001

I thought my one-night stand with a stranger ended when I slipped out of that hotel room before sunrise.

Turns out I was wrong.

“Good morning, I’m Professor Howard and I’ll be taking you Psychology from now on.”

Those were the only words I heard, and I forgot how to breathe.

***

Two weeks earlier…

“Finally, my back aches,” Ela exclaimed, dropping her suitcase beside the hotel bed.

“Texas heat is no joke. You sure Ethan doesn’t know you’re coming?”

I smiled, even though nerves were already twisting in my stomach.

“Positive. I wanted to surprise him for his birthday. He said we'd celebrate when we get back to campus but I can't wait that long.”

“Okay lovergirl, you better get going before it's too late.”

I freshened up quickly, then took a cab to his house.

I kept imagining his face when he opened the door…how he’d pull me into his arms, how we’d laugh about me sending him a video of me crying whenever I missed him.

But when the door swung open, it wasn’t Ethan who answered.

It was a girl in his oversized basketball jersey.

She looked me up and down, then called over her shoulder,

“Babe, someone’s here for you.”

Ethan appeared behind her, shirtless and hair messy.

The moment his eyes landed on me, the color drained from his face.

“Aurora… What the hell are you doing here?

I swallowed hard. Was I dreaming? What was happening?

“I thought_” I couldn't speak anymore, it was as if I lost my voice

The suitcase full of carefully wrapped gifts and the birthday cake I’d carried through two airports suddenly felt ridiculous in my hands.

Ethan started talking fast…. about how I'm always shy. How I haven't allowed him to have sex with me before. How insecure I am and how I always love fighting.

The girl didn’t even leave. She just leaned against the doorframe like she belonged there.

I felt every word like a slap. When I finally found my voice, it came out small.

“It’s your birthday. I came all this way…”

He had the nerve to look sorry for half a second before defensiveness took over.

“If you would have told me you were coming, I wouldn't have let you. It's not my fault another woman caught my attention” He said and leaned to kiss the other girl passionately.

I left before he could say another hurtful word.

The whole way back to the hotel I kept waiting for the tears, but they wouldn’t come.

“Ethan is what? Is he crazy? How dare he do this to you aurora” Ela was surprised as I told her everything that happened when I got to the hotel.

I just sat there like I'd stopped breathing. I couldn't cry. The pain was more than tears.

“Aurora, don't let this get to you. I know you're strong” Ela kept on consoling.

I just sat on the floor, my bare legs cold against the floor.

“No. We are not doing the sad-girl-in-a-hotel-room thing,”

“Let's have a drink downstairs.”

“No Ela, no…I don't have the strength for drinks right now. My heart feels heavy.” I insisted.

“There's a party downstairs aurora, you need to drink till you forget there was once a person named Ethan.”

Ela declared, pulling me out of the room.

The hotel bar was dimly lit, smooth jazz playing under the hum of conversation. I was on my third vodka cranberry when I noticed him.

He sat at the far end of the bar

He's tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a black button-down with the sleeves rolled up. Early thirties, maybe. He had dark hair, sharp jaw, and calm eyes that scanned the room like he was used to observing, not performing.

When his gaze landed on me, he didn’t look away. He offered a small, knowing nod instead.

Ela nudged me.

“He’s been watching you for a while now and he’s so freaking hot.”

I was drunk enough to be reckless and hurt enough not to care.

I walked towards him and sat on the bar chair opposite him and dragged his shirt closer.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked against my ear.

I kissed him instead of answering.

The ride up was a blur of hands and heated kisses.

The moment the hotel door clicked shut behind us, the rest of the world disappeared. His mouth was demanding.

He took his time, like he wanted to memorize every sound I made and I let him.

For one night, I didn’t want to think about Ethan, or England, or the future. I just wanted to feel wanted.

The next morning,I woke up to an empty bed and the sound of the shower running. My heart pounded.

Thoughts about the previous night came crawling back.

I dressed in record time, grabbed my things, and slipped out without a goodbye.

This was a one time thing and it should be forgotten…... that was what I told myself.

Present Day.

“Good morning, everyone. I’m Professor Howard, and I’ll be taking over your Psychology class from now on.”

My heart literally stopped beating.

I slowly turned to Ela, who was sitting right beside me. She looked completely frozen, mouth wide open in disbelief. A second later, her eyes met mine. She raised her eyebrows, giving me a look that needed no words.

*How the fuck did he get here?*

I turned back slowly and raised my head to see him and he was staring right at me. Like he knew me…I quickly lowered my head on the table, avoiding his gaze then his class began.

“Why didn't you tell me he's our new professor?”

“How I'm I supposed to know?”

“What are we gonna do??? This is disaster”

“This is all Ethan's fault, he caused all this”

“I'm so Dead, I promise”

“Is this a dream?”

Both Ela and I were whispering at each other during the class. I couldn't even keep a straight face. Because whenever I see him, he reminds me of everything that happened that night.

**

“And that brings the end of today's session. I'll send the Assignment across the platform. I need it submitted by Friday. Understood?” Professor Howard said, rounding up his class.

The student nodded in approval and he began arranging his books and walked towards the door

But before he opened. He turned back and his gaze met mine.

“Miss Finland. In my office Now”