Emily: Hello Kitten (The ‘Hello’ series)

32. Chapter 32

thirty-two

W hen I come back out, Sarah spears me with her gaze even as Adrian pops the cap on some bottles. He brings me a Coke, then blocks me from my sister to stare down at me. He reaches forward with a finger and traces the necklace he’s given me with a gentle smile.

“I didn’t say hello, Kitten,” he murmurs.

Oh, I’m definitely in hot water when my sister leaves. I swallow as his finger continues gliding along my neck. “We were distracted. I forgive you… this time.”

“This time.” He almost chuckles, but nods. “Get some sugar in you.”

He sits in his recliner, and I’m left to choose between his lap and sitting beside my sister. I know I want to be on him just in case she tries to drag me away, but I have a feeling that will cause a fight and she’s already calling Adrian my boyfriend. We haven’t talked about titles, just that we’re dating.

I finally sit beside my sister and nurse my Coke. Sarah takes a deep breath while ignoring her beer to rub her forehead. “Explain how this started.”

“We met before school,” I say immediately. “One thing went to another and—well, you know I’ve always liked older men. We ended up here… together.”

“A one-night-stand is what she had in mind,” Adrian says.

“And you didn’t?” Sarah asks.

“No. I don’t do one-night-stands,” he answers, surprising me. “I agreed to take her home with me because I wanted her, liked her sense of humor, her liveliness, everything I still like about her. I had no idea she was going to be my student. I thought she was at least twenty-one because she was being served at a bar .”

I shoot him a look, but he shoots one right back to me until I sink back into my Coke.

My sister keeps asking questions, getting us up to the wedding. She looks at me. “I noticed you disappeared after your speech. What happened?”

“I told him we were done when we got back to campus because I didn’t and still don’t want him fired. I told him that we had to be done, over completely,” I whisper.

“It lasted for eight days.” He snorts. “Eight fucking days, and that was all we could manage.”

My sister looks between us and sighs. “You’re willing to risk your job for her?”

“Yes.” There’s no hesitation in Adrian’s answer. “I’m not willing to risk her being expelled, which is why we work hard to keep this a secret… for now.”

My sister falls quiet. I’ve already finished my Coke. I clear my throat. “Should I make dinner tonight, Adrian?”

He lifts his chin. “I was planning to take you out, but if I have something you want, that’s fine, baby.”

I stand up and he catches my wrist. “It’s been multiple days.”

I smile. “And? You want me to kiss you in front of my sister?”

“It’s not a proper hello until you do,” he counters.

“Hi, Adrian,” I say in a breathy voice before kissing him softly. “I’ll get started on dinner.”

“No wine tonight,” he says calmly.

I huff but head to the kitchen. I feel eyes on me, and when the silence in the room drags on a little long, Adrian stands. “More beer?”

“No, thank you. Can I speak with my sister alone, please?” Sarah asks without looking away from me.

I open the fridge, scan what he has, and pull out two salmon filets. I can work with this. He has shrimp too—he loves it—caviar, salad mix, plenty of veggies and sauces. I smile victoriously at my idea and shut the fridge, only to find my sister here.

“You’ve been knowingly screwing and dating your professor for months?” she asks. “You know this is wrong, Emily. He’s taking advantage. Just look at how he talks to you. He stopped you from walking in here until you kissed him. I don’t want to think about the other things he might be forcing you to do.”

“He doesn’t force me to do anything,” I say clearly. “We have a dynamic that works well, and I like him. A lot. I wanted it to just be sex. I wanted it to stop before your wedding, to stop at a one-night stand, but it didn’t. And now…”

“Don’t say it,” she says, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I should be telling the dean of the school and… what will Mom say!”

“She won’t say anything because you’re not going to tell her,” I say seriously.

“Emily, you can’t ask me to keep this a secret.”

“You wouldn’t even have known until you barged in after I said no!” I raise my voice. “I was very clear in the group text that I wasn’t going home. I was clear when you showed up. You kept pushing. You ignored the boundaries I set.”

“That’s not the problem here. It’s—”

“It is the problem, Sarah. You’re my sister and I love you, but you always do what our parents say even if it hurts me. Every time I stand up for myself, you try to help, and they throw your perfect life in my face. My relationship with Adrian might not be perfect, but it’s mine . I chose to be here. I choose every day to text him back. I choose every day to want him. I can’t help the lust, but I chose to start things again with him. He didn’t. We’re a good couple, and if you can’t see that, it’s not my job to convince you.” I get it all out and realize I’m panting and squishing the fish.

Adrian appears behind her, edges by Sarah, and gently touches my cheek. “Emily…”

“You know how much I like you and care about you. You read to me, remember every detail I say, make me feel valued and strong and appreciated. The sex is great, but the reason I can’t walk away isn’t because of our fun. It’s because of you,” I say as tears prickle.

He gently kisses my forehead, then my temple. “We’re not having fish tonight.”

I chuckle. “I crushed it,” I grumble. “I got too excited.”

“We’re going to order in,” he promises.

“How do you think this is going to go for you guys? That you’ll be able to keep dating under cover until Emily graduates? That you’ll be able to pull it off without anyone finding out?” Sarah demands.

“We’ll have to see how long we have to keep it a secret,” Adrian says, his hand stroking down my back. “I’m just an adjunct professor. It’s my job, not who I am.”

Sarah takes a slow breath. “Well, Emily, you say you’re a good couple, that he’s not controlling, that you’re happy, and I don’t see it. Convince me.”

I blink at her. “What?”

“Convince me. Tonight. We’ll all have dinner. It’s not like we haven’t done it before,” she says darkly.

As much as I want to argue, I know it’s not going to get us anywhere. I look up at Adrian. He meets my eyes, then rubs my lower back. “What would you both like to eat?”

“Are you going to put on a front?” Sarah scoffs.

“I didn’t put on a front at the wedding. I’m not putting on a front now. Baby, do you want to unpack or are you planning on leaving with your sister?”

I glare at Sarah. “You offered to let me stay until Friday morning, so I’m staying. I’m tired of only having you Saturday and Sunday mornings and for date nights.”

Sarah and I choose a restaurant, and Adrian looks around like he doesn’t recognize his own home. I know he’s not used to having people over. I’m the only person who visits, the only person he’s made room for.

“Is my drawer still open?” I ask.

“Yes,” he answers. “Choose a book for us tonight too. I chose last time. And you’re reading tonight.”

“That’s not fair. I love your reading voice. I always trip over my words,” I complain.

He chuckles lightly. “I like it, and we agreed to stay fair.”

“Fine,” I huff.

I take care of things in his room and come out to find my sister staring at Adrian like she’s trying to figure him out. I don’t like this setup. I don’t like that I feel like I can’t goad him or tease him the right way with her here, but we need her on our side.

We have to make sure she’s not going to tell. She can’t. It’s not an option, and that means we have to be perfect—something I’ve never been.