All Chapters of The Professor Wants Me and So Does My Bestfriend: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

SageThe coffee shop was very familiar to me and I come here almost everyday but today, it felt like a stage, and I was the nervous lead actor waiting for the curtain to rise. My fingers drummed on the table, the rhythm doing nothing to calm the nervous energy running through me as I waited patiently for her.I had rehearsed my lines in my head so many times that I was certain they’d come out perfectly when the moment arrived. Mara was supposed to come here today, it was her favorite spot too. I’d overheard her mentioning it once in class, and it seemed like fate that we both frequented the same place.When the door jingled, I looked up instinctively. There she was, stepping in with her easy confidence and the softest smile that always seemed to linger on her lips. Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, and she had on a vintage jacket that I thought suited her.This was it.I stood up before I could overthink it, weaving through the tables toward her. My palms were sweaty,

SageThe world was spinning around me as I stumbled through my front door, the taste of cheap alcohol was still bitter on my tongue. The bar had offered me no solace, only the sense of emptiness that wrapped around me like a disease. I dropped my keys on the counter, the sound echoing in the quiet of my apartment.All I wanted was to escape, to wash away the humiliation and heartbreak that clung to me like my natural scent. It wasn’t the brush off that made me upset, it’s the knowledge that I put myself out there. They said to be bold and I was, I embraced my feelings only to be brutally turned down.Without bothering to turn on more lights, I made my way to the bathroom, stripped off my clothes, and sank into the tub, letting the water pour over me.The bath didn’t soothe me as much as I’d hoped. My chest felt tight, and I kept waiting for my heart to tear open from it.Her words played continuously in my head, her apologizing for stringing me along with her words.I wasn’t mad at

KaidenI didn’t sleep on the couch.I laid beside him as he slept on the other side of the bed without a care in the world. I on the other hand, I couldn’t sleep.I was so burdened by guilt that sleep eluded me. My fingers trailed his cheeks in a feathery touch, careful not to wake him. I did this.I broke him.I was the reason for his breakdown tonight and to think I came over with the intent of fucking Mara out of his head. I wanted my name to be the last thing he whispered.I had no idea I would meet him broken and vulnerable. I was so angry with myself for letting things get too far and I was also angry with Mara.She was just doing what I told her to but why does the mere thought of her hurting Sage drive me nuts. Maybe she was right, I had to tell him the truth and get it over with.It would be safer to know that he wanted to be with me instead of knowing I manipulated him to do so. I would tell him the truth tomorrow, that I was in love with him.The truth about Mara dies with

KaidenThe sun was barely up when I arrived at the restaurant, already annoyed at being dragged out so early. I pushed through the glass doors, scanning the tables until my eyes landed on my agent, Martin. He was seated in the far corner, sipping what looked like green tea and scrolling through his tablet.All in the day’s work.I strode over, pulling my sunglasses off and tossing them on the table. “Alright, Martin. What’s so urgent you couldn’t let me sleep in for once?”He glanced up at me, one brow arched. “Good morning to you too, sunshine.”I slumped into the chair across from him and grabbed the menu. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. What’s the deal? Jesus, you keep calling me like I took your kidney or something.”He set his tablet down and folded his arms. “The deal is, why haven’t you been picking up your phone? You make me look like a nagging mother other than a respectable agent.”I looked at him, deadpan. “Because I was busy. You’re lucky I even showed up. Respectable agent?

KaidenMy phone buzzed with a message from River, Just landed. Be out soon.I smiled as I leaned against my car, surveying the arrivals as I waited. As promised, I was here to pick him up. He had an early flight so I cancelled whatever I was doing just to get him.That shows how important this was to me. I wanted to show him that I was serious about this and that I needed him to give it his all.I shoved the phone back into my pocket and straightened up as the sliding glass doors parted. River Wilder strode out, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, looking effortlessly composed despite the long flight I assumed he took. He had the air of someone who knew exactly where he was going and what he was doing.I wouldn’t lie, he was a very attractive man. Even my whole body tingled as our eyes met. If I wasn’t so dedicated to Sage? I wouldn’t mind having a thing or two to do with my engineer.I straightened just as he came to me, "Kaiden, I presume?" He asked, a slight smirk tugging at his