Cash and I stayed at the fields until the sun came up. I dropped him off at the frat house just before seven in the morning. After we had sex, we laid on the blanket, wrapped up in each other, watching the stars, and talking about any and everything.

I learned his birthday is in December—it just passed, and I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to celebrate with him. We also talked about his dreams of being an English professor—which I already knew—and a published author, and he wants to own a hairless cat one day. I told him about how I got into riding my motorcycle, sports I played in high school, my sister, how she moved to Lubbock, Texas when our parents died—he didn’t ask about that, but I can tell he wants to… and eventually I’ll have to tell him, but not yet. We slept for a few hours, only waking up to the sound of the roosters a few houses down.

Aida wasn’t awake yet when I got home. I changed and went for a three-mile run, before coming back home and showering. She didn’t even notice I was gone last night. I spent the late morning into early afternoon grading papers before passing out on the couch in my office. I woke up a little bit ago, all thoughts on Cash and last night. It was perfect.

The connection we have, the way we are so similar in ways that matter, the insane amount of sexual chemistry we have. When I couldn’t get my mind to be quiet last night and decided to go for a drive, I’d like to say I didn’t plan to go to his house, but deep down I knew he was where I’d end up. I’m glad I did. Grabbing my phone off the table in front of me, I open our text exchange, typing out a message to him.

Me: Half-dead today. How about you?

It takes him about fifteen minutes to respond, but eventually, my phone pings with an unread text message.

Cash: SAME. The frat had a fundraising event today. I’m a dead man walking.

Me: Damn, I’m sorry. Should’ve told me. I wouldn’t have kept you out so late.

Cash: No, don’t be sorry. I had a lot of fun with you.

Me: I did too. Enough that I want to do it again tonight…

Cash: Yeah?

Me: Yeah. You down?

Cash: Hell yeah. What time?

Me: I can pick you up around eleven? Is that okay?

Cash: Yup. See you then, teach.

Me: See ya later, Bambi. ;)

“Why are you smiling at your phone like an idiot?”

I’m startled by Aida’s voice, head snapping up to meet her cold, narrowing gaze. “My professor aide. We were discussing some papers we have to grade.”