Page 60 of After Hours Lectures

“Anything for you.” He slapped my back a couple of times and then pulled away.

My dad snagged my suitcase from the back and wheeled it over to me before enveloping me in his arms. “Have a safe flight home. Love you.”

“I love you too, Dad. I’ll see you soon.”

I grabbed the handle on my suitcase and made my way into the terminal. After checking in my bag and going through security, I looked for a place to get some coffee since it was early and I desperately needed some caffeine.

While waiting at my gate, I pulled out my phone and texted Hayden:

At the airport. Should be back in town around 5. Can’t wait to see you tonight

HF: Me either. The game starts at 4, so I should be home by 7:30

During our phone call the night before, we’d decided I’d order a ride to his house to avoid anyone at the frat seeing me get into his car.

Me: I’ll be there at 8. Give you a little time to prepare for me ??

HF: Oh, I’ll be ready

* * *

As was usuallythe case when I was excited about something, time seemed to stretch into eternity. First, our plane had to wait for a gate to be available after we landed, then it took forever to get my luggage from baggage claim. By the time I was in my rideshare, my body was buzzing with anticipation.

When my ride dropped me off at the fraternity house, I headed inside to unpack and shower since I still had an hour before I needed to leave to go to Hayden’s place. Several of my frat brothers were home, and I called out greetings as I made my way to my room.

“Hey. I didn’t expect to see you tonight,” Fallon said as he stepped into the hallway, and then he lowered his voice. “I figured you would have gone straight over to you-know-who’s house after a week away.”

I nudged my head toward my room, indicating he should follow me. When we stepped inside, I closed the door so we could talk freely. “He’s covering a game right now. I’m going over there in a little bit.”

“So, are things getting serious between you two?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I think so. He actually came out to California to see me.”

“Really?”

“Well, it was for work, but he asked me to stay the night with him while he was there.” It was nice to have someone I could share this type of stuff with because keeping it to myself was becoming more difficult as time went on. I wanted nothing more than to tell the world how happy I was. “It was the best part of the trip.”

“Sounds like someone might be falling for their professor.”

I was pretty sure I already had.

* * *

At exactly eight o’clock,I knocked on Hayden’s door, and he flung it open, wearing only a towel around his waist.

“Get your ass in here,” he said, pulling me inside.

“Only my ass gets an invitation?” I teased.

He pushed me against the wall. “Shut up and kiss me.”

I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him close, our mouths crashing together.

“If this is the welcome I get after a few days apart, I may have to go away more often.”

“Don’t you dare,” he growled, trailing his lips down my neck. “The last four days were torture. I missed you.”

I moaned as he sucked the sensitive skin of my throat. “How much?”