Read Behind Closed Doors for Free Online Page B

hear footsteps and then see Darren’s face as he opens the door.
     
    “Um, can I help you?” His voice has the faintest hint of a quiver as he looks around, trying to see if there are any students or professors nearby to overhear us.
     
    I decide to play along in case anyone is listening to us. “Yes, I missed part of Professor Monahan’s lecture today, and I was wondering if I could get the notes. You did say your office hours are available to students needing extra help, right?” My words are void of emotion, but my eyes are saying something completely different.
     
    “Absolutely. Come in. I’ll get those notes for you.” Darren steps aside, but I make sure I brush against him as I enter the office. He closes the door behind me and whispers, “What are you doing?”
     
    “Getting notes, like I said.” I smile.
     
    “Julia, we can’t keep doing this.” Even though he’s protesting, he steps closer to me and runs his hand down my arm. “When you’re near me, I can’t control myself. We can’t put ourselves in situations like this. I meant it when I said I don’t want to lose this job.”
     
    “I get it.” I really do, but I can’t stop myself from saying, “Did you get my text?”
     
    “Yeah, but I was in class. My schedule is booked. I was about to text you back when you showed up here.”
     
    I step closer to him, my body aching for his touch. “So, are we still on for dinner?”
     
    “We can’t. If people see us out in public—”
     
    “They already have. I was with you last night. We can’t take that back.”
     
    “I know.” He runs his fingers through his hair and steps away from me, putting the desk between us.
     
    “We could tell people we got together before we found out you were my T.A. They couldn’t stop us from dating then.”
     
    “Yes, they could.” His tone is serious.
     
    “Fine. Then I’m dropping the class.” I hold my hand out. “One drop card, please.”
     
    “We don’t keep those in our office. You have to go to the registration building—” He shakes his head. “But I’m not letting you do that.”
     
    “Why? Do you really want to give up what we have? I know we’re not in a relationship or anything, but you can’t deny this .” I motion between us. “You’re keeping a desk between us because you wouldn’t be able to keep your hands off me otherwise. What does that tell you?”
     
    “That I’m not thinking with my head. Not the right one anyway.”
     
    I smile. “Maybe that’s where you’re wrong.” I move around the desk. “If everything inside you is saying that you want me, why are you denying yourself that? I’m right here.”
     
    The office door opens, and I step away from Darren, looking down at the desk.
     
    “So, if you read the first chapter, I think you’ll be caught up on the slides you missed during today’s lecture. And next time, might I suggest that you don’t drink all your coffee before you get to class. It can make for an uncomfortable lecture or a situation like today where you miss important notes.” Darren’s recovery is impressive.
     
    “Thank you, Mr. McEntire, and I appreciate you taking the time to help me when I got turned around in the hallway during class. I can only imagine how much I would’ve missed if you weren’t there to help me out.” I turn around and nod at Professor Monahan. “Professor, I’m very sorry for missing part of your lecture today. I can assure you it won’t happen again.”
     
    “I’m glad to hear it,” Monahan says, stepping aside so I can exit the office.
     
    I look back briefly at Darren before walking out. His eyes are lowered to the papers on the desk, but his body is turned toward me as if drawn to me.
    ***
    The rest of my day is packed with classes, so I don’t have a chance to talk to Darren again. When dinnertime rolls around, Noelle and Andy go to the cafeteria without me. I’m still hopeful that Darren will call and change his mind about