“Are you still mad at me?” I asked.
“What do you think?” Sophie’s tone was huffy.
I smiled. “Considering how long you can hold a grudge, I’m guessing you’re still a little miffed.”
“I wouldn’t use that particular word,” she replied. “But I am annoyed…yes.”
“It was only a week,” I justified.
“You went to Paris,” Sophie argued. “With a woman, during Christmas, and you never told me.”
“Would it have made a difference if I’d gone with a man?”
“Don’t get cute with me,” she grumbled. “It won’t work.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I said, deciding to be the bigger man here. “I just… I guess I didn’t want to have to answer your questions.”
“That much is painfully obvious,” she huffed. “But since you’re calling me now I assume you’re ready to give me answers.”
I smiled. “You know me so well.”
“Where did you meet this girl?”
“Uh…at the university.”
“Go figure. I can’t believe you’re dating a college professor,” Sophie said.
“Yeah…not quite.”
“What does that mean?”
“She’s not a college professor.”
There was a small pause, and then I heard a bubble of sound from Sophie. “Don’t tell me she’s a student.”
“She’s a senior.”
“Oh God, Chance,” Sophie said, in an exasperated voice. “You’re sleeping with one of your students.”
“A new semester just started,” I informed her. “Technically, she’s not my student anymore.”
“Geez, I was under the impression that this was an important relationship.”
I frowned. “What makes you think it’s not?”
Another pause. “This girl, your student…
It’s serious between the two of you?”
I took a deep breath. “I think so.”
“You think so?” Sophie sounded amazed.
“Okay, okay…it’s pretty serious.”
“How serious?” she demanded.
“I took her to Paris and… I’m in love with her.”