Текст книги "Undone"

Автор книги: R. E. Hunter

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

9

Embry sat in the library on Tuesday afternoon, waiting for Jeremy to meet her in one of the private study rooms. She’d spent the rest of the weekend buried in her books and working on her writing assignment. She’d felt the weight lift from her shoulders as soon as she handed in her assignment, but first-year law students got no rest. She and Jeremy were meeting to work on outlines for their final exams. Embry wanted to get as much of a head start as possible organizing their notes and preparing their study materials.

Other than a few text messages, she’d barely spoken to Luke. She couldn’t wait to see him on Wednesday night. Her classes started late on Thursdays, and she was hoping he would stay over. She shivered as too-cold air blew from the vents, and she wished that she still had Luke’s warm sweatshirt to snuggle into.

Jeremy rapped on the window, startling Embry.

She opened the door. “Hey, Jer.”

“Hey, thanks for grabbing a room.”

“No worries, I was just getting started.” Or dreaming about my southern sexy. Same thing.

Jeremy sat down with an audible huff.

“What’s wrong?” Embry asked.

“Nothing, I got held up talking to Becky.”

“Oooh, drama in the world of the man-whore. What happened?”

Jeremy rolled his eyes. “Very funny.”

“Wait. Is this Becky Becky? As in Becky from four that you ditched for Angela from two?” Embry couldn’t help giving him a hard time. Jeremy’s love life was better than soaps.

“One and the same,” he answered dryly.

“What did she want? I thought she was a no-go.”

“She was … until she wasn’t. Becky’s not a one-and-done kind of girl, and I knew it. But I just couldn’t help myself.”

“Oh, Jer.” Embry shot him a disapproving look.

“I know, I know. I was up front with her, but apparently she thought she’d be the one to tame the beast.”

Embry’s green eyes bulged as she stared at her friend. Jeremy smirked.

“Did you just …”

“I did,” he said proudly.

“I’m going to pretend that didn’t just come out of your mouth.”

“Fine, fine. But you’re in denial. I’m telling you, Blondie, one of these days, you’re going to realize how amazing I am, and it’s gonna be too late!” A large grin spread across his handsome face, and he winked.

“I already know how amazing you are, Jer.” She batted her eyelashes. “But I’m pretty sure I wasn’t made to tame your beast.”

His smile fell a fraction of an inch, but before Embry could recover with another joke, her phone rang. She looked at her phone and saw Luke’s smiling face flash across the display. Noticing Jeremy’s eyes on the screen as well, Embry snatched the phone. She still wasn’t ready to talk to him about her relationship.

“I have to take this,” she said.

“Go for it.” He pushed away from the desk. “I’m going to run to the snack machine.

“Hello?”

“Hey, beautiful.”

Luke’s deep, raspy voice made Embry’s belly clench. “Hey there. When did you put that picture on my phone?”

“When you were sleeping on Saturday.”

“Sneaky,” she scolded. “I love it. I miss your face.”

“You get to see it tomorrow, sweetheart. What are you up to?”

“Going over outlines with Jer. I’m in the library.”

“Oh, okay, I won’t keep you then,” he said.

“No, it’s okay. He just ran out for a sec. What’s up?”

“Nothing, just wanted to hear your voice. We still on for tomorrow?”

“Yes, I can’t wait. Do you have any requests?” she asked.

“I’ll love whatever you make, baby.”

“Nope, I’m not letting you get away with that. You don’t have a snarky best friend I can get all the right answers from. At least give me a hint.”

“Surprise me.”

“Luke.”

“Really, I like it all, babe. My favorite is barbeque, you know that.”

“Living up to your nickname, I see,” she said.

“What nickname?”

“Nothing, just something me and Morgan call you.”

“Oh I’m definitely going to get that out of you tomorrow night.”

“You can try,” Embry taunted.

“I’m going to try, all right. I can be very persuasive.”

“I bet you can. Just how do you plan on persuading me?”

“You sure you want to get into this while you’re in the library?”

“Get into what?” Embry asked, feigning innocence.

“Embry,” Luke warned.

“Luke.” She mimicked his tone.

“God, you’re sexy when you’re being a pain in my ass.”

Embry flushed at the desire in Luke’s voice. “Even over the phone?”

“Even over the phone, beautiful.”

She changed the subject back to dinner. “Seriously, Luke, I want to make something you like.”

“Let’s cook another time. You want to do sushi instead? I can pick it up on my way over.”

“Are you scared of my cooking?”

Luke laughed. “No, baby. I just want all of your attention. Now go study. I’ll text you later, okay?”

