Chapter Thirty-Six

His hand caught her arm, his other hand attached to the headrest of the pool chair. Prying her hand from his nape, he brushed the hair from her face and moved away from her. She closed her eyes, sleep overtaking her once more.

The next time she opened her eyes, bright sunlight invaded them. She sat up, and saw that she was sitting on a pool chair. Looking beside her, she saw Keanu sitting on the chair beside her and watching her as he shrugged back into his shirt.

"How was your sleep?" Keanu asked.

She stretched. "It was perfect."

"The guards unlocked the pool just now," he said. "We are free."

She looked down at her clothes, touching them. They were still slightly wet.

"You should change your clothes," he said to her. "You might catch a cold."

"I didn't bring a change of clothes. I think I'll go home and - "

"No, that's not good enough. Come to my office, I have a change of clothes there."

She nodded, and he buttoned up. Leading the way, she followed him to his office. When they were inside, he locked the door behind him and went to some cupboards behind his desk. She stood there, waiting as he dug through his stuff.

He came back to her with some pants and a dark shirt. "Here," he said. "This should fit. It's the smallest size I have."

But they were huge. She held them up in her hands. If she wore them, they'd certainly be oversized on her. She stood up, heading to the door.

"Wait, where do you think you're going?"

"Umm, obviously to change?"

"Alice," he said. "Students are already arriving. If they see you leaving my office dressed in the same clothes you wore yesterday, and holding my clothes in your hands, only to see you return to my office in them, what will they think?"

She paused. "That's a good point."

"Just change in my office."

"But you can see me."

He huffed. "Nothing I haven't seen before, right?"

"Fine," she said. She untucked her shirt and unbuttoned it, letting it fall to the ground. Then she unzipped her skirt and removed it to place them on a chair. She stood before him in her lingerie and he instantly looked away. "Why are you so shy all of a sudden? I thought it was nothing you haven't seen before." She laughed.

He glanced at her momentarily. "Please put something on."

She put her hands on her hips. "Why should I?"

He stared at the ceiling. "Because this is intolerable."

She laughed, shaking her head. She took his clothes and removed the shirt. Wearing it, the shirt fell to her thighs. "Better?"

His eyes ran across her body. "I was wrong," he said. "This is much worse."

She threw her head back and laughed again. "I'm so sorry, Dean."

He turned his back on her. "Just put the rest of the clothes on, please."

She picked his pants up and wore them. She rolled the hem of it on itself several times and tucked the shirt in. "You can turn around now."

He spun around, facing her. "Ah, this is really hell."

She smiled. "You're so cute."

"You should really head back to your place and get a shower, then come back."

"I will," she said, smiling.

Keanu's posture stiffened. "Well then, thank you very much for the dedication to your responsibilities last night. I promise the same mishap won't happen again. I look forward to our continued association."

She frowned. "Why are you talking like that?"

"What do you mean, Miss Alice?"

"Keanu."

"The door is behind you, Miss Alice."

She stood there, silent. Sorrow filled her heart. This was how it was going to continue? It made her feel so sad. She could feel her heart in her stomach, and cold spread across her skin. She stared at the ground.

"Alice, please."

She sped to the door.

"Wait - "

Wiping her tears away, she hurried out of his office.