Between the desks

Chapter 41

Amren's POV

As we settled back into our seats, my heart raced at the sight of Professor Olsen—or should I say Elizabeth—sitting directly in front of me. The fact that she was Aunt Elle's plus one stirred up a cocktail of confusion and curiosity in my mind. Were they a couple? Friends? Or something more? My thoughts spiraled as I tried to make sense of the situation, my eyes involuntarily tracing her form, taking in the details of her suit and the way her hair fell just so.

Suddenly, Lily leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "What is the icy bitch doing here?" Her eyes flickered with a mix of disdain and intrigue, and I could feel the tension radiating off her. I shrugged, doing my best to mask my own unease. "I don't know, but it makes me nervous as fuck," I confessed, my heart racing as I tried to focus on anything other than the presence of Elizabeth in the room.

"Is she really your professor?" Jess chimed in, joining our hushed conversation. We all leaned in closer, our voices barely audible over the ambient chatter of the wedding guests. Lily and I exchanged glances and nodded, unable to hide the tension that wrapped around us like a shroud.

"She's hot," Jess stated, her tone casual as if we were discussing the weather. I shot her a look, one that I hoped conveyed my incredulity. Really?

I felt a wave of irritation bubble up at Jess's comment. What was she even talking about? I gave her a small smile to mask my annoyance, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was all wrong.

Just then, the wedding officiant called for silence, commanding everyone's attention. As he began to speak, the music swelled, and the atmosphere transformed into something magical. It all felt like a blur, the words fading into the background as my mind drifted. I felt Jess squeeze my hand every few moments, grounding me even as my thoughts whirled.

Then, the moment arrived. The bride entered the room, and my breath caught in my throat. She was stunning, her white wedding dress cascading like a fairytale gown, sparkling under the soft lights. I glanced at the groom, who stood at the altar, tears streaming down his face. I hoped it was from joy; I couldn't imagine anything else.

"If my man doesn't cry, I don't want him," Lily whispered in my ear, her voice a playful tease. I chuckled softly, squeezing Jess's hand a little tighter. In that moment, the warmth of Jess beside me was comforting, but my gaze kept straying back to Elizabeth.

My focus zeroed in on Professor Olsen's back profile, my energy drawn to her like a magnet. The "icy bitch," as Lily had dubbed her, suddenly felt like the center of my universe. My heart raced in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. I couldn't shake the feeling of butterflies dancing in my stomach—were they really butterflies, or something else entirely?

She looked incredible in that suit, the fabric hugging her form perfectly. The blouse she wore accentuated her figure, and I couldn't help but notice the subtle hint of cleavage peeking through. Just thinking about it sent a jolt of heat through me, and I mentally scolded myself. Jesus, Amren, stop this. I needed to focus on the ceremony, not on the woman who was confsusing my senses.

As the officiant continued with the vows, my mind drifted again, the world around me fading into the background. The ceremony felt almost surreal, like I was in a dream. Before I knew it, the officiant announced, "You may now kiss the bride." The moment the groom leaned in and sealed their vows with a kiss, a wave of applause erupted around us, and the whole room stood up, clapping and celebrating the union.

But amid the cheers and joy, my heart was still racing, and my thoughts were tangled. I was hyper-aware of Elizabeth sitting just in front of me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something unexpected.