Professor Astor (Off-Limits)

“Your mom called me last night, asking where you were,” Amara says, snapping me out of my daydreams about Thor. She smirks and turns back to the sex toy she’s building in our lab.

I groan and run a hand through my hair. “No matter what I do or say, she won’t stop treating me like a child. I assume you covered for me?”

Amara grins and winks at me. “Course I did. Told her you were at the lab and couldn’t be disturbed because you were on a deadline you totally forgot about.”

I smirk at her and shake my head. “Thanks, babe. Sorry about that.”

Amara shrugs. “I love your mom. We had a nice little chat when she realized she wouldn’t be getting you on the phone. She invited me over for family dinner tomorrow. She’s making dal for me.”

I gag. “I hate lentils. Why the hell does that need to be your favorite food? Because of you, I have to eat it every damn week.”

Amara flips her hair and smiles, acting like the spoiled brat my mom turned her into. Over the years, Amara has become part of my family. Honestly, some days I swear my mom loves her more than she loves me.

“So, tell me about your date,” Amara says, her tone coaxing.

I can see the excitement in her eyes and bite back my smile. I suppose it has been a really long time since I went on a date. “It was amazing. I just…” I sigh happily and lean forward, memories of last night replaying in my mind.

“I’m going to need more details, babe.”

I chuckle and hesitate for a split-second before telling her every single detail. There’s no way I would’ve been able to keep anything from her, after all. Not for very long, at least.

Amara listens, her expression betraying her giddiness. I love that about her. She wants me to be happy with such selfless voracity. By the time I finish telling her my story, she’s got stars in her eyes.

“You’re going to marry him. That fantasy is definitely coming true. I have a feeling about it,” she tells me, and I burst out laughing, my heart skipping a beat. I wish. I doubt marriage is in the cards for me, but I’d love to spend more time with Thor.

“He hasn’t texted me since last night. He drove me home and dropped me one block away. Didn’t even blink an eye when I told him my family is crazy. For a minute, I thought he wasn’t going to give me his number, but I channeled my inner Amara and outright asked him for it. He gave himself a missed call using my phone, but I’m not sure… I think he might actually not contact me.”

Amara frowns and shakes her head. “How could he not? Your night together sounds absolutely perfect. I can’t imagine him not wanting more of that.”

I bite down on my lip and push down my worries. I was certain he wanted more too, but the way he looked at me before he kissed me goodbye… there was something finite about it.

“Text him,” Amara says, crossing her arms. “Just something simple. Something you’d send to a friend. Just see how he responds.”

I shake my head. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“You can either get it over with, or torture yourself with waiting, and the countless scenarios that I’m certain are running through your mind. Forget the whole playing hard-to-get bullshit, Ley. When you have a connection like the one you described, that doesn’t matter. He doesn’t sound like the kind of guy that’d want to play games.”

I nod and grab my phone, staring at it in fear. It’s crazy how much power this little device holds over me. I glance back at Amara, who is looking at me with a confident smile, and I inhale deeply before unlocking my phone. I type out a text and show it to Amara.

Hi, this is Ley. Just wanted to send you a quick text to thank you for last night. You turned a somewhat somber night into a delightful one 🙂

“Sounds good,” she says. “Send it.”

I look at her, true terror coursing through me as I press send. My heart is racing and my hands are clammy, all over one measly little text. I jump when I receive an almost instant reply.

Hi! I think I had a missed call from you late last night too. I was home all night like a sad sap, so I think you might have the wrong number.

My hands start to tremble as my heart drops, a deep ache settling in my chest. He gave me the wrong number?

“What is it?” Amara asks, a hint of concern in her voice. She grabs my phone from me and reads the text, freezing as she undoubtedly comes to the same conclusion I did. “That asshole.”

I take my phone back from her, disbelief urging me to send one more text. I can’t believe he’d give me the wrong number. Not after the night we had.

This isn’t Thor?

Once again, the reply comes almost instantly.

I’m no Norse God, though many women have told me I look just like one (okay fine, only my mom thinks so). Sorry, Ley. My name is Lex.

I put my phone down, my heart constricting painfully. He really gave me the wrong number. Why would he do that? Why not refuse to give me his number in the first place? Why not just tell me honestly that it was just a one-night stand to him? My thoughts drift back to last night. He told me he’d show me Mercury someday. He never once gave me any indication that we’d never see each other again after last night. If anything, he led me to believe quite the opposite.

I sink down in my seat, feeling like a complete fool. I should’ve known better. Good things aren’t meant for me. I didn’t even expect it to go beyond last night. Not truly. Yet somehow, I can’t push away the intense sadness I feel.

“Ley, I’m so sorry,” Amara whispers. “He’s such an asshole. I can’t believe he’d do that to you. Based on what you told me, I definitely didn’t expect that. Do you think it might just have been an accident?”

I shake my head. “No. If he wanted to be sure he had my number, he would’ve checked his phone to make sure he truly had a missed call from me. He’d have made sure he had my number. He typed the digits into my phone himself.”

Amara wraps an arm around me, and I lean into her. It’s strange to feel so heartbroken when I barely even know Thor. I don’t even know his real name, and he doesn’t know mine. I should’ve known better.

“Aria can probably find him, if you want? She’s brilliant. If it involves data, there’s nothing she can’t dig up. There isn’t that much to go on, but I reckon Aria can still track him down, somehow. Should I call her and ask for a favor?”

For a moment, I consider saying yes. Aria, Amara’s boyfriend’s sister, is a brilliant programmer, but my pride saves me from saying yes. “No. If he wanted to be found, he’d have given me his real number. This isn’t an accident, Amara.”

She looks at me, my pain mirrored in her eyes. I sigh and stare up at the ceiling. It was just one night, so why does it hurt so much? I guess it’s because I truly let myself feel something for the first time in years. For a few hours, I let myself believe I could have everything we were fantasizing about, that I could have a husband like Thor, that the happiness I felt last night could last.

That’s where I went wrong. I used up all of my good luck when I survived against all the odds. I shouldn’t be expecting more out of life.

“It’s okay, babe,” I tell Amara, knowing she’s worried. “There are plenty of fish in the sea, right? He’s just one guy. It was a bit of fun, but I doubt I’ll even remember him in a month. It is what it is.”

Amara nods, but I suspect she knows I’m lying to both her and myself.