Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
My mind refuses to cooperate.
Instead, it cosplays images of Gio sitting in my desk chair, playing with my pens, tapping on my keyboard, his cocky smirk plastered across his face as he says something that makes Paul laugh like they’re friends.
What does the man want?!
“Professor Adams?”
I blink, snapping back to the present to find Professor Casey staring at me expectantly.
“Uh, yes?” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t sound as guilty as I feel. “Sorry.”
“Do you have any thoughts on the matter?” the department head asks, his tone suggesting he’s losing patience with me for my lack of attentiveness.
Crap.
“Could you repeat that last part?” I ask, offering my most professional smile.
His eyes narrow slightly, but he obliges—thank God—launching into another explanation about departmental priorities and some vague mention of student engagement initiatives.
I do my best to appear focused on his words.
All the while, my mind keeps drifting back to the man currently occupying my office—and the undeniable chaos he’s brought with him.
I glance at my watch. We’ve been in this meeting for sixteen minutes, though it feels like an eternity. I tap my pen against the page, willing myself to focus.
“And as for the faculty workshop,” Professor Casey continues, his tone dry as he flips through his notes. “We’ll need all hands on deck to ensure its success.”
“Mmhmm,” I murmur, nodding in agreement, though I couldn’t tell you what workshop he’s referring to if my life depended on it.
I glance at my watch again.
Seventeen minutes.
“Professor Adams.” Professor Casey stares at me. “Are you with us?”
“Yes, of course,” I reply too quickly, straightening in my seat. “The workshop. Hands on deck. Got it.”
My boss stares at me for a moment longer, unconvinced, before continuing his droning monologue about the department workshop, blah blah blah.
Blah.
I tap my paper with the tip of my pen. Let out a quiet breath of relief, my mind once again drifting back to my office.
Is this some kind of prank? Or worse, does Gio think showing up unannounced is romantic? Some grand gesture? Is he trying to impress me?
I click my pen, gripping it tighter, ignoring the way my heart skips at the idea.
This isn’t a rom-com! I’m not a quirky heroine, and Gio Montagalo is definitely not the charming lead.
He’s a disruption.
A distraction.
And yet…
The thought of him waiting for me at my desk…flashing me a smile when I walk back in… sends an uninvited spark of warmth through me.
Professor Casey clears his throat, pulling my attention back to the present.
“Adams,” he says. “I trust you’ll handle your end of the workshop preparations?”
“Absolutely.” I nod briskly. I have no idea what I’ve just agreed to, but I’ll figure it out later.
As our meeting finally wraps up, I gather my things and make a beeline for the door, managing to mutter a polite goodbye to him and the other colleague who had been in the room.
The moment I step into the hallway, my feet quicken their pace toward my office.
Red face.
Beating heart.
As I grow closer, I hear his voice.
His laugh echoes down the hallway, rich and deep, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Because he probably doesn’t!
When I turn the corner, the scene that greets me makes me stop dead in my tracks.
Gio is sitting on the edge of my desk, leaning back on his hands with the kind of cool confidence that should be illegal. Paul is standing to his right, doubled over laughing, and another student—Rachel from my Tuesday morning seminar—has joined the audience, leaning against the doorframe, wide-eyed and completely captivated.
“I’m telling you, it’s true!” Gio is gesturing animatedly with his hands as he tells the story. “Third period, Coach loses his mind. We all get stuck running suicides for an hour because Parker Fiffe decides to tape his water bottle to the ceiling in the team room. To this day, none of us know how he got it up there.”
Paul rasps, tears practically forming in his eyes as he stares at his new hero. “No way!”
“My lips to God's ears.” Gio kisses his fingers and holds them up like he’s delivering the gospel. “And the worst part? Parker blamed it on me!”
Rachel is in love. “That is insane.”
“It was,” Gio says, his grin widening. “But hey, those were the good old days when I was your age.”
Oh lord.
Time to break up the party.
I clear my throat loudly, and all three of them turn toward me.
“Am I interrupting?” I ask, my voice sharper than I intended.
“No, no—come in,” Gio says smoothly, gesturing like he’s the one who owns the place.
Rachel giggles, and Paul tries to hide his smile.
I roll my eyes and step into my office, setting my bag down on the chair with a little more force than necessary.
“I didn’t realize you were going to make yourself so at home. I’ve been gone thirty minutes.”