A/N: This chapter is dedicated to all the guys and gals in the world who wear glasses. I think glasses are sexy. :)

Mood: swipe left and tap the media box above to listen to Sucker by Jonas Brothers.

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Lydia

After Christmas break, I was ready for second semester. I had made it to being halfway through my first year of college and survived it so far. When I received my first-semester results, I was elated that I passed all my subjects.

I also tapered my Zoloft antidepressant medication until I was completely off it, which felt liberating. Six months ago, I would not have done this, but now, I felt stronger and more confident in fighting my everyday battles without feeling down in the dumps.

I have to admit that having loyal and trustworthy friends like Jake, Carrie, and Kath really helped me get out of bed to face each day. They loved me for all my positive qualities and my flaws, and I felt the same way about them too. I was never alone to win a war against my demons in this world.

Jake and Carrie helped me get through the worst of my breakup with Marc.

We sat at the university bookshop cafe one day to eat lunch in between lecture breaks. Johan commented that Marc was a dick for cheating on me.

"But he's your friend," I pointed out.

"Yeah, but he's still a dick," Johan said. "Carr, pass me the ketchup!"

"Honey, you've already got ketchup on your burger!" Carrie stated the obvious. Johan's burger was loaded with blood-red ketchup.

Johan grabbed the ketchup over the table and squirted it on his already ketchup-soaked burger. Gross. He was a big guy and athletic, so he would probably burn all that energy in no time from the sugar in the ketchup.

I wore the rose-gold watch Jake bought me for Christmas. It was a timeless classic detailed with tiny crystal stones around the bezel. He always had immaculate taste. I also wore the heart necklace my mom and dad bought me. It reminded me of home.

"Toga party's coming up in a few weeks," Zach exclaimed.

"We're going! What's a toga party without the Hawkes?" Carrie said, stroking Johan's cheek. He smooched Carrie in response.

"Get a room," Jake said, rolling his eyes and folding his arms. I watched his biceps move.

"You going? The whole swim team will be there," Jake said, looking at me.

He was on the university swim team. I've heard a few people dub it the dream team because the swimmers were hot, including Jake. He trained most mornings before class during the week, so he was up before the sun rose.

"Nope. Couldn't be bothered. Marc will be there if the Hawkes are there," I groaned.

"C'mon, Lyds. Jake will be there," Zach said.

I looked at Jake and gave him a weak smile.

"I still miss him. It'll hurt to see him having fun, especially with other girls." I was upset.

"Besides, it's just an excuse for you to get laid, Mr. Heartbreaker," I glared at Jake. He knew what I was talking about. I was his wingwoman.

He slept with one of my housemates, Thea Alston, at a party we went to a week ago and ghosted her afterward. She had been hounding me about him, crying over how sincere he was before they did the dirty and how much of a prick he was after that night. They met at the party, and I was at fault for bringing her with me and introducing them. She really wanted him, and it ended in heartbreak.

I still hadn't taken Jake to my place. I wouldn't risk it for the fear of being mobbed by girls wanting to get chummy with me to get to him. I would have to deal with their heartbreak.

Everyone was silent. I had successfully created a moment of awkwardness.

"Ouch," Zach winced and patted Jake on the back.

"Missy." Jake moved closer to me across the table. His violet-blue eyes looked directly at mine.

"Missy, I have a solution to your problem."

Silence enveloped the table. I had to think a bit-Jake was up to something.

"What is your solution to my problem?" I asked him, using my fingers for air quotes to emphasize 'solution' and 'problem'.

Jake inched closer to me, leaning over Zach, who leaned out of his way. I could feel Jake breathing now.

"Sleep with me," he whispered.

"What the fuck, Jake? It's not funny!" I got up from the table, picked up my bag and books, and stormed off.

"Shit, Jake, what did you say to piss her off?" I heard Carrie's voice behind me.

"I asked her to have sex with me!"

"Crap, Jake! You can't say that to her! She's vulnerable!"

"Aw, c'mon! Everyone knows one night with Jake will help their problems go away," Zach joked.

"It's not funny, guys!" Carrie's voice whined. "Bad, Jake! Very bad! Bad boy!"

A few seconds later, Carrie abandoned the table to come after me.

