He smiled. “Don’t worry about that. I’m all over this,” he said as he started to flip through the pages. “Let’s start by reading the case files so we can figure out exactly what it is we’re trying to prosecute. Then we’ll go from there.”
I nodded and looked down at my paper. I read the first paragraph, but I couldn’t concentrate. My eyes drifted up to look at Mason who was slouched over, typing something on his laptop. I couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with him, wonder why he was acting the way he was. A part of me wondered if he was upset he had to see me every day. I’m not exactly thrilled about it, either. Maybe he regretted the whole encounter and was wishing he hadn’t gone through with it. I didn’t want to have that thought flowing through my mind, but I couldn’t help but think it, especially with the way he’d looked at me when he walked into class.
“Can you believe this case?”
Startled out of my own thoughts, I turned to look at Brian. “What?”
He pointed down at his paper. “This case. She had to have done it. The whole thing screams murder, but they didn’t have any substantial evidence against the wife.”
I looked down at my own paper and scanned over it, shaking my head. “I haven’t gotten that far yet. Sorry.” There I was telling him he better bring his A game and I’m lost in my own head.
“No worries. Hey, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to meet tomorrow sometime so we could really go over all this information. I have one class in the morning, but I’ll be out by ten.”
“Sure, I only have one class on Tuesdays, as well, so ten would work. Do you want to meet at the library?”
“Sounds good to me. Can I get your number to text you just in case something comes up?” He pulled his phone from his back pocket and held it down under the table, so Mason wouldn’t catch him with it, I was sure.
“Yeah.” I read my number out to him and he programmed it into his phone.
“Okay, let’s get back to reading this. Let’s write down our thoughts about the case and we’ll go over it tomorrow. Does that sound good?”
I nodded, looked back down at my paper and started reading. It was hard for me to concentrate on what I was reading and not look up at Mason, but once I got a little deeper into the case, everything else disappeared. That kind of case was why I wanted to be a lawyer. The challenge was what set my determination on fire.
Once I got three-fourths of the way done, I had almost four pages of notes written down.
“Damn. Looks like we’ll have a lot to discuss tomorrow,” Brian said with a laugh as he pointed to my laptop screen.
I smiled. “I told you. I don’t want to look bad.”
I noticed everyone packing up their things and looked down at the clock on my laptop. I hadn’t even realized how long I’d been studying the case. I started grabbing my stuff and noticed Mason standing down by the door as I followed Brian down the stairs. Knots formed in my stomach as we made our way closer. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over the feelings he stirred within me.
Keeping my eyes downcast, I made it to the door, avoiding Mason completely until Brian turned toward me in the doorway, stopping me in my tracks. My eyes lifted up to meet Brian’s but bypassed him entirely and went straight to Mason. He was staring in my direction, but he wasn’t looking at me; he was glaring at the side of Brian’s head.
“I’ll text you tomorrow when I get there.”
I glanced away from Mason and looked at Brian with a smile, all the while trying to hold back the flush I knew was forming on my skin.
“Okay, I’ll see you around ten.” I waved to him as he started his way down the hall.
I turned to head down the hall when his voice stopped me.
“Ms. Blake, may I speak with you for a moment?” It was a quiet voice, but commanding at the same time.
I closed my eyes as I let his request sink in. I hated that just the sound of his voice caused a tingle to flow through my body. I should just keep walking. I didn’t want to have those reactions to him, but I had no control over them.
Turning toward the classroom again, I glared at him as I made my way back into the room to stand just inside the threshold. The rest of the students made their exit and Mason closed the door, turning the lock as he stepped away and started to pace. I frowned as I watched him, again running a hand through his hair.
“Did you need something, Professor?” I asked, keeping it professional. I wasn’t sure why he wanted to see me, but I knew deep down it had nothing to do with class and all to do with us personally.
He stopped his pacing and looked toward me with a chuckle. “I’m ‘Professor’ now, am I?” He shook his head and walked toward his desk. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, so I just stayed where I was.
He rested his hands on his desk and stared down at it, not focusing on anything. Just staring. It was making me uncomfortable. Even though I’d done intimate things with the man, I still knew nothing about him and he seemed off-kilter at the moment.
I took a step forward to get his attention and his head popped up to look at me. His brow was furrowed and he looked pissed.