Page 13 of Lesbian Professor (Sapphic Sweethearts #6)

Polly

I understand that falling for a professor is a terrible idea.

Like, I get it.

But I also know that life is very, very short, and we only have one chance to make the most of it. Right now, I want to make the most of it with Noelle.

I find myself growing more and more crazy about her every day. We spend as much time as possible together. We see each other at school, at home, at the bar.

And the sex?

The sex is the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.

Beyond that, the relationship that we begin to build is better than anything I could have ever hoped for.

A few weeks pass, and I’m at the bar working one night. Max is here, and he leans on the bar, eyes Noelle off in the corner, and then looks at me again.

“You’re crazy about her,” he says.

“I know.”

“I’ve never seen you so happy.”

“I’m aware.”

“Don’t let her break your heart,” he warns.

“I won’t.”

“I mean it,” he says.

“I know, Max.”

“Everyone’s falling in love around here,” he sighs. “You know, well, except me.”

“Me too,” says a woman at the end of the bar. She holds up her drink.

“What’s your story?” Max asks. “And do you want another one?”

“I want another one,” she says. “Maybe just make me two right now.”

Max laughs but nods, and starts on the drinks.

“You okay?” I ask. I feel a little bad for her. Whoever she is, she’s obviously going through something. Maybe I can help. At the very least, I can be a listening ear so she doesn’t have to feel so alone.

“Not really,” she says. “I mean, I’m a librarian, you know? It’s not like it’s easy to find love at the library.”

“I would not guess that,” I say slowly. “Aren’t libraries known for being full of people searching for connection? Isn’t that why people read?”

“Maybe,” she says. She downs the rest of her drink. “But I mean, the thing is, you know, readers tend to be introverted.”

“But they still come out to go to the library.”

“But they don’t communicate well,” she says. She shakes her head. The woman’s red, frizzy hair bounces. She reminds me of a cartoon character on a show I used to watch.

“Want to talk about it?” I ask.

“No,” she says. “But thank you, you know. Thanks for the offer.”

She takes her next drinks from Max and returns to staring at the wall.

“I worry about her,” Max says. “She started coming in a couple of nights ago.”

“Bad breakup, I bet,” I say. The only reason people become regulars at bars is if they’re going through something they’re struggling to deal with.

“Something like that,” he says. “But speaking of bad breakups...” Max points to Noelle’s table. She’s laughing, throwing her head back, joking around with her friends and her sister. “You should get over there.”

“I’m not going through a breakup.”

“Keep it that way,” he says, smiling. “You’ve got something hot and special, Polly. Don’t fuck it up.”

“Famous last words,” I say, but I drop my washcloth on the counter, and I walk over to the table, slide into the booth, and kiss my girlfriend.

My lover.

My future.