"Lyds, slow down!"

I turned around and stopped.

"Jake was just trying to lighten things up," Carrie said. "He's been flirty with you lately, but he's harmless."

"I'm sorry, Carrie. I wasn't in the mood for sex jokes. Especially not from the guy who broke my heart in senior year," I replied.

Carrie stared at me. I fidgeted with my bag straps.

"You're still in love with him!" Carrie's eyes were round like saucers. It was as if she discovered a scientific breakthrough.

"No, I'm not!" I defended myself.

"Yes, you are!" Carrie exclaimed with confidence.

"No. I'm. Not."

"Yes. You. Are."

Note to myself: Never get into a staredown with Carrie Deacon. You will lose.

I was lost for words.

"Carrie, please don't say anything. Jake and I have been better friends than ever. I don't want to rock the boat," I said.

"I don't want this to be another case of Billy Rider. Remember?" My eyes pleaded Carrie.

"I remember. But we're not in grade eight anymore. Jake's not Billy," she replied.

"If I lose my friendship with Jake, I'll break and I don't think I'll recover," I lamented.

Carrie sighed.

"Lydia, there's something I have to tell you about Jake. He's-"

"Someone talking about me? My ears are burning," Jake had caught up with us.

"You're an idiot," I whacked him lightly with my bag and kept walking.

"Hey, wait up! We're in the same class!"

---

Jake sat in the middle row of the lecture theatre, and I took out my stash of candy to eat during class.

"You can't eat that in class, Missy," Jake said.

"No one's going to care," I retorted and plopped a licorice chew in my mouth. I chewed extra hard right up to Jake's face just to annoy him. He wasn't fazed and took out his laptop from his bag.

He opened a small, oval-shaped hard case and put on a pair of glasses. Wow. He looked like a model with his sharp, high cheekbones, straight nose, pink lips, and dark brows. He rolled his sleeves up to reveal toned and tan arms. He was really sexy, and he wasn't even trying.

"I didn't know you wore glasses!" I gazed at him as if he had just stepped off a modelling shoot and sat next to me.

"I only started wearing them," he grinned.

"Dang, Jake, you look hot!" I fanned myself. I was taken aback.

"Hot for you, Missy," he teased.

I didn't have a comeback.

"Hot for you," he whispered in my ear.

"Jake, I'm trying to concentrate," I said. I tried to focus on Professor Richland, who just walked into the classroom.

Everybody was quiet. He had a reputation of being a ruthless marker and was known for zero tolerance to bullshit from his students. What people noticed most was that Professor Richland was a good-looking man, and he knew it.

Female students and staff on campus talked about him. He worked out regularly, according to his wife—my boss, Sapphire Richland.

He was also protective of Sapphire; I didn't blame him. She was blessed with beautiful sapphire-blue eyes, a perky nose, long, chestnut-brown hair, and creamy skin. I'd seen a few guys ask her out. She would respond by holding her left hand up, which revealed a gold wedding ring.

"You checking him out too?" Jake whispered, referring to the female students in the front row who were giggling at Professor Richland.

"Shhh!" I hissed.

"This isn't high school anymore," Professor Richland said coolly, referring mainly at the giggling students in the front row. "This is Roman History one twenty. If anyone thinks this is the class where you get an easy ride, you can walk out now. No talking, no texting, no gaming. Phones must be switched off. No food. Candy too."

Jake looked at my candy stash and nodded at me.

"If you put the work in, you'll pass. If you skip class, that's up to you. Don't complain if you miss out on important exam info. In each class, I'll reveal a clue for passing your midterm paper and end-of-semester exam."

"That's not all we hope you'll reveal," a female voice yelled from the front row. "Take your shirt off." The front row cheered, and someone in the back wolf-whistled.

Professor Richland went real quiet. Not in a good way, either. Then he spoke up.

"At this university, we have a strict policy on harassment. That includes sexual commentary." Professor Richland paced along the front row. The room was deathly silent, albeit a few whispers from the front.

"You. What's your name?" Richland asked.

"Gracie Holloway," said a front-row student in a skimpy outfit.

"Gracie Holloway, get out. Now," he said to the student who started the ruckus. "Don't bother coming back to this class unless you're here to graduate."

