Love in Education: De La Fuente Book Seven Read online

I raise a brow. “Dare I ask?”

  “I’ll pretend to have desires for her.” His grin widens. “I’ll flirt with her. I don’t have any classes with her so she can’t get annoyed and down grade me. It’ll be fun.”

  I blink a few times. “Ohmygod! You’re serious?”

  “Yes.” He jumps up and grabs his books. “Class is about to start, so let’s go.”

  I put my hand on his arm and ask, “Why are you so willing to help us?”

  “I’m helping you, Andie.” He kisses me on the cheek, leaving me with questions as he disappears.

  Lost in thought it suddenly dawns on me that we’re in the same class, and I’m now late.

  20

  Sawyer

  “Professor Lawrence, please take a seat,” offers Dean Johansson of the History Department.

  The department Dean is a good historian and a strict leader. Until now I’ve never been called into his office without it being for a group meeting so I’m curious and more than slightly worried.

  It’s something to take my mind off seeing Andie with Jeremy at least. It bugs me that she’s allowed to be out in the open with him and not with me. I’m jealous and that’s the only word for it.

  “Sawyer,” the Dean sits behind his desk with his fingers together while watching me closely, “I’ve been hearing some rumors about you and a student.”

  My heart drops to my toes and blood rushes around in my head as it sinks in that we’ve been busted. Deep down I knew it would happen, but the fact that it has makes my head hurt and my heart ache.

  “What rumors are those?” I ask, knowing there is no right or wrong thing to say right now.

  “I’ve been told that you are having sexual relations with Andie Foster, your TA and graduate student. Is this information correct?” He leans closer. “I want the truth.”

  Sighing, I say, “I’ll tell you everything you want to know if you’ll tell me how you came across these rumors?”

  He searches my gaze before sitting back in his chair. “I won’t reveal my source, but I will show you.”

  He pulls a brown envelope out of his desk and slides it toward me. His hand stays on top and when I meet his gaze, he says, “I haven’t showed anyone else.”

  Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I take the envelope and pull the images out. My heart thuds heavily against my breastbone when I turn and look at them.

  They’re images from the night when the lights around the pool had been switched on. Some images have us snuggled together on the lounge chair, and others are of Andie astride my hips. It’s obvious what we’re doing with the way that Andie has her head thrown back and my hands tugging at her nipples. The images would be erotic if our futures weren’t currently hanging in the balance.

  “So, are you still having sexual relations with this student?”

  My jaw tightens because the way he’s asking makes what I have with Andie cheap when it’s anything but. “My relationship with Andie is just that—a relationship between two consenting adults.”

  “And it’s been going on since she started here,” he comments.

  My jaw drops. “What? No!” I shake my head. “It’s recent. Whatever this person has told you about when we started seeing each other is wrong. A few weeks and that’s it.”

  He’s thoughtful. “Considering the surprise that looked genuine on your face, I’m inclined to believe you. Someone has something against you, huh?”

  “Long?” I question, but his answer is written on his face. “She has hinted since the year started that she’d like to get together with me.” I sigh and sitting forward, run my hands through my hair. “I’ve always shied away because I’m not interested.” I meet his gaze. “She’s picked up that there is someone else and now won’t leave me alone about it. It’s annoying considering she’s an adult and not a child.”

  “I can’t ignore what’s been thrown on my desk, Sawyer. I wish that I could.”

  He sighs heavily but stays silent.

  “I’ll resign if you promise no to let anything affect Andie. She stays as a TA and someone else will take over as her adviser. Nothing can harm everything she’s worked hard for.”

  “You really do love her?”

  “More than anything.”

  “I don’t want to lose you, Sawyer. You’re a damn fine Professor and the students love you, unlike some of your colleagues. There’s seven weeks until she graduates, so what I propose is this: you don’t resign and Andie keeps everything. You resign and Andie will go with you. These rules only apply as long as you stay apart. If I discover that you’re still together then our deal is off and you’re both gone.”

  I sit with my mouth open wondering the logic behind his words. To all intents and purposes he’s blackmailing us.

  “I want to keep you both and this is the only way I can think of doing it. The chancellor won’t discover your liaison with a student from me and I’ll try and keep Long out of it. In seven weeks you can marry the girl for all I care. There’ll be tongues chatting but who cares when she’s no longer a student here?”

  “You’ll accept my resignation then?”

  I can’t really believe that I’m considering this, but if it keeps Andie safe, which is my main concern, then there really isn’t a choice to make.

  Dean Johansson nods.

  “I’ll talk to Andie and then we’ll stay away from each other for the remainder of the school year.”

  “You won’t talk to her, at least not in person. The separation starts now, so call her, text her, email her, just nothing in between.”

  He stands so I know the meeting is over.

  I walk out, my head buzzing with a thousand wasps, knowing that Andie isn’t going to be happy. What more can I do though? Seven weeks is a hell of a long time.

  Outside the administration building, I drop on to one of the benches and ignore the world going by while I try to get my mind working again. It shut down in the Dean’s office, and still doesn’t want to come back online.

  But as I do start thinking my one and only thought is of Andie and how the hell I’m going to tell her about the deal I’ve just made.

