Page 17 of Voyeur

“I know. Sorry, I have a weird sense of humor.” My cheeks burned from saying something so stupid to my teacher. But when I looked at him, red tinged his cheeks too. And he was still laughing.

“Next time I’ll definitely clarify. I’d hate for Donna to give me a speech on offering to be a male escort to a student. Don’t tell her, but she scares me a little.”

“Nonsense. Donna is an angel.”

“An angel who can put this whole office of males in their place.” We both laughed at the image. Once we’d gathered ourselves, he asked again more clearly. “Do you need someone to walk you to your car?”

“No, thank you. I’m just running to my friend’s dorm right across the way.”

He nodded. “Okay. Just be safe.”

And with a wave, I was out the door, having survived the first day working for Dr. Pierce without drooling all over him.

I walked the short distance to Olivia’s dorm, and she greeted me, letting me in, before taking me to the common area with her other friends. Joining the study party, I pulled my books out knowing I wasn’t going to get anything done. We started talking as soon as I sat down, and I had no doubt it would continue until I left.

“So, how was your first day in the physics department? Did all the geeky guys fawn over you? Were there any hot geeky guys? Please tell me there were.”

I laughed at her rapid-fire questions. “I didn’t see any, but if I do, I’ll send them your way.”

“This is why we’re friends.” She raised her hand for a high-five, and I obliged. “But really, how was it?”

“It was good. I helped with lab equipment and then I assisted Dr. Pierce for the rest of the afternoon.”

“Shut. Up,” one of the girls on the opposite couch said. I think her name was Sandy. “He’s so freaking hot. I seriously considered changing my major just for the opportunity to get close to him.”

“Well, be jealous, bitch. Because Oaklyn and I have him for Astronomy this semester,” Olivia taunted.

“Whore,” Sandy returned with a smile.

“I’ve heard he’s a manwhore,” the other girl said. “But totally reserved.”

“How would you know, Cindy?” Olivia asked.

“How could he not be? Girls throw themselves at him all the time. I’m sure he takes advantage.”

“But he’s a teacher. Surely, he wouldn’t do anything with a student,” Sandy said.

Cindy just shrugged her shoulders, letting her gossip lay wherever it fell. “The quiet ones are always the freakiest. They have the biggest secrets.”

The girls moved on to another topic, but I couldn’t get past what they’d said. I didn’t think it was true about Dr. Pierce. Sure, I’d caught him staring at me a few times, but it hadn’t felt sexual. Just intense.

My stomach fluttered thinking about it, so I shut it down. I had to work with him, and if rumors were already going around about him, I didn’t want to encourage more gossip.7

chapterseven

Callum

“I’m sohappy you called again,” Shannon said from across the table.

I didn’t really know what to say, so I gave a noncommittal hum and smile, hoping it reassured her that I was happy I did too. Even if I wasn’t sure why I’d called her again.

Liar.

Oaklyn’s smiling face, her smell, the way she looked when she came and the way it filtered into my dreams—thatwas why I’d called Shannon. I wanted to try and get my mind off Oaklyn.

“The holidays made it hard to find time, huh?” she continued. “They did for me too. Then my grandmother needed help back home after hip surgery, which made me late to start my new job. But I’ll get there next week.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your grandmother. I hope she’s doing better.”