The Professor

Chapter Twenty-One

⚠️Trigger warning: themes of eating disorders appear in this chapter. ⚠️

I wake up and find Nicole nose deep in one of her self-help books. A frown-line the length of her forehead appears, and I can tell she's been chewing her lips by the condition they're in.

"Where's James?" I ask, testing the waters.

She proceeds to stare at the words on the page, unable to offer me her gaze.

"Shower."

I take a seat next to her and notice she's reading up on a technique called grounding. In the subheading, the words, 'What to do in crisis' stare back at me.

"Is today a bad day?" I question, keeping my tone soft.

She nods.

"Nic—"

"I'm fine."

She's not fine. Not in the slightest.

"Do you have class today?" I ask.

"No. I have a study day. Freddie is at work, though. So, James wants me to hang in the library while he's teaching," she explains. "Just to be safe."

She finally looks up and her eyes—red and swollen—meet mine.

"Come with me?" I suggest. "Have family day with the Jackson's."

She immediately declines. "I can't intrude on your family time."

"You're not intruding," I insist. "Besides, you're practically family anyway. I know Lara will appreciate you being there."

She thinks it through for a moment, coming around to the idea.

"I won't take no for an answer," I say. "You're coming."

She closes the page on her book and offers me a weak smile. "Thanks, Sloan."

I can tell my invitation has touched her heart. Nicole is usually the type to suffer in silence, and although it's important she learns how to combat her stress alone, now is not the time. She needs support. She needs her family.

"Morning."

James appears in the doorway, hair still wet from his shower. He smiles at my dishevelled state, and I swear I salivate at the sight of him in his usual tweed suit and reading glasses.

"Hey. Nic's coming with me today," I inform, staying exactly where she needs me.

By her side.

"Oh?"

He knows as well as I do how fragile her mental state is right now. Nicole is very much in remission, but bad days ahead are inevitable.

"That'll be nice."

"I better get ready," she replies, bundling up her book and kissing James on the cheek as she passes him.

I wait for her bedroom door to close before I speak.

"I can't tell if she knows," I whisper.

He enters my personal space and places the sweetest kiss on my lips. "I don't think she does."

"We should tell her," I blurt out.

I've been holding off having this conversation in fear of what he might think. Admitting I want Nicole to know is admitting I have feelings for him beyond casual. No one was ever supposed to find out about us. Then again, I also wasn't supposed to fall in love.

"We will. Soon."

"Not now?" I question.

He briefly glances at her bedroom door. "I'm worried about her. This whole... situation is causing her stress. I don't want to unnecessarily add to that by telling her about us."