Chapter 58
**Sara**
As soon as Tom dismissed the class, I practically leaped out of my seat, desperate to escape the confines of the lecture hall. My heart was still racing from the occasional glances Tom had thrown my way during his lecture. I swear, every time our eyes met, it felt like the temperature in the room shot up ten degrees.
Jessica caught up with me in the hallway, linking her arm through mine. "Whoa there, Speed Racer. What's the rush?"
I tried to play it cool. "No rush. Just, you know, eager to get to my next class."
"Uh-huh," Jessica said, her tone dripping with skepticism. "And it has nothing to do with a dreamy professor we just left behind?"
"Oh, come on. Not this again."
"What?" Jessica's innocent act wasn't fooling anyone. "I'm just saying, I saw the way you were looking at him. And the way he was looking at you, for that matter."
"He wasn't looking at me," I protested weakly.
"Please. He was practically undressing you with his eyes."
"Jess!"
"What? It's true!" She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "So, when's the wedding?"
I stopped in my tracks, nearly causing a pile-up in the busy hallway. "Excuse me?"
Jessica grinned wickedly. "Oh, you know. The fairy tale wedding where you marry your handsome prince charming of a professor and live happily ever after."
"You've lost your mind," I muttered, shaking my head.
"Have I?" Jessica pressed. "Come on, Sara. Admit it. You're totally in love with him."
I started walking again, faster this time. "I am not in love with him. That's ridiculous."
"Is it, though?" Jessica persisted, jogging to keep up with me. "I mean, he's gorgeous, smart, successful... What's not to love?"
"The fact that he's our professor, for starters," I pointed out.
Jessica waved her hand dismissively. "Details, details. Love knows no bounds, Sara!"
I laughed at her dramatic declaration. "You've been watching too many rom-coms, Jess."
"Maybe," she conceded with a grin. "But you can't deny there's something there. I mean, the sexual tension in that classroom was undeniable."
"There is no sexual tension. You're imagining things."
"Oh, really?" Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you blushing?"
I cursed my traitorous complexion. "I'm not blushing. It's just... hot in here."
"Oh, sure. It's definitely the weather. Nothing to do with a certain tall, dark, and handsome professor who's walking this way right now."
My heart skipped a beat. "What? Where?"
"Gotcha!" Jessica cackled.
I smacked her arm playfully. "You're the worst, you know that?"
"I know, I know. But you love me anyway."
I tried to suppress a smile. "The jury's still out on that one."
"Miss Parker, Miss Thompson."
I froze at the sound of that familiar deep voice. Slowly, I turned around to see Tom standing there, looking unfairly attractive in his crisp white shirt and tailored blazer.
"Professor," I squeaked, my voice suddenly an octave higher than usual.
Jessica, ever the traitor, grinned widely. "Hello, Professor Hottie. Lovely lecture today."
"Thank you, Miss Thompson," he replied politely before turning his attention back to me. "Miss Parker, do you have a moment?"
My mind raced. What could he want? Oh God, the assignment. I blurted out, "I'm almost done with the assignment. I'll submit it tomorrow, I promise!"
Tom's eyebrows shot up, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "That's... good to know, Miss Parker. But that's not why I wanted to speak with you."
"Oh." I felt my cheeks burning. Again. Damn it.
"Shall we talk?" he asked, gesturing towards an empty classroom nearby.
I glanced at Jessica, silently pleading for help. But my so-called friend just grinned and started backing away. " I'll leave you two to it," she chirped. "I've got a... thing. You know, a very important thing. That I need to do. Right now. Bye!"
And with that, she was gone, leaving me alone with Tom.
"So..." I began, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot.
"So," he echoed, a small smile on his lips.
We stood there, the silence stretching between us like an elastic band ready to snap.
"I... I was wondering if I could get your phone number."
I blinked, caught off guard. "My phone number?"
"Yes, your phone number," he repeated, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice. "You know, that string of digits you use to make calls, send texts, order pizza at 2 AM..."
"I know what a phone number is, thank you very much. But why do you need mine?"
"Oh, you know, for the usual reasons. To talk, call, chat, maybe even indulge in video calls." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "And who knows? Maybe even for some... spicier activities."
My jaw dropped. "Tom!" I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was within earshot. "That's highly inappropriate!"
"I'm just being honest. Isn't that what you want? Honesty?"
I crossed my arms, looking stern despite the blush I could feel creeping up my neck. "What I want is for you to remember that you're my professor now."
"And what I want is your phone number," he countered smoothly.
"You can't always get what you want," I quipped.
Tom grinned. "But if you try sometimes, you just might find-"
"Don't you dare finish that Rolling Stones lyric," I warned, fighting back a smile.
"Come on, Sara. It's just a phone number. What's the harm?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't think it's a good idea. We need to keep things professional."
"Professional?" Tom repeated, his eyebrows shooting up. "Need I remind you of our unprofessional encounter the other night?"
"That was before I knew you were my professor," I pointed out.
"Ah, but you can't un-know it now, can you?" he said, waggling his eyebrows.
"Very funny. But seriously, why do you need my number?"
Tom leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, sultry whisper. "Maybe I want to send you some... extracurricular material. You know, for extra credit."
"Tom!"
"What?" He grinned innocently. "I was thinking lecture notes. What were you imagining?"
I huffed. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
"Oh, come on. Don't tell me you haven't thought about it. About us."
"There is no us," I hissed, glancing around nervously. "And keep your voice down!"
"Alright, alright. But seriously, why won't you give me your number?"
"Because it's inappropriate!"
"Says the woman who did very inappropriate things with me just a few nights ago."
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Can we please not talk about that?"
"Fine, fine. But come on, Sara. It's just a phone number. What's the worst that could happen?"
I peeked at him through my fingers. "You could use it?"
He laughed, a rich, warm sound that made my knees weak. "That's kind of the point, isn't it?"
"Okay, fine. Why do you really want my number?"
Tom shrugged. "Just for fun."
"Fun?" I repeated skeptically.
"Yeah, you know. That thing people do when they're not being all serious and studious."
"I know what fun is, thank you very much."
"Do you?" He raised an eyebrow. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you could use a little more of it in your life."
"If I give you my number, will you promise not to abuse it?"
"Cross my heart," he said solemnly, making an X over his chest.
"Fine," I grumbled, fishing my phone out of my bag. "But I'm warning you now, if you start sending me inappropriate messages or calling at all hours, I will block you faster than you can say 'tenure review.'"
Tom grinned triumphantly as I reluctantly rattled off my number. "Noted. I'll be on my best behavior."
"Somehow, I doubt that," I muttered.
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