“‘Kay.”

Jeremy walked back in as Embry hung up. She couldn’t keep her smile from forming. When she looked up, Jeremy was studying her, an odd look marring his features.

Blushing, she tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and spread out her notes. “Sorry about that.”

“No problem.” Jeremy walked past her and settled back in his seat. “You’re all red.”

“What?” Embry felt her face heating even more.

“You look all flustered. You okay?

“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.” She wasn’t about to share with him what—or more accurately, who—had gotten her so flustered.

“Cool. Let’s get these new sections added to the outline so we can get out of here.” Jeremy’s voice lacked its usual warmth, and she wondered what had caused the change.

* * *

The following day, Embry drove home from class with bleary eyes. She had stayed up half the night getting ahead on her assignments so that she would be free to spend the night with Luke. When she’d finally gone to bed, her sleep was plagued with nightmares. She dreamt her criminal law book had turned into a small demon with teeth and chased her around the apartment. Needless to say, she was exhausted. So she had foregone lunch with Jeremy to drive home for a power nap between classes. She hoped that would make her feel more awake for her night with Luke. By the time she got home, she could barely keep her eyes open. Letting herself into her apartment, she dropped her bag by the door and walked on unsteady feet until she reached her room. She fell into bed and was asleep before she could remember to set her alarm.

Embry woke up over two hours later, completely disoriented. She heard a faint ringing and figured it must be her cell in the other room. She looked around, confused by the daylight shining through the windows. Glancing at the clock on her dresser, she bolted straight out of bed. “Oh shit!”

It was 1:50, and class started at two p.m. Embry didn’t live far from campus, but between driving there and finding a parking spot, she knew she’d be late. She straightened her clothes then darted into the bathroom to brush her hair and teeth. She ran into the office, switched out her textbooks, grabbed her bag on the way out the door, and jumped into her car.

While waiting at a stoplight outside of her complex, Embry’s phone chirped. Fishing it out of her bag, she saw a ton of missed calls from Luke and a few text messages. He hadn’t left a voicemail, but the texts made her nervous.

Baby, please call me, I need to talk to you.

Are you there?

Shit, Bree. Please answer me.

What the hell is going on? She dialed Luke’s number while trying to keep her eyes on the road. It rang until his voicemail picked up. Crap. Embry hung up and concentrated on getting to campus. She lucked out with a spot right out front. It was 2:05, but at least Coleman would just be getting started. She hurried into school and through the atrium as she typed out a text to Luke.

Hi baby. Went home for a nap, I was exhausted. Everything ok? I’m worried.

Whitman wasn’t a huge law school, but it felt as if it took Embry forever to make it through the halls. She reached the end of the hallway, and her classroom was the last on the left. As she went for the door handle, her phone chirped again. Luke’s words made her stomach drop.

I am so sorry, baby.

Embry pulled up short and stared at her phone. What? With shaky hands, she attempted to type a response. She had no idea what he was sorry about, but whatever it was, she couldn’t deal with it until after class. She’d call him as soon as she got out, and they’d figure it out then.

Sorry for what? You’re freaking me out. Late to class. I’ll call when I get out. xx

Embry took a deep breath, steeling herself and settling her nerves, and walked into the classroom.

10

As she entered the room, Embry breathed a sigh of relief. A man stood at the front of the classroom writing on the whiteboard, and she realized they must have a sub. Weird, why didn’t Coleman just cancel class? She was mesmerized by him. She liked the way the muscles in his back expanded and contracted under his white dress shirt, sleeves rolled halfway and exposing thick, tan forearms. He reminded her of Luke. Get a grip, Bree.

She was about to move toward her seat when the man turned to address the class. “I wasn’t supposed to start until next semester, but Professor Coleman had an emergency. Unfortunately, she won’t be back this semester. So I’ll be taking over from here on out.”

Embry was frozen to the spot. She heard the words, but they weren’t registering. Luke, her Luke, stood in front of the room, speaking to the class like … No, it couldn’t be. She focused in on the words written on the board behind him: Professor Lucas Brody.

The room swayed, and Embry felt light headed. Professor. The word ran through her head on a loop, assaulting her mind and ripping through her chest. She couldn’t focus, and her heart pounded so loud in her ears, she wondered if the entire class could hear it. No one had seen her yet. He hadn’t seen her yet. Embry backed toward the door, but her movement must have caught Luke’s eye. His beautiful blue irises locked onto hers, a million emotions playing across his face. She was paralyzed, too stunned to move. She blinked furiously, willing herself to see something different, but there was nothing different to see. Luke stood at the front of the class, his sad eyes still searching hers, and in that moment she felt as if her heart had leapt from her chest and fell to the floor.

He lied to me.

That thought snapped her out of it. As quickly as she had frozen, Embry sprang into action. With one last look at Luke, she pushed out of the classroom, walked back down the long hallway, and straight out to the parking lot. She sat in her car gripping the steering wheel for dear life, her bare legs sticking to the warm leather seat. Of course I wore a dress. She’d planned on teasing Luke with her lack of pants again.

Embry let out a choked sob, and the tears began to fall. It was too much. She couldn’t get her head around it. He had lied. A huge lie. A lie that could affect both of their futures. And for what? They may be falling for each other—or had been until that revelation—but he knew that she was a student. And he was a professor. Luke was a professor. Her professor. She sat there trying to make sense of everything as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

Embry put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking lot. She drove until she found herself at the beach. She grabbed a blanket out of the trunk and walked toward the ocean. It had always been the one place she could find peace, but every step she took on the soft, white sand was a memory. Walking with Luke, laughing with Luke, kissing Luke. She shut out her thoughts and settled by the water, wrapping herself in the blanket.

Her phone chirped. As much as she’d wanted to leave the phone in the car, she couldn’t help but wonder if Luke would call. She looked down at the text: Jeremy. She sighed, disappointment ripping through her. As hurt as she was, she couldn’t help wishing for Luke. Right back to the same old patterns. How fucked up am I?

Her thoughts turned to Jack. He had ruined her. He’d done everything possible to break her down—and she was broken—but she wasn’t that girl anymore. Part of her wished Luke would comfort her, come running after her on his white horse with some crazy explanation. But there was no plausible explanation, and this wasn’t a fairy tale. He’d lied. For what reason, she didn’t know. Maybe he got off on fucking his students.

Oh my god! I fooled around with my professor. Embry cringed. She didn’t want to remember those moments with Luke as anything other than beautiful. But she’d have to sit in his class for almost two hours a day, three days a week. She knew what he looked like under his clothes, knew what he felt like, had traced the hills and valleys of his chest. She knew the sounds he made when he came, knew how he tasted.

She threw a rock into the calm water, watching it skip across the surface and leave ripples in its wake. She sat and stared, letting her thoughts drift away. The sound of waves lapping at the shore calmed her and lulled her into a haze. Embry’s phone rang, and Luke’s face popped up on the display. Her heart ached, and she rubbed at her chest. Stupid picture. She hit ignore and threw the phone into the sand. She’d have to speak to him at some point, but not when she was so raw. His betrayal was still too fresh.

Minutes passed, maybe hours. She had no idea how much longer she sat there staring at the ocean, but as she watched the sun kiss the horizon, she knew she had to pull herself together. She headed home, trying not to think about the empty apartment waiting for her. Luke had called a few more times, and each time, she sent him to voicemail.

She drove down the highway, with the windows down, wind blowing through her hair, trying to focus her thoughts on anything else but Luke. Her phone danced across the passenger seat again, and Embry rolled her eyes, wishing he’d stop calling. She grabbed the phone to shut it off but saw Morgan’s face on the display.

“Hello?”

“Bree! Where’ve you been? Everyone is talking about what happened to Coleman and the hot new professor who took her place! Were you in class today? Is he seriously gorgeous? I hear he’s, like, seriously gorgeous! Why didn’t you call me?”

“It’s Luke.” Embry could barely get the words out. She took a deep breath and fought off the tears threatening to fall. Just saying his name hurt.

“What about Luke? I’m talking about your hot new professor. Did you hear anything I just said?”

Exasperated, Embry replied, “Yes, Morgan, I heard what you said.”

“So what are you talking about?”

“My hot new professor,” Embry said slowly.

“Yes?”

“Is Luke.”

Morgan shrieked, and Embry held the phone away from her ear. “Embry? Embry! Are you there? Helloooooo?” Morgan called.

She brought the phone back to her ear. “I’m here, Morgan.”

“Are you okay? What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I just found out when I walked into class today.”

“I don’t understand.”

“That makes two of us,” Embry said flatly. She felt as if all of the life had been sucked out of her voice, along with the promise of what could have been between her and Luke.

“You’re not okay.” It wasn’t a question.

“No, I’m not.”

“Have you spoken to him?”

“He announced to the class that he was supposed to start as a professor next semester, but with Coleman out for the rest of this semester, they asked him to take over.”

“Wow, okay. But have you actually spoken to him? Outside of the classroom?”

“And say what?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe start with ‘What the fuck’ and go from there?” Morgan suggested. “Don’t you want to hear what he has to say?”

“I don’t know.”

“Has he tried to get in touch?”

“Yeah, he’s called at least a half a dozen times. Sent some texts. I haven’t checked them.” Embry told Morgan about her morning: almost sleeping through class, Luke’s missed calls, and the text he sent right before she walked into class.

“Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“I think you should at least hear him out. Clearly this was sprung on him, too,” Morgan said.

“I get that, but really, we’ve been together over a month. Don’t you think that in all the conversations we’ve had, the fact that he was going to be a professor next semester might have come up? It’s kind of an important piece of information. I was dating a fucking professor.”

Morgan went silent for a minute. “That’s kind of hot, Bree.”

“Shut up, M.”

“What? I’m just saying.”

“Not helping.”

“Well at least you with him. It would be much worse sitting in his classroom knowing what he looks like under those sexy clothes.”

Embry stayed silent. She and Morgan had both been working on big assignments over the weekend, so she hadn’t had a chance to catch her up on what went on with Luke.

“Embry?” Morgan questioned.

“Yes?”

“What aren’t you telling me?” Her friend’s tone was a combination of suspicion and curiosity.

“Nothing,” Embry said flatly.

“You dirty whore! You hooked up with him? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”

Embry let out an audible sigh.

“How was it?”

“Again, not helping,” Embry deadpanned.

“Okay, okay. You want me to come over?”

“No, I’m just gonna go home and crash. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“You sure you’re all right?”

“No, but I will be. I always am.”

Embry hung up and pulled into her parking spot. She grabbed her things and made her way toward the stairs. When she looked up, she saw Luke sitting on the top step outside of her apartment. His arms rested on his knees, hands dangling between his legs, and his head hung low. At the sound of her footsteps, he lifted his eyes and sucked in a breath. Her heart thudded at the sight of him. His shirt was wrinkled, hanging untucked out of his pants. His eyes were bloodshot, and his normally perfect hair stuck up at odd angles as though he had been running his hands through it repeatedly. He still looked gorgeous.

“Embry,” he said.

“What are you doing here?” Her harsh tone left a bitter taste on her tongue.

“I tried to call.”

“I know. I didn’t answer for a reason.”

Luke stood, making space for Embry to move up the stairs. She juggled her bags as she pulled out her keys. Opening her door, she threw her stuff to the side, and turned back to Luke. He leaned against the door jamb, looking disheveled and delicious. It was impossible for the man to look bad. It only fueled her anger.

“What do you want, Luke?”

He stepped toward Embry, lifting his hand to gently cup her cheek. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

Embry leaned into his touch for just a moment before she pulled away, shaking off his hand. “I can’t do this.”

“Please just let me explain.”

Embry shook her head. The tears she thought she had under control threatened to fall, and she didn’t want him to see her cry. “Just go.” She made the mistake of looking at Luke. He stared at her as though he could make it all go away if she’d just let him. “Please, Luke.”

At that moment, Reggie came down the stairs. Embry didn’t know how long he’d been listening in, but he’d heard enough.

“Hey, Bree. Everything okay here?” Reggie asked.

She quickly swiped at her eyes and turned to Reggie. “Yeah, Reggie, it’s fine.”

“You sure? You don’t look fine.”

“No, really,” she sniffled. “It’s fine.”

Reggie eyed Luke carefully. “Hey man, maybe you should go.”

Luke’s gaze didn’t leave Embry.

She stared back at him and realized he wasn’t going to go until he had explained himself, but she just couldn’t handle that yet. She was too angry, too hurt. “Maybe you should,” she said quietly.

Luke gaped at her. “Embry.”

“Come on, man, leave her alone,” Reggie said.

Embry had never been more thankful for her creepy upstairs neighbor.

“Bree, please,” Luke begged, his eyes reflecting his pain. “I just want to talk.”

“I can’t, Luke. Not right now.” Embry shook her head, trying to stay calm. She wanted to yell and scream and cry and yell some more. She wanted to ask him “why,” but she couldn’t. She was afraid of the answer. She took a deep breath, schooling her features back to neutral, and looked him in the eye. “Just leave.”

She saw the defeat in his eyes when he nodded. “Okay,” he whispered. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I’ll, um, talk to you some other time.” Shoulders slumped and head hung low, he turned and walked toward the stairs. Watching Luke walk away broke her. Tears streamed down her face as she stepped back into her apartment and collapsed against the door.