  Andie . . .

  “Fuck,” I curse under my breath as I remember that she’s supposed to be meeting me in my office at lunch. What I had planned can’t go ahead, not when I expect us to be watched.

  Once I’ve grabbed everything from my office, it will have to become a no go area for the rest of the day because there is no way I’ll be able to keep my hands to myself if she shows up there, or anywhere else for that matter.

  Disheartened and missing Andie already, I quickly head to my office before I have to hide for the day.

  21

  Andie

  “Why the frown?” Jeremy asks.

  Today I seem to have spent more time with him than I have in a long while.

  “I’m just wondering where Sawyer disappeared to.” I shrug, trying to act as though I don’t care when I’m hurt. “He hasn’t responded to any messages either. Not since I replied in the coffee shop after he’d seen me with you.”

  “Maybe he’s busy.”

  “I don’t know.” I tap my phone on my bottom lip. “I think it’s more than that. He never stands me up without messaging me. I’m worried.”

  Jeremy wraps his arm around my shoulders and gives me a quick hug. “Talk to him Andie. Don’t just presume, okay? And now, I have to go.” He winks, followed with a grin. “I have a date.”

  I return his smile because I’m happy that he isn’t still hung up on me, if he ever really was.

  As I watch him go, I wonder what’s really going on with Sawyer because it’s so out of character for him to be out of contact. I don’t want to seem like an obsessed girlfriend, but I need to know what’s going on with him and why I’m getting the silent treatment. Surely it can’t be because of earlier in the coffee shop. I won’t believe that unless he tells me otherwise.

  There is something though and it won’t stop eating at me that
something is wrong. Really wrong.

  While I’m contemplating my next move, my cell starts buzzing against my lips.

  I don’t even look to see who it is because I know it won’t be Sawyer.

  “Hello?”

  “Andie, it’s Kasey.” He pauses. “You need to come home.”

  My heart drops at hearing those words. “My mom?”

  “She’s gone into labor and there are a few complications. I think she’d like you there.”

  “Oh God!” I cry and sob into the phone.

  “Listen to me. I know it’s a shock but there is so much that they can do. The baby is eight weeks early and has a good chance of survival. You’re mom’s age isn’t on her side right now, okay? But I think having you here will help her.”

  Pulling myself together, I whisper, “I’ll get a flight.”

  “Text me your flight details and I’ll come get you.”

  “Thanks, Kasey.” Hanging up, I stare off into space before I suddenly realize that I need to get moving.

  * * *

  Darkness surrounds us as Kasey drives me to the hospital in Great Falls. It isn’t far from the airport and worry eats at me.

  We haven’t said a lot to each other, but Kasey said that my mom has improved since he called. I never thought I’d see the day when she’d have another baby. As a child I used to ask Santa for a baby sister, eventually I stopped when I discovered how babies actually got inside their mother.

  She’s all I had growing up and I’ll always be grateful for everything she’s done for me and the decisions she made so that I would have the life that I do today. No way is her life going to end while she’s giving birth to a child that she wants so badly with Diego. No way could God be so cruel.

  Turning into the hospital parking lot, I spot a man with his head down and shoulder’s stooped in the shadows of one of the lights at the main entrance to the hospital. I watch and I can’t move my gaze away and then his face is caught in the light and I realize that it’s Diego. I’ve never seen him so distraught before.

  My fear rises.

  “Kasey, let me out,” I beg, unsnapping my seatbelt. “Kasey, please. It’s Diego.” I point in the direction of the entrance and Kasey brakes.

  “I’ll park,” he shouts as I slam the door and race to where Diego is.

  “Diego!”

  He stills and slowly turns, just in time to catch me as I fly into his arms. “What is it? Please tell me she’s okay?” I plead as I search his tearful eyes.

  He nods. “She’s going to be okay, Andie.” He inhales and slowly exhales. “It was touch and go,” he composes himself, “but she’s strong. She needs lots of rest and looking after, but she’s going to be alright.” His tears flow as do mine, so I do the most natural thing and hold him. He cries into my shoulder just like I do him.

  I think Diego’s tears are a mixture of relief and exhaustion, because the poor guy looks haggard—older than his years.

  “Is everything okay?” Kasey asks, unable to hide the fear in his voice.

  Nodding, I reply, “She’s okay.” I smile.

  Diego moves away slightly and drops his ass to one of the benches. “You go in and see your mom.” He beams a smile at me. “She’s excited for you to meet your brother.”

  “What?” I ask in shock and slowly my smile spreads across my face. “I have a brother?” I whisper as my tears come back and slowly slip down my face.

  “Emile Luca was born a couple of hours ago.” Tears hover as he continues, “The doctors delivered him while doing a hysterectomy. She started bleeding during the birth and they rushed her to surgery...he’s premature so they’re keeping him in an incubator, but he’s a tough little guy, just like his momma.”

  “Oh,” I place my hand over my mouth, “I should have been here.”

  “You’re here now, Andie, and that’s all that matters.”

  I nod and slightly smile. “He’s named after your parents. What a beautiful name.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  “I love it, Diego.” I throw my arms around his neck and give him a quick hug, whispering, “Congratulations,” as I pull away. “I’m going in.”

