Page 45 of Academically Yours

“Because,” she said, eyes opening wide. “You’re so tall.”

“Unlike you, who are so little.”

“Hey,” Noelle frowned, “I’m not little.”

“You’re little to me,” I smirked.

“I’ll have you know that I am taller than average height, thank you very much. I can’t help it if you’re a giant.”

The waiter brought over bread, interrupting us before I could rebut the statement.

Noelle picked up the bread and tore off a piece. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her eat, knowing how much she enjoyed food. It was weird, wasn’t it, to notice something like that about someone? But I did. Every time I watched her eat, it was obvious how much pleasure she derived from eating. She slathered her bread in butter before plopping it in her mouth.

I had this urge—to want to cook for her, to see that look on her face as she ate my food. To take care of her like that, the way she deserved. I knew it was possessive, the way I felt for her, but I couldn’t help it.

“What?” She asked me after swallowing her bite.

“Nothing.” I shook my head, trying to play off my staring at her. How I was always transfixed by her. Maybe I needed to get my head checked.

Or get the guys to knock some sense into me.

“Alright, back to the questions. What do you want to know about me, Noelle?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. The important things. Do you have any siblings? Do you love your mom? Are you going to steal me away into the night so I never see my friends or family again? How old were you when you had your first kiss? Do you think this is crazy? I mean… it’s a little bit crazy, right?”

“Noelle.” I laughed. “You’re so…” Beautiful. Enchanting. Incredible. Sexy. Honest. Loud. Ridiculously and unabashedly you.

“Oh, not this again,” she groaned.

“You’re so much more than I could have ever expected,” I said honestly.

She only paused for a beat, as if she was digesting my words before she waggled her eyebrows at me. “And what exactly did you expect, Professor?”

“Noelle.” God. Back to that. I hated it when she called me that.

Except… I didn’t. It felt like this game between us, part of the line that was between us that was taut. I just didn’t know what either one of us would do when it snapped.

She just giggled at me as she took a sip of the Italian soda she had ordered. Damn, this girl and her never-ending sweet tooth.

“Not sure,” I chuckled. “Certainly not this feisty little redhead who’s sitting in front of me though.” I thought back to the first time we met when I saw her standing across the room.

How did I explain to her that her presence had always had some sort of magnetic pull on me? Like she was the sun, and I was destined to orbit around her for the rest of my life. And maybe I just needed her sunlight in my life. You’re like the sunshine, I wanted to tell her. And I can’t help but want to be around you and absorb every bit of it.

But she didn’t press on the matter further, and then the waitress came over with our food, and I watched Noelle’s eyes light up as she took the first bite of cheesy pasta on her plate.

Note to self: Noelle loves pasta. I didn’t know why it surprised me, why I found it pertinent, but I filed that knowledge away for later consideration.

“You never finished answering my questions.” She finally said, frowning at me as she looked up.

“Finish your food before it gets cold.” I pointed my fork at her plate. “And then I will answer your questions.”

“And then… Can we get dessert?” Her eyes twinkled like a kid in a candy store.

Yep, I was down bad for her because my instant response was, “Of course. We can get whatever you want.”

And the smile that spread over her face? Worth it. It was all so, so worth it.

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