Lunar Crest University (Forbidden Fruit)

Chapter Four

LUCA

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, 2023

I ’m painfully aware of Finley sleeping softly in the passenger seat beside me. It’s almost infuriating. I can’t help but glance over every few minutes to see her still pressed against the window, mouth partially open as the quietest snore leaves her lips. Her hair falls in messy waves down her shoulders, cascading over my jacket that hugs her tightly.

I’m jealous of a damn jacket.

If it wasn’t the entirely wrong thing to do, I would’ve driven around for the rest of the night, watching her stir gently in her slumber and listening to the tranquil sound of her breathing inside the echo of silence that consumes the car. The rest of the world ceases to exist in this car with her, and all my problems melt away.

She’s the most vexatious person I’ve ever met, but only because I find her so beautiful. She isn’t even aware of it, either. In fact, she might be the one person on the planet who is oblivious to how stunning she is. I wish I was oblivious.

It isn’t her mannerisms or personality that aggravates me. No—she’s actually quite cute, with her awkwardness and flashes of fiery attitude. Especially tonight. Her drunken stupor only heightened her peculiar side, and I found it that much harder to contain my inappropriate thoughts. As unethical as it was, why did it feel so right to pine for her?

She’s forbidden fruit.

And Eve ate the apple.

Shaking my head, I get rid of the thought as soon as it appears. Gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles are white, I train my eyes on the road.

She’s not an apple. She’s my student.

Who just so happened to be snooping around my office late at night on a Saturday. I may be questionably ten years her senior, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid. I’ve been a large part of her thoughts too. Only two reasons make sense in my mind for her to be there—she wanted to find out more about me, which could be bad, or she was looking for me. Both reasons are inappropriate. There isn’t a good enough explanation that didn’t sound like she was there for me.

Finley’s apartment couldn’t come into view fast or slow enough. I wanted to get out of the intoxicating atmosphere just as much as I wanted to bask in it for the rest of eternity. And she isn’t even awake. The addictive ambiance she emanates while she’s looking at me or talking to me is an entirely different thing. I’m not sure how I would’ve survived the ride back to her place if she hadn’t fallen asleep.

I should’ve pressed her more on switching classes, as awful as that sounds.

Putting my car in park on the edge of the dark street, I turn to look over at her once more. It’s in this moment, as I watch her sleep, that I vow never to let my thoughts scratch the surface. They can’t ever be spoken out loud.

“Finley.”

She doesn’t even flinch.

“ Finley , wake up.”

I’m answered with the tiniest snore.

“Alright.” I sigh profoundly, climbing out of the car. Rounding the hood, I carefully open the passenger door and extend my arm to catch her as she slumps toward me. “Careful. Easy .”

Her thick eyebrows pull together as she groans softly, but her eyes remain closed. Scooping her into my arms, I pull her out of the leather seat and close the door with my hip. Her lips relax into a tired pout as she rests her cheek against my shoulder, which sends more electricity through my body than I expect. Finley’s arm dangles, swaying slightly back and forth as I walk up the concrete steps to her apartment door.

“Where’s your house key?” I murmur, jostling her gently as I speak.

Bringing her arm up to cuddle further into my chest, she sighs and mumbles, “Under th’mat.”

I swallow the slur of curse words that threaten to burst from my lips at her answer. Having her key in the most obvious place on the planet like she doesn’t care an ounce about her safety. Fucking hell.

Crouching down, I prop her on my knee as I dig underneath the mat to grasp the key, hoisting her back up with a grunt as I unlock the door and whisk it open. Shutting it behind us with my boot, I shuffle her toward the couch as I carefully lay her down on the unnecessary amount of throw pillows she owns.

And then, her phone slips from her pocket and to the floor with a loud smack .

My entire body tenses up as I wait for her to jolt awake, but instead, she curls up into the pillows and pulls my jacket over her like a blanket. After a few seconds, she’s snoring once more. I’m frozen for a while, listening to her sleep as if moving around will awaken her from her peaceful slumber.

But her phone screen lights up, beckoning me to peer down at Levi’s name as a text comes through. I know I shouldn't be here. I should mind my business and leave, but I haven’t had much willpower lately. Picking it up from the floor, my eyes quickly scan over the message.

Levi

You make it home, Finn?

That fucking bastard.

She could’ve been kidnapped, fallen and hit her head, or fucking killed. Now he cares about her well-being?

Before doing something I regret, I place her phone on the coffee table, in plain view for her when she wakes up. It’s better than the alternative—crushing it in my palm. I contemplate leaving a note for her in case she doesn’t remember tonight, but I don’t want to rummage through her apartment trying to find a pen and paper. The last thing I need is to be caught looking through her things.

Tiptoeing toward the door, I take one last glance at Finley’s sleeping figure before creeping back outside. Using the spare key, I twist it in the lock and shove it into the light fixture next to the door. For my own peace of mind.

There are worse things out there than me.