  Once Diego directs me, I head inside thanking God that the emergency is over and that my mom and brother are doing fine.

  I’ve never been so worried about her before and it’s made me realize that she’s all I have. Well, not exactly because I have Diego and Kasey, and the others, I guess. But she’s my mom. She’s the one person who has always been there for me no matter what—the one person who always will. That thought of course has Sawyer jumping back into my mind although he hasn’t been far from it.

  Still no word from him. Nothing.

  He gets shoved out of my thoughts when I walk into my mom’s room and see her lying back in the bed, flat out asleep. She looks pale and tired and her red hair is limp around her, but she still looks beautiful.

  “How about a hug?” she whisper, her voice sleepy. “Just careful around the middle.”

  “Oh Mom!” I drop my purse and jacket onto the chair beside the bed, and leaning over, I wrap my arms around her while I fight not to blubber all over her shoulder. “Are you really okay?”

  “Rest the doctor said, and I’ll be good as new.”

  “What happened? Kasey called me, but no one has said what was wrong.”

  “Sit.” She points to the chair and takes my hand after I’ve dropped into it. “I went into early labor and the shock of it gave me high blood pressure. Really high. The doctor was worried for a time, but they managed to get it down and then everything went to shit when I started bleeding out and they couldn’t stop it.” She shrugs. “I’ve never been so scared, and the thought of leaving you and Diego . . .” she can’t continue and shakes her head. “Everything worked out in the end though.”

  “Oh! I bet that wasn’t half of what happened to you, but I’m so glad there was good news when I got here.” I grin. “Where’s my brother?”

  “You spoke to Diego?” She smiles softly. “I asked him to keep Emile’s arrival to himself until we’d told you.”

  “He was outside when we arrived.”

  She chews her lip. “Is he okay?”

  I wish I could lie well, so instead, I admit, “He was relieved and exhausted.”

  “He was so strong through everything, even though I could see the distress on his face.” When she adds, “He told the doctor that if there was a choice to be made, then he had to do everything possible to save me,” she has tears in her eyes.

  “He was upset when we arrived, but he was smiling when I left to come inside to see you.”

  She glances at the door.

  “He’ll be up soon,” I reassure.

  “I hope so. I hate that he went outside so I wouldn’t see him break.”

  “Mom, he’s the strongest guy I know and he loves you so much. Let him have five minutes to recharge so he can continue to be strong for you and Emile.”

  She offers me a wry smile. “How did my daughter become so grown up?”

  “I had the perfect role model.” I chuckle as she blushes.

  “I wondered sometimes. It wasn’t always easy raising a daughter on my own.”

  “I have no complaints...Why isn’t Emile in here with you?”

  “He has to stay in the special care unit until they’re sure he’ll be okay without the incubator.” She wipes at a tear. “They’re going to be bringing him in again soon.”

  “What color hair does he have?”

  “Black, just like his father.” She smiles. “He looks just like Diego, but has my nose.”

  “So we already have that in common, huh?”

  “You do...Isn’t Sawyer with you?”

  I shake my head and try to avoid looking at her, but she’s having none of it and captures my face in her hands. “Talk to me, honey. He seemed so sincere in his feelings for you.”

  “I don’t know what’s going on. He’s not been replying to my text messa
ges or emails all day, and the last one I sent was telling him that I needed him, after Kasey’s call. But nothing.” Inhaling, I smile and try not to cry. “Things are complicated and one of the other Professor’s knows about us, or at least suspects. I don’t really know what’s happening anymore.”

  “Oh honey...I wish I had some wonderful words of wisdom for you, but I don’t right now. I think I’m too tired to think. But I’m sure Sawyer hasn’t given up on what you both have. Anyone could see how in love he is with you.”

  “I thought so.” I shrug just as Diego and Kasey walk into the room.

  The change in my mom is amazing as she watches her husband prowl toward her. I move out of the way and let them have a moment together as they put their heads together and whisper.

  Kasey nudges me and indicates with his head to follow him outside.

  “Is Diego okay?” I ask as soon as we’re outside of the room.

  “Yeah. He thought he was going to lose the woman he loves, but he’ll be okay. It kind of brings it home with Felicity, you know?”

  “Oh Kasey. With the worry over my mom, I’d forgotten about Felicity. You need to go and be with her. Not just for her but you as well, and she’s got so much going for her. Remember that. She’s half my mom’s age, just don’t tell my mom that I said that.”

  He chuckles. “I wont.”

  I hug him goodbye and check my cell but there’s nothing from Sawyer.

  22

  Sawyer

  It’s been four days since I kissed Andie goodbye before I ran out of her apartment and everything blew up in my face. Four days of hell. I can’t even remember the last time I shaved, and my eyes look bloodshot from lack of sleep.

  Andie’s last message ‘I need you’ has been on constant replay in my mind and instead of answering, I’d forced myself to ignore her. It was the only way to get through the day without reaching for her. It hurts so much to be keeping her at a distance and instead of calling her and being honest about all the shit that happened in the Dean’s office, I decided that it would be easier if she thought I’d walked away.