Chapter 15

15

Mickey whistled a cheerful tune as he made his way through the empty halls of the English department. The familiar scents of aged wood and dusty books instantly lifted his mood, as they did every morning.

He unlocked the door to his lecture hall and began arranging the worksheets for his classes. As he worked, his thoughts drifted to Adrianna and the passionate hours they'd spent together the night before. Her soft skin, her breathy moans, the way she'd clung to him, utterly spent in his arms...

A ping from his phone interrupted the pleasant memories. He checked the notification and his heart sank. An email from Dean Whittaker, requesting to see him before classes.

Mickey swallowed hard, dread pooling in his stomach. They'd been careful, so careful. But Whitaker was shrewd, and last night with Adrianna had been reckless. He had a sickening feeling their forbidden romance was about to be exposed again.

He stood motionless for a long moment, torn between staying hidden in the safety of his lecture hall or facing the dean to determine his fate. With a heavy sigh, he steeled himself and made his way to Whitaker's office.

Each step down the hall amplified his anxiety. By the time he reached the dean's door, his heart was pounding. He gave a cursory knock and let himself in.

Whitaker looked up from his desk, peering at Mickey over the rim of his glasses. "Professor Hanks. Thank you for coming." His tone was neutral, giving nothing away.

Mickey swallowed hard. "Of course, Dean Whitaker. How can I help you?" He was proud. His voice came out steady despite the panic rising in his chest.

Whitaker folded his hands on the desk, fixing Mickey with a piercing stare. "It's come to my attention that you are still engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student. Would you care to explain?"

Mickey shook his head. "I have nothing to explain." Even as the words left his mouth, he knew it was futile. Whitaker already had his evidence.

The dean's eyebrows rose. "Is that so? Then how do you explain these?" He slid two photos across the desk.

Mickey's heart nearly stopped. There, captured in vivid color, were images of him and Adrianna, locked in a passionate embrace on his front porch. They had been so lost in each other.

His face flushed with heat as he stared down at the evidence of his misdeeds. There was no talking his way out of this. The photos were irrefutable proof of his relationship with Adrianna—a relationship that violated every ethical code of conduct.

He dragged his gaze up to meet the dean's icy stare. "I can't." Was all he said, the fight draining out of him. He had nowhere left to run. It was time to face the consequences.

Whitaker's lips thinned into a disapproving line. "This is a gross violation of professional ethics and a betrayal of the trust placed in you as an educator. You are hereby suspended, effective immediately, pending a formal inquiry into your conduct. You will gather your belongings and leave the premises at once."

The words struck like a physical blow, but Mickey could find no fault in them. He had brought this upon himself the moment he gave in to his desire for Adrianna. Now there was a heavy price to pay for his sins, one that would change both of their lives forever.

He stood on unsteady legs, gripping the back of the chair for support. "I understand." With that, he turned and left the office, the door clicking shut behind him. His world had crumbled to dust, all because he couldn't resist the temptation of forbidden love.

Mickey trudged down the empty hallway, his footsteps echoing in the silence. By now, his students would be waiting in the lecture hall, puzzled by his unexplained absence. He dreaded having to face them with the truth. How could he possibly explain the unexplainable?

When he entered the room, a dozen curious gazes swung in his direction. He cleared his throat, struggling to find the right words, but in the end, there was only one thing left to say. "Class is canceled today."

A ripple of surprise passed through the room. A girl in the front row frowned, peering up at him through thick-framed glasses. "But sir, we have a test today."

"Not anymore." He forced a tight smile, avoiding her gaze. "You're dismissed."

Without another word, he began gathering up the papers and books on his desk, stuffing them haphazardly into his worn leather satchel. By the time he finished, the lecture hall was empty, echoing with the ghosts of better days. With a heavy sigh, he slung the satchel over his shoulder and started the long walk to his car under the pale light of a sun obscured by clouds, his future as uncertain as the weather.

Meanwhile, whispers and speculation were already spreading like wildfire across campus. It wasn't long before the truth came out, shattering Adrianna's world as swiftly and mercilessly as Mickey's..

* * *

Adrianna swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "What is it?" she asked.

Rachel's lip curled into a sneer. "We know about you and Professor Hanks. How could you?"

Heat rose in Adrianna's cheeks as other students gathered around them, a sea of accusing eyes and wagging tongues. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. What could she possibly say?

Rachel jabbed a finger at her chest. "If I were you, I'd seriously consider transferring after this."

The circle of onlookers erupted into angry shouts of agreement. Adrianna's eyes stung with tears as she pushed through the crowd and ran, their jeers and insults chasing after her until she was alone.

She didn't stop running until she reached Mickey's house, her heart pounding and her lungs burning. She pounded on his front door, blinking back tears.

When he opened the door, she flung herself into his arms. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "This is all my fault."

Mickey stroked her hair. "Shh. It's not your fault." His voice was weary, but still tinged with warmth. "We both knew the risks."

Adrianna shook her head, clutching at his shirt. "But your career...they're going to expel me. I know it. What have I done?"

"Whatever happens, we'll get through this together." He cupped her face in his hands, gazing into her eyes. "I don't regret a single moment we spent together. You're worth any price, Adrianna."

A fresh wave of tears spilled down her cheeks as she reached up to pull his mouth down to hers. The kiss was soft yet passionate, full of unspoken tenderness and the promise of a future, no matter how uncertain, as long as they were side by side.