The student packed her bag and left the class. Richland then took out a pen and scribbled something in his notebook. Probably her name, so he could report the incident to his HR department.

Everybody remained quiet and attentive throughout the rest of class. When the lecture was over and people were leaving, I looked over at Jake.

"Can I borrow your notes?" I asked.

"Sure," he replied. "What's the matter with your notes?"

"You take better notes than I do. I probably missed the clue."

---

I worked afternoon and evening shifts in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Jake usually came to pick me up after my shifts so I would get home safely.

"So, how was your first class with my husband, Julian?" Sapphire asked.

"Brutal! And you live with the guy? He's the toughest teacher I've had!" I looked over to Saph. She smiled, blushing slightly. That smile told me there was a lot of love going on at home.

She and the prof wore matching key chains around their neck. They also had each other's names tattooed on the underside of their right wrists. They were so sweet together. Today I got to see another side of the prof. He was really tough.

"In all fairness, he was ambushed by some students who gave him a hard time. One of the girls got kicked out of the class," I continued.

Saph sighed. Her oval face looked strained.

"He's okay, though. He's a really good teacher. Jake thinks so too," I said.

Sapphire looked at me, eye to eye.

"Lydia, do you think that you and Jake will start dating?" Saph asked.

"Wha-what do you mean?" I was confused.

"I mean, I see Jake come in here to pick you up. I see how he looks at you."

I went quiet. I didn't know what to say. Saph looked at me, trying to get an answer.

"I like him a lot. I always have. But he doesn't feel the same." It was my turn to look at Saph.

"And how do you know this?" she asked.

"High school. Senior year. I liked him, but the feeling wasn't mutual. He liked someone else." I stacked some books, and one fell on the ground.

"I think that things may be different now," Saph said. She picked up the fallen book and placed it on my pile.

"I've seen how he is around you. I know what love is. I've been there with Julian. Years ago, I didn't think he was the right guy for me. We had been with different people before he and I were together," she continued. "He was a player. He had a reputation. I thought he was bad for me."

"Really? Professor R?" I questioned.

"Yeah," Saph replied. "I would never have guessed I would be living in another city from my hometown, with a husband and two young boys." She added, "Julian made that happen for me, and I'm grateful every day for what I have. Not what I don't have. I don't have my parents here with me, but I do have a good life, a loving family, and great coworkers." She smiled softly; her mind was thinking of her home, no doubt.

"Saph, do you think I should go watch Jake swim? He asked me but his ex, Elsie, and her friend Katie hang out there sometimes. She's friends with some of the swimmers' girlfriends. I don't feel comfortable being there too."

I needed some advice.

"You should go with a friend. Take your friend Carrie, or Lindy, or Kathleen. I think Kathleen would like that," Saph said.

"Oh, okay. I'll ask Kath. And maybe Carrie too. Carr's been really busy with Johan. I swear they're joined at the hip," I smiled. Saph smiled back.

Towards the end of our shift, we started to wrap things up at the front desk.

"Lyds, do you think you can babysit on Sunday afternoon on the twenty-seventh, around four, just for an hour or so?" Saph asked. "You can invite Jake too if you have no plans."

"I should be good to go, but I'll ask Jake. I don't think he'll come, though," I said.

I saw the prof coming through the doors.

"Hi, Professor Richland," I said.

"Uh, hi. Saph, are you ready to go? The babysitter is waiting with the boys at home." Julian started picking up some of Sapphire's belongings.

Another figure walked through the library doors. Jake Somersby.

He had gone for a swim and changed. He didn't have his glasses on. He didn't need them except for during lectures and when he studied and read books. He looked great, as usual.

"Hi! I'm just picking Missy up. Ready to go?" Jake chirped.

"Yup," I replied. I waved at the Richlands and Saph waved back. Julian continued talking to Saph about the kids' activities for the week and who would take the car tomorrow.

On the way to Jake's car in the parking lot, I stumbled on the pathway. Luckily, Jake grabbed my hand to keep me steady. He held it for a while before I was ready to let go. His warm, tight grip made me feel safe with him. This man was someone I could trust.

"Jake, I'm babysitting for the Richland boys on a Sunday afternoon in a