Chapter 136: Distracted

Emerald’s POV

By the time Michael’s class ended, I was relieved to leave the room.

I had spent most of the lecture trying to concentrate on what he was teaching while being painfully aware of the man standing at the front of the room.

It had been easier before Saturday.

At least then, I could look at him without remembering the feeling of his lips against mine, as it hadn’t happened then.

Today, I could barely look at him at all. I had thought I would be prepared, but it turned out that I wasn’t.

The worst part was that I had actually lost track of the lecture badly enough for him to call my name.

I still felt embarrassed thinking about it, especially because Elias had been sitting behind me and had quietly supplied the answer when I couldn’t remember what Michael had just said.

I gathered my things and left with the other students, determined to put the incident behind me.

I had barely reached the hallway when Elias caught up with me.

"You looked like you forgot how to speak in there."

I glanced at him. "I was distracted."

He laughed. "I noticed."

"I wasn’t asking for commentary."

"I wasn’t criticizing you." He walked beside me, looking amused. "I was helping you."

"I know. Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

He adjusted the strap of his bag and looked at me again. "Seriously, though. Are you all right?"

"Yes." I nodded

"You sure?"

I gave him a look. "I said I’m fine."

He raised both hands slightly. "All right. I believe you."

I shook my head and continued walking.

He had helped me when I needed it, and I appreciated that, but I had no intention of explaining to him why my mind had wandered during Michael’s lecture.

That was my business.

I had another class later in the day, then spent the afternoon catching up on assignments and reviewing the material I had missed while I was in Washington.

By the time my last class ended, I was ready to leave campus.

I walked through the hallway with my bag over my shoulder, already thinking about dinner and the quiet evening I wanted in my dorm.

I had not seen Michael since his class that morning.

Since he had only had that one class with us, I assumed he had left Lanard sometime after teaching.

That should have made seeing him again impossible. Apparently, I had been wrong. I turned a corner and nearly walked straight into him.

I stopped.

Michael was standing several feet away, speaking to one of the faculty members. He noticed me almost immediately. Our eyes met.

My first instinct was to look away. And I did. I hated that I had done it so quickly.

I had spent the entire day avoiding the possibility of seeing him, and now that he was actually standing in front of me, I suddenly became conscious of everything—the way he looked at me, the calmness in his expression, and the fact that he did not seem remotely uncomfortable.

He finished his conversation and turned toward me. "Long day?"

His voice was completely normal, professional like it had always been, as if Saturday had never happened.

I adjusted the strap of my bag. "Yes, Professor King. My last class just ended."

He nodded. "Then you should get some rest."

That was all.

He didn’t tease me or mention the kiss. He didn’t say anything that would make me more uncomfortable than I already was.

Somehow, that made me even more aware of it.

"You’re still here?" I asked before I could stop myself.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he nodded. "I had work to finish."

I nodded. "Oh."

He held my gaze for another second, then said, "Have a good evening, Emerald."

"You too."

I walked away before I could say anything else. I did not look back.

I made it halfway down the corridor before I realized I had been holding my breath. I exhaled slowly and shook my head at myself.

This was ridiculous.

I had been in a relationship for six years. I knew what attraction felt like. I knew what love felt like. I knew what it meant to want someone.

So why was Michael affecting me like this?

The kiss was not the problem by itself. It was what had followed. His restraint and patience.

The way he had not pushed me afterwards or demanded an explanation for the way I had responded to him.

He had simply allowed me to return to my studies. And now, when we crossed paths unexpectedly, he had done the same thing.

He had given me room. That should have made things easier, instead, it made me think about him more.

By the time I returned to my dorm, I was irritated with myself.

I showered, changed into comfortable clothes, ordered dinner, and sat at my desk with my laptop open.

I had barely started reviewing my notes when my phone vibrated. I glanced at the screen. There was a message from Michael.

Michael: Have you eaten?

I stared at the message for a long moment. Then a smile appeared before I could stop it.

I immediately frowned at myself as soon as I realised my reaction.

Why was something as simple as him asking whether I had eaten enough to make me smile?

I typed a reply.

Me: I just ordered dinner.

His response came a few seconds later.

Michael: Good. Don’t study on an empty stomach.

I stared at the message for a while. There was nothing romantic about it. Nothing suggestive.

It was the sort of thing someone who cared about another person’s well-being might say, yet I found myself reading it twice.

I placed the phone beside my laptop and tried to return to my notes.

I managed for several minutes, then my thoughts wandered back to the hallway.

Michael had seen me, spoken to me and had not mentioned Saturday.

And somehow, that simple restraint had made me more conscious of him than if he had teased me about it.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. I needed to stop thinking about him, but that was becoming increasingly difficult.