Forbidden Pages

Chapter 2: Coffee and Chemistry

The next day, Emma couldn't stop thinking about her encounter with Professor Monroe. She told herself it was silly to dwell on a brief conversation, but her mind kept replaying his words, the way his eyes lingered just a bit too long, and that warm, teasing smile. It wasn't every day a professor treated her like an equal—or even seemed genuinely interested in her thoughts.

Around noon, as she was packing up to leave her lecture, her phone buzzed with a message from her friend, Sarah.

Sarah: Lunch break? Coffee?

Emma glanced down at her bag, her textbooks feeling heavier than ever. She could definitely use a coffee break.

Emma: Meet at The Grind?

It was a small coffee shop tucked into the arts building, far enough from the main campus hub that few people knew about it. Emma had always liked the dimly lit space and its cozy vibe; it was a quiet refuge from the crowds, perfect for decompressing.

A few minutes later, she was seated by the window, watching the drizzle outside. She'd just taken a sip of her coffee when she heard the door chime and looked up, expecting Sarah.

But it wasn't Sarah. Standing in the doorway, adjusting the collar of his coat, was Professor Monroe.

Emma froze, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn't expected to see him here, of all places. He scanned the room, and when his gaze landed on her, he paused, seeming just as surprised to see her. For a brief moment, they just stared at each other, and then his expression softened into that familiar, teasing smile.

"Mind if I join?" he asked, walking over to her table.

Emma felt a rush of excitement mingled with a touch of nerves. She motioned to the chair across from her. "Go ahead. Didn't peg you for a coffee shop regular."

Ryland chuckled, setting his bag down beside him. "What can I say? Professors need caffeine too."

He ordered his coffee, and as they waited, Emma found herself studying him a little closer. Out of the classroom, he seemed more relaxed, less like the sharp and serious professor, and more... well, more approachable.

"So," he said, folding his hands on the table, "did you survive Hawthorne last night?"

Emma laughed, grateful for the icebreaker. "Barely. But I have to admit, it was a little easier to focus with the words of wisdom you left me."

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "Glad to be of service. Although I'm not sure if recommending coffee shops counts as academic advice."

"Well, maybe not in the traditional sense," she replied, leaning back in her chair. "But you did give me a good excuse to get out of the library for once."

Ryland nodded thoughtfully. "There's more to life than academic walls, Emma. Sometimes the best ideas come when you're not even looking for them."

She tilted her head, intrigued. "Is that why you became a professor? To inspire students to look for answers outside of books?"

His gaze softened, a hint of something deeper in his expression. "I became a professor because I love literature. But it's the connections you make along the way that remind you why it matters." His eyes met hers, and for a moment, Emma felt a surge of warmth.

They continued chatting, their conversation flowing with an ease that felt surprisingly natural. She told him about her dreams of traveling and studying literature abroad, and he shared stories from his own university days, describing his time studying in London with a sense of nostalgia.

Emma couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so genuinely listened to. There was something about Ryland's attention that made her feel understood, and she found herself opening up in a way she hadn't with anyone else.

"So," he said, leaning back in his chair after a while. "Tell me—what's the next book on your reading list?"

Emma grinned, savoring the familiar excitement of talking books. "Actually, I'm thinking of tackling Wuthering Heights. It's been on my list forever, and I think it's about time I gave it a shot."

Ryland's eyes sparkled with interest. "Good choice. It's a dark one, though. Not exactly light reading."

"I know," she replied. "But I'm kind of drawn to the intensity of it. All that passion and... well, the sense of being consumed by something bigger than yourself."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her with an intensity that matched the topic. "Careful, though. That kind of intensity can be dangerous."

Emma felt her cheeks warm. She looked down at her coffee, wondering if he meant the book or something else. "Maybe I like a little danger."

There was a charged silence between them, and for a moment, Emma forgot they were sitting in a bustling coffee shop. It felt as though they were the only two people in the world, drawn into a conversation that neither wanted to end.

Finally, Ryland cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "Well, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it. Just... don't get too lost in the moors, all right?"

Emma laughed, brushing off the tension. "I'll try to keep my feet on the ground."

They wrapped up their conversation, and he glanced at his watch, looking reluctantly at the door. "I should get going. I have a meeting to attend, but this was... nice."

She smiled, a bit shyly. "It was. Thanks for the coffee advice. I might have to get used to taking breaks like this."

He nodded, a small smile on his face. "Good. There's more to life than books, after all."

As he left, Emma watched him go, feeling a strange mix of excitement and confusion. She knew she should be focusing on her studies, but something about Professor Monroe left her feeling like she'd stepped into a world far more thrilling than anything she'd ever read.

-

-

Ryland is hiding something too. Will his secret bring them closer—or pull them apart?