The Professor's Daughter [Part 2 of 2]

19 | Audriana.

Leah's POV

"So, nothing exciting happened at work?" Jennifer asks me as she walks into the kitchen, pushing her wet hair around with her hands. I shake my head no as I pull various ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator.

"You're quiet..." Jennifer says, leaning against the countertop and staring me down. "I'm just- long day and I'm ready for bed." I say, forcing a smile. She nods and walks over to me, pulling her hand down my cheek. "You okay?" She asks me. I look up at her and swallow, "yeah." I tell her and put my hand on her waist. She nods and motions for me to move out of the way.

Jennifer takes over cooking dinner, and I sit down at the bar and watch her.

Truth be told, we can't catch a break. When our relationship finally gets back on track... something comes along and fucks it up. I love Jennifer more than life, but something is up. The phone calls, her coming home smelling like she did, and taking a shower right away? I- no. It isn't right.

I keep my mouth shut and my thoughts run around in my head through dinner. Jennifer doesn't push me to make conversation with her, and I am thankful for it. I wouldn't know what to say to her anyway. I can't just accuse her of cheating.... that'd be so wrong and disrespectful on my part; however, I do want to know what the hell is going on.

Once dinner is done, I clean up and meet Jennifer in bed. She's on her phone when I enter the room, but she looks up at me.

"Come here and I'll give you a back massage." She says, locking her phone and putting it to the side. I nod and give a fragile smile, crawling into bed and laying on my stomach. She straddles my body, pushing and pulling her hands over my back.

"This weekend I was thinking we could talk to my dad. I'd also like to take you out to dinner..." she says. I nod my head and close my eyes and she stops. "Leah, why are you being so quiet?" "It's stupid. I'm in a mood, okay? I'm sorry. Maybe I'll just go to bed." I say, rolling over and forcing her off of me. She raises her eyebrows and I hug the pillow tightly and look up at her. "Can you please turn the light off?" I ask politely. She nods and bites her cheek, "will you at least kiss me goodnight?" Jennifer laughs. I sit up and kiss my girlfriend's lips slowly, more than once. "Jennifer... I love you." I remind her, almost begging her not to hurt me when I say it. "I know you do, baby. I love you too." She tells me. I lay down and close my eyes, still not convinced that we are okay.

-

Thursday

I walk into Dani's office and she greets me with a smile like she always does.

"Good morning, Leah." "Morning." I say, forcing a smile back and putting my things down on the small desk that I just recently started to call my own. "That wasn't a very chipper greeting... come on! It's almost Friday." Dani teases, nudging my arm. I roll my eyes and shake my head, "Friday means the start of a very long weekend. Jennifer and I are talking to your dad this weekend, and I just- I don't know how to feel about it." I say, being as honest as I can.

Dani sighs and leans against my desk, "why are you having mixed feelings?" "I love Jennifer, Dani. I love her more than anything in this world, and I want more than anything for us to be okay and things to go back to being great! I just- something has been off. I feel like she's pulling away from me a little and it scares me." I say and shrug. "Baby... Jennifer wouldn't do that! She loves you too and you know that." "Just because she loves me doesn't mean she won't hurt me." "Look... if you're that worried about it maybe you should take half the day off and hangout with her. She's not working today... so you two could just spend some time together." Dani suggests.

Major perks of having your girlfriend's sister as your boss: you can get days off of work without having to beg.

"You're sure? If you need me here I can stay...." I say and she shakes her head. "Finish the stuff in your email and get out of here." "Okay.. thank you, Dani." I say and she nods her head.

-

Three short hours later I collect my belongings and make my way out of the building. I'm ready to get home and surprise Jennifer... I hope Dani's idea to spend time together works. I need it to.

I walk down the hallway, keys in hand, and let myself into the apartment. I look around, not sounding off, and I see a pair of keys and a purse on the table. I know it isn't Jennifer's, so I furrow my brows and put my things down quietly.

In my head, I imagine I'm about to walk in and find her with another girl in our bed and my heart is hanging on by a thread. I prepare myself for the worst as I step around the corner and see her sitting there.

The moment I turn the corner Jennifer looks up at me. I glance at the pretty girl sitting on our couch and she widens her eyes. "Uh, hi..." I say and Jennifer stands up, "hey... why are you home?" "Dani gave me the day off. Who is this?" I ask. The girl looks at me, then looks away. She presses her glossy lips together and uncrosses her legs, "Audriana." She says. When I hear the name I make the connection. The same girl who was blowing up Jen's phone.

"I'm Leah, Jennifer's girlfriend." I say and she stands up and nods her head. "I see. I'll get going." She says. "Let me walk you to the—" Jennifer starts, but I stop her. "I'll walk you out." I say.

I walk the girl to the door and she grins, "territorial much?" "Nice meeting you." I say and she bites her lip and shakes her head as she leaves. I push the door closed and lay my hands flat against the wood, taking in what I just saw.

"Leah..." Jennifer says from behind me. I turn around and ask the question. "Are you cheating on me?" I ask, my voice trying so hard not to crack.

"What?! No!" "Jennifer, I love you. I cannot stand to get hurt by you again. You fucking promised me..." I say, tears welling in my soft brown eyes. "Leah, I am not cheating on you. I'm offended that you even think that." Jennifer says, almost laughing about it. I shake my head and stop her there.

"Fucking stop! Don't make it seem like I am overreacting and being crazy here! That damn girl has been texting you all the fucking time, you come home smelling like her, and I find her in our home when I was supposed to be at work? Forgive me if that looks a little suspicious, Jennifer. The bitch left when I got here. She told me I was territorial as she left the apartment. There is obviously something going on here." I snap.

Jennifer takes a breath. "Okay, fine. Yes, Audriana and I have been in contact. I didn't tell you because I didn't think it mattered! She's my ex from a very long time ago, but there is nothing else going on. Leah, I would not cheat on you after all of the shit we have gone through to get where we are." Jennifer says. I shake my head and turn away from her, letting a tear slide out of my eye.

"Do you know how shitty that makes me feel, Jennifer?" I grumble, still not looking at her. I hear her footsteps come towards me and she puts her hand against my back, "I didn't think about it, baby." "You are sneaking around behind my back with your ex... and you just didn't think about it? Jennifer it's so fucked up... all I want from you is to be loved and appreciated... and respected. That's all I have ever wanted. It seems like every time we start to get a grip on things, something else comes up. It's exhausting, and I can't keep fighting it, Jennifer. Something has to give here." I say and shake my head, facing her with a damp face. She bites her cheek and nods her head slowly, "okay. I'm sorry, Leah." "All I want is you. Why can't you give me that?" I ask her, truly hurt by this situation and all the ones in the past.

I don't get it. Love sucks. It hurts and it isn't fair.... but for those few seconds that it is everything the movies make it out to be, it is worth it. I just want those few seconds to last me a lifetime.