He took my face in his hands and brought my mouth to his, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. “Goodnight, Eliza.”
“Night.” I laid back and closed my eyes, but there was no way in hell I’d be falling asleep anytime soon with all this new information swirling around inside my brain. Not to mention the weight of Cohen’s warm body next to mine and his steady deep breaths were a constant reminder of something I could never have.
Chapter 5
I needed an appointment with Stu the following day. Desperately. Lying all night next to the sexy-but-oh-so-off-limits Cohen had me all worked up.
I showered and dressed at my place after leaving Cohen lying in bed, grabbed a large iced Americano on my way, and arrived a few minutes early for a meeting with my advisor. I used that time to text Stu about meeting up at his office later.
I was on edge all day long and my afternoon appointment with Stu couldn’t come fast enough. I knew he couldn’t completely satisfy me—not when what I wanted was Cohen—but it was something to take the edge off.
When I arrived at Stu’s office, the door was sitting partially open. I knocked lightly and peeked inside.
Stu was talking to a student. I was about to duck back out and allow them to finish, when the student turned to face me. It was Cohen.
“Eliza?” Cohen’s expression was one of confusion. “How’d you know I was here? Everything okay?”
I swallowed roughly, like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “I’m here to meet with Stu— Um, Professor Gibson, actually.”
“You two know each other?” Cohen asked, looking between Stu and I.
“Yeah.” I offered no explanation and Stu stayed silent as well.
“And how do you two know each other?” Stu inquired a tense moment later.
“We’re neighbors,” I said.
Cohen looked suspiciously between me and Stu.
“Okay, well, thanks for the extension on the midterm paper,” Cohen said, standing and picking up his bag.
“No problem. Just let me know anytime your volunteering interferes with your studies. I think it’s admirable what you’re doing.”
Cohen stood facing me and smiled. “See you at home tonight?” He smiled.
“Of course,” I whispered, breathless.
Then he was gone and Stu was staring at me wearily. Seeing Cohen here had unnerved me. Now it felt wrong to be doing whatever it was I was doing with Stu. If I closed the door now and continued on with what I’d originally come to do, Cohen could be lurking outside and I just couldn’t do that to him.
“Sorry Stu, something came up and I’m not going to be able to keep our appointment.”
“Does this have anything to do with your neighbor?” The word dripped with innuendo.
“Something like that.” I released a deep sigh and headed back out into the hall. Cohen was nowhere in sight.
Since it looked like sexual relief wasn’t on the agenda today, I texted Ashlyn. I needed some girl time. Stat.
We met up a short while later for happy hour at a small pub halfway between her new apartment and my townhouse. She and Aiden had bought a place together, wanting to start over fresh. It was a beautiful loft with modern touches. It was half Ashlyn, with mismatched furniture and bright colors and half Aiden, with classy paintings hung on the walls. I’d been over there a handful of times to visit and to see Thomas, their cat who I’d fostered for a little while. Owning three cats was practically announcing to the world that I was an aspiring cat lady, which I was—but still. That was my business.
I had already ordered a glass of Shiraz when Ashlyn came bounding through the door, her hair spinning around her face as the wind caught it. I waved and she started toward me.
She hopped up onto the stool next to me and smiled. I could read her like a book. “You just had sex, didn’t you?”
She blushed wickedly. “No comment.”
I signaled the bartender and ordered a glass of Bordeaux for Ashlyn, knowing it was her favorite. “Thanks.” She grinned and accepted the glass, bringing it to her lips. “So what’s up? Your text made it sound like there was some type of emergency.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. It’s nothing really, just guy trouble.”
She took another sip. “With you, guy trouble is never nothing. Now spill.”
I chuckled, knowing she was right. “You know how I’ve been sleeping with Stu?”
She nodded, and rolled her eyes. I knew she didn’t approve.
“Well, now this little hottie moved in upstairs and I’ve spent the last two nights with him.”
“Dang, girl.”
Ashlyn never judged me or made me feel bad about my behavior with men, but she did try to poke and prod me into a normal, healthy relationship whenever she got the chance.
I swirled the wine in my glass. “Sleeping. Not f**king.”
She pursed her lips. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“I know. He’s a volunteer firefighter, a junior in undergrad, a good boy, yet sexy as hell. Visits his momma every Sunday.”
“Wow, a volunteer firefighter? How much can one girl take? Does he rescue puppies too?” she joked.
I chuckled. Knowing Cohen, he probably did. He seemed to be an animal lover. “Here’s real the kicker—he’s a virgin, waiting for the right girl.”
Ashlyn choked on her last sip of wine and broke into a coughing fit. I glanced around the bar, and all eyes were turned our way at the commotion. I patted her back and she lifted one hand. “Sorry, wrong pipe,” she croaked.