fury. What the fuck is he trying to do?

“Um… Ms Allaire?” another student prompted, pulling her back. Ruby inhaled sharply, locking her screen with a quick tap.

After last night, after he ignored her until evening, the last thing she wanted was to feed his ego.

“Oh. Yes,” she said, forcing a smile. “Where did we stop last week?” She grabbed her book, feigning composure.

The hour dragged, her focus frayed at the edges. Finally, she closed her notes and looked around at the students. “About your project... you’ll be working in groups. I’ll assign them after this class. Your deadline is three weeks after the trip, so make sure you register. You don’t want to miss it.”

“Ms Allaire,” Harry called from the back, “is the trip compulsory?”

“Yes, Harry. Very compulsory. Make sure you don’t miss it.” She gave him a polite smile before dismissing the class. “That’s all for today.”

The room began to empty. Ruby checked her phone again. Another message waited.

Leslie: I’ll have Loy pick you up.

Her gaze flicked to him across the room before she typed back.

Ruby: No, I can’t. I have somewhere to be.

When she lowered her phone, the room was nearly empty except for him. Leslie was still there. Still seated and watching her.

“Somewhere to be?” His voice was low, deliberate, filling the space. “With who?”

Ruby’s chest tightened. “I’m not sure our… relationship requires you to be asking that.”

“Is it with him?” Leslie rose, each step toward her was slow. “Nick Conan?”

Her breath caught. “What? How did you—”

“Run a background check?” His mouth curved into something dangerous. “Maybe. If it concerns you, why can’t I?”

Ruby’s jaw clenched. “So what? It’s not like we’re dating. We’re not exclusive. You don’t need to do all this.”

“Everyone in class today was talking about how good you two look together.” His tone sharpened. “Do you think so too?”

Her stomach twisted. When his hand reached out, instinctively, she stepped back.

“Don’t touch me,” she snapped, turning slightly but forcing herself to meet his gaze.

He lowered his hand, scoffing, but his eyes didn’t leave hers. “You left this morning. Was it because you didn’t want me driving you? Or is this about last night?”

“None. We are in school—”

“So you’re irritated because of last night. Ruby.”

She rolled her eyes, heat flashing in her cheeks. “I never said that. I have a meeting in a few minutes.”

“I already told you.” His voice dropped. “I don’t cuddle. I don’t make love to anyone.”

“And that’s fine. That’s good.” Ruby’s voice cracked with annoyance. “But I do. What’s wrong with cuddles? Maybe I want to make love, not just fuck!”

Her words cut the air just as she snatched her bag, storming past him with one last glare.