Blake's lingering stare started to get on my nerves. I knew I'd been awfully quiet since our encounter at the pantry, but that was what I could do to hold myself together. At least I'd been careful with the test preparation, and it was proof that I could function well enough for this job.

After such a shitty morning, all I felt was numbness. Answering phone calls, working on the filing, making schedules, and sending emails were done on autopilot. But once I had nothing to do, the numbness started to fade, and the rage underneath showed its existence again.

When I brought in the assessment tools during the break between two tests, Blake was at his desk, writing on his notes while papers from earlier discussions piled up on his table. I went straight to distribute the test materials to the designated seats, with his gaze following my every move.

"Go ahead, you can ask. I won't bite," I said, not sparing any glance at him as I placed the last bucket list on the big desk where they conducted the discussion.

"No need. Your face tells enough."

"Very observant of you. Then why do you keep looking?"

"It's kinda hard not to look at the only moving object in the room." He shrugged.

I deadpanned, "Seriously? A moving object?" I would've laughed if I hadn't been in this foul mood.

"My apologies. Bad choice of words. The only person walking about in the room. I'll stop looking." He returned his gaze to the notes in his hands.

He knew better than to provoke an edgy young woman. But his lack of smart comebacks poked at my nerves either way. He was not being himself, as if he wanted to be careful around me. Was he tiptoeing around my feelings? I hated it when people did this.

I walked toward his desk to collect the used test materials and slowly rearranged them into a neat pile. I deliberately took my time to stare at him, thinking about how to pull him back to the usual Blake I knew.

I cleared my throat.

"Yes, Jennifer?" Blake asked, but his eyes were still glued to the paper.

"I just realized that we haven't talked lately. You haven't been around that much. How are you doing?"

He glanced up at me, looking cautious. "Good."

"Any plans for a quick vacation before the term starts?"

"No. I have some stuff to take care of," he replied as he jotted down a few marks on the paper.

"Oh, what a bummer."

"On the contrary, it's pretty amazing. A very valid reason for me to stay. I haven't explored this city for a while."

The nearly forgotten pit of jealousy crawled from its hiding place. "Ah, the date. How did it go?"

He looked up. "Huh?"

The pure confusion on his face was amusing. "I overheard you and Mr. Watson talk the other day. About your second date."

His brow shot up as he slanted his head. "I see." Blake put his notes down, leaned back, and crossed his arms over his chest, giving me his full attention. "Is that why you were super snappish that day? Because of what you discovered during eavesdropping?"

"Oh, puh-lease." I scoffed. "It was kinda hard to ignore the only talking objects in the office. You guys didn't even lower your voices. It's called overhearing."

"Fair."

"And I wasn't very snappish."

"You bit my head off for no reason, but I thought you just had a bad day. I think I have a second thought now."

Sometimes I forgot how cocky and straightforward the man was, but the more I denied his speculation, the more he would push. And he wasn't wrong after all. Maybe it was time to wear my big-girl pants.

"Well, I was caught off guard," I said.

When I didn't continue, he tilted his head again. "I'm listening."

"I was just confused."

"Confused? With what?"

I shrugged. "With myself, I guess."

"I don't understand."

"It's just...things have been challenging lately. I'm overwhelmed with all these strong feelings because of what happened in my life at the moment. Love, hate, disappointment, hopes for connections with people... Sometimes they overpowered me." I paused and forced a smile. "That's why I acted like a whirlwind without valid reasons. I'm sorry about that afternoon at the pantry. I was being childish."

Blake frowned. His brain must have worked at its maximum capacity to digest my incoherent explanation. But that was the furthest I could share with him. "Do you need someone to talk to, Jeniffer?"

I shook my head. "Nah." I forced an awkward laugh as I grabbed the piled-up materials. "I was trying to have an easy chit-chat, but look at me now. I ended up being someone who needs counseling. Anyway, I'm going back to my desk to eat my bread now."

"We can take a break together." Blake jumped out of his seat and, in the blink of an eye, he stood in front of me. "Let's go to the pantry. I can use a cup of coffee." When I glanced up at him to weigh his offer, he flashed me his boyish smile. "I promise I'll behave."

My heart melted at the sight. How could I say no to that smile? "We will see about that."

"May I?" he asked, taking the pile from my hands. Once at my desk, he stuck the papers in an empty basket on my table before heading to the pantry with me.

"You haven't really responded to my question, though," I said as I dug out my lunch from the fridge shelf. "About your date. Was it the reason for you to spend holidays at home?"

Blake stood by the coffee counter. "No."

"Oh." A faint excitement swirled in my belly. "So, how was the date? She's not a student, I hope?"

He barked a laugh. "She's not, thankfully. It went well. The food was amazing, and I had great company."

I did ask him this, but it didn't mean I was prepared for the answer. "Nice. Sounds like there's going to be a third date, then?" I sat at the table and carefully unwrapped my lunch.

He shrugged and sauntered toward me with two cups of coffee. "Maybe." He put one cup in front of me. "Black and no sugar. Right?"

"Yes, thank you." I glanced at him as he took the chair opposite me. "You don't sound so sure."

"Because I'm not."

"Oh." The naughty twirl inside my belly nudged again. "Wanna keep your choices open, huh?"

He chuckled. "You made me sound like a womanizer."

"Are you not?" I raised my eyebrow, faking my disbelief.

"Come on, now. I'm just a man who's stuck with work and spends the rest of his evening watching TV with a couple of beers. My life is pretty boring, I assure you. I do appreciate a female company, but being committed is a different story."

"So, you're just looking for a casual hook-up?" I knew I was being nosey, but I didn't care because I started to wonder if Daphne was the reason he was holding back.

"At least, for now. I'm working on an extensive project at the moment. Thomas, I, and one guy from Economics and Business have been setting up a new assessment & training business. We are still at an early stage, and it will take months, maybe a little year, to see if we can pull it off, but I'm confident we're now heading in a positive direction."

"Oh, wow. Good luck with the project."

"Thank you."

"So, you're going to leave your career as a lecturer?" My curiosity about him grew bigger every second. At least, this conversation took my mind off Dean and our fight.

"I'm not sure. I'd probably still teach, but not under permanent employment." He paused a bit, seeming to consider what he wanted to say next, but then I could feel his brain change gear. "What about you? I heard a rumor about a boy picking you up the other day. Are you seeing someone?"

"Damn. Words go around so fast here." I shook my head. "But yeah, I'm hanging out with someone right now. Nothing serious, though."

"Poor Brad."

"It's not Brad. He's just someone from high school." I squinted at him. "I didn't know you were into Bailey gossip about Brad."

"Hey, I don't need gossip just to see what is there. That guy was clearly hitting on you."

I flinched. "Brad is," I paused, trying to find the correct words, "a good guy, but I don't think we are on the same page about relationships."

"Oh? Why is that?" He drank his coffee, but his eyes were on me.

"Like you, I don't want a relationship." The images of Ethan and Tom flashed in my mind, followed by Dean's harsh words, giving me another dull jab in my chest. "I don't know if any of them are real, to be honest."

Blake raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "You don't believe in relationships?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

If he was surprised by my reply, he didn't show it. "About what happened this morning. Does it have anything to do with...this?"

I looked down, sighing. "We're supposed to have an easy chat, Mr. Andrew."

"Sorry." He cleared his throat, and a grin broke across his face. "So, you're just looking for a fuck buddy, huh?"

I snorted at his choice of words. "Don't you see that this is so weird? We're at the campus now, and you're my professor, and we're talking about our love slash sex life."

He wiggled his brows. "At least it made you less gloomy."

"True." I smiled at him. "You know, you can be nice if you want to. I learned something new today."

"Don't get used to it because it doesn't happen often. I'm a jerk by default."

"How am I not surprised?" I retorted. I glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. Why did time go so fast when we were having a good time?

"I know. It's almost time." He nodded as he propped himself up. "I'll leave you so you can eat your lunch. I need to pop into my office real quick."

"Okay."

Instead of walking away, he stood still and studied my face. "Do you feel better, by the way?"

"Yes, I do. Thank you."

"The pleasure is mine, Jennifer."