Forbidden Pages

Chapter 6: Paths Crossing

Emma tried to focus on her studies, but her mind kept drifting back to their conversation at The Grind. She'd agreed to take a step back, to respect the boundaries that they both knew they needed. But even as she told herself that it was over, a lingering feeling told her otherwise. Ryland's words, his gentle touch, his gaze—all of it clung to her like a memory she couldn't shake.

The next few days passed in a blur. Emma poured herself into her studies, diving into her assignments with a determination that bordered on obsession. She told herself it was because finals were approaching, but deep down, she knew it was her way of keeping thoughts of Ryland at bay. And yet, every time she turned a corner on campus, she half-expected to see him. Every time she entered the library, she caught herself scanning the room, looking for that familiar face.

It wasn't until the following Friday that their paths crossed again.

Emma had just finished a particularly exhausting study session in the library and decided to treat herself to a coffee. She pushed open the door to The Grind, glancing at the line and sighing when she saw how long it was. The place was packed, with students crammed into every available seat, each table piled high with laptops, notebooks, and empty coffee cups.

As she scanned the room for a place to wait, her gaze landed on a familiar figure sitting in the corner, a book in his hands and a coffee cup beside him. Ryland. He looked as focused as she'd ever seen him, his brow furrowed as he read, entirely absorbed.

Emma's heart skipped a beat. She could have turned around and left, pretended she hadn't seen him. But instead, she found herself walking over, her feet moving before her mind could protest.

"Reading anything good?" she asked, keeping her tone light.

Ryland looked up, surprised, and for a brief second, she saw the familiar warmth in his eyes. But then his expression softened, and he closed the book, motioning to the seat across from him. "Emma. Didn't expect to see you here."

She gave him a shy smile as she slid into the seat. "Guess we both needed a caffeine break."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, each sipping their drinks. Emma couldn't help but notice the way his fingers tapped lightly on the cover of his book, a subtle, almost nervous gesture. She'd never seen him look anything other than confident, and it intrigued her to see this side of him.

"Are you managing to keep up with all your assignments?" he asked finally, his tone casual but his gaze steady.

Emma nodded, grateful for the small talk. "Barely. But I think I'm making it. How about you? How many more essays are left to grade?"

Ryland gave a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "Don't remind me. I think I've memorized half the class's writing styles by now."

She laughed, feeling a familiar ease return between them. It felt almost like it had before, when their conversations had been simple and carefree. But underneath, she could feel the tension building, the unspoken words hovering in the air.

They fell into a conversation that felt both natural and cautious, each of them holding back just enough to avoid crossing the line. She told him about a new book she'd started, and he shared a funny story from his time as a graduate student, their laughter mingling in a way that felt intimate yet safe.

But as the conversation wound down, Emma sensed that they were once again teetering on the edge of something more. Ryland's gaze held hers a moment longer than necessary, and she could feel the quiet intensity behind his words, as though he was saying far more than the sentences themselves conveyed.

Finally, he glanced down, his fingers tracing an absent pattern on the table. "Emma, I meant what I said about keeping things professional. But it's... not easy."

Emma felt her heart leap, both with excitement and uncertainty. She hadn't expected him to be so honest, and she appreciated it, even though it left her with more questions than answers.

"I know," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not easy for me, either."

Ryland exhaled, his expression caught between relief and frustration. "I think about you more often than I should," he admitted, his gaze never leaving hers. "And it makes me wonder if I'm crossing lines I shouldn't."

Emma felt her cheeks warm, but she didn't look away. "Maybe some lines aren't meant to be so clear-cut."

He gave her a small, sad smile, as though he wanted to agree with her but couldn't quite bring himself to. "It would be a lie to say I'm not drawn to you, Emma. But I also can't pretend there aren't consequences."

They sat in silence, the weight of his words settling between them. She could see the conflict in his eyes, the tension between what he wanted and what he knew was right. And though she wanted nothing more than to bridge the gap between them, to finally break down the walls that kept them apart, she understood that it wasn't her choice alone to make.

"I should go," he said eventually, his voice low and resigned. "This... this is only going to get harder if we keep running into each other."

Emma swallowed, feeling a pang of disappointment. She wanted to reach out, to tell him that it didn't have to be this way. But she knew he was right. They'd been skirting the edge of something neither of them was fully ready to face.

"Goodbye, Professor Monroe," she said, keeping her tone as steady as she could manage.

He paused, his gaze lingering on her one last time. "Take care, Emma."

And with that, he walked out, leaving her alone with her coffee and the empty seat across from her. The weight of his absence settled over her like a cloud, and she felt a strange mix of loss and relief. She knew that this was probably for the best, that they were doing the right thing by keeping their distance. But a part of her couldn't help but wonder what might have happened if they'd taken the risk.

As she finished her coffee, Emma realized that, despite everything, she wasn't ready to let him go. Not yet. And as she left The Grind, her mind was already racing, wondering if their paths would cross again—and what might happen if they did.

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Secrets, whispers, and stolen moments—will Emma and Ryland's love survive the secrecy?