The lecture was a blur.
Professor Kane stood at the front of the hall, introducing the fundamentals of Medicinal Chemistry with the same calm authority he carried when he walked into the classroom.
Words filled the whiteboard
Definitions. Concepts. Course expectations.
Lucy heard every syllable, yet she understood none of them.
Instead, her mind wandered back to the previous night.
It wandered to the one kiss they had shared. The kiss that made her feel alive.
It was just one kiss. Yet somehow, it had stolen an entire night’s sleep.
Almost against her will, her gaze drifted toward him.
He stood with one hand tucked into his trouser pocket while the other moved effortlessly across the whiteboard. The marker squeaked softly as he wrote, his handwriting as neat as the crisp white shirt he wore.
Even his voice was smooth as whiskey as he explained each concept.
How could the same man who had brushed a strand of hair from her face so gently now look so... untouchable?
She searched his face for some sign. Anything that could give him away.
A lingering glance, maybe.
Or perhaps a flicker of recognition.
Some indication that he, too, remembered. But unfortunately, there was nothing. His expression was blank.
Not once since introducing himself had he looked at her again.
It was as though the stranger from the club had vanished the moment he stepped into this lecture hall, replaced by Professor Sterling.
Lucy lowered her eyes to the open notebook in front of her.
The page was completely blank. Heat crept into her cheeks.
God.
This was embarrassing.
And there were ninety minutes until this class ended.
Or... eleven weeks.
"A student representative."
The words snapped Lucy back to reality.
Kane capped the marker and turned to face the lecture hall.
"Before we end today’s lecture, I need to appoint a student representative to coordinate communication."
A collective murmur spread through the room. Several students straightened in their seats, a few girls eager to be picked.
Lucy’s attention drifted back to her notebook. It had nothing to do with her.
"I’ve already reviewed your academic records," Kane continued. "My decision is based on consistency, attendance, and academic performance."
Lucy barely listened. The more she tried to convince herself, the more her traitorous mind refused to let it go.
"My choice is..."
A brief pause.
"Lucy."
Her head jerked up.
"Excuse me?" The words were out before she could stop herself.
Dozens of heads turned toward her and she felt every pair of eyes in the room.
Kane met her gaze for the first time since the lecture had begun.
"Lucy," he repeated evenly. "Would you mind staying behind after class?"
Her breath hitched.
Stay behind? As in, just the two of them?
The whispers began almost immediately.
"She’s the student rep?"
"I’ve never even seen her before."
"She must be really smart to be chosen."
Lucy heard none of them.
There was only one thought in her mind.
He remembered.
"Class dismissed."
The words were enough to snap Lucy out of her spiraling thoughts. She watched as her coursemates left while she remained because... he remembered.
Sorry. He’d asked her to wait behind. It absolutely nothing to do with the kiss... or did it?
Once the last student left, Kane beckoned for her to come.
Having no other choice, Lucy packed her belongings into her bag, taking slow, tentative steps towards him.
"Professor Sterling," she greeted with her head bowed.
God. She felt stupid.
She had been impulsive last night. She couldn’t believe that she had climbed onto his lap, and kissed him as well.
If that call hadn’t interrupted them... she couldn’t imagine what would have happened.
A shudder passed through her as her mind strayed.
"Lucy."
She raised her head to stare at him—big mistake—his eyes were deep brown with specks of amber within them. But the color wasn’t what threw her off. It was the way they stared at her.
As though he could read every thought she was trying so desperately to hide.
This would be a problem.
"Professor Sterling," she cleared her throat slightly when she realized that her voice sounded small, "you asked me to stay behind."
Please, don’t talk about the kiss.
Lucy desperately begged internally. If he did, there was no doubt that she’d find a hole to dig so she could bury herself within.
But a sick, twisted part of her wanted him to talk about It. She hoped—no, wished—that he had a sleepless night just like she did. She wished that he stayed up, the kiss playing in his mind constantly.
"You’ve been chosen as a Student Representative because I’ve gone through your records."
Lucy’s expression fell.
He... wasn’t talking about it?
What are you doing, Lu? I think he is saving your face by not talking about it. Don’t forget, this is your Professor. You shouldn’t have such thoughts. The kiss was a mistake and it’d remain that way.
After prepping herself with these thoughts, she wore a neutral expression and said, "I hope I didn’t disappoint you."
Lucy caught her words before she could stop, and she frowned.
Stupid, she berated herself.
If Kane had caught on, he didn’t show it. His expression didn’t change as he nodded.
"Yes, your records have shown that you have a stellar performance," he paused, tucking a hand into his pocket. "Your past professors also speak highly of you."
Lucy rubbed her clammy hands together, nodding before saying meekly, "I try to do my best."
"That’s great. But there’s always room for improvement. I assume you understand your duties as the Student Representative, right?"
She gave a small nod.
"Great. I’d be needing your number in case I need to pass any information about the class."
Lucy blinked.
Once. Twice.
Kane tilted his head as he stared at her, not pressing her.
"My number?" She asked, her question sounding stupid.
"To communicate with you, Lucy."
She laughed awkwardly. "Right." Then, she called out her number for him.
He entered it into his phone.
His thumb hovered over the screen for the briefest moment before he locked it and slipped it back into his pocket.
"You may leave," he said, dismissing her.
Lucy took a deep breath and walked out of the class, only to stop in her tracks at his next words.
"I’ll be in touch, Lucy."
She froze. It was a perfectly ordinary sentence.
So why did it sound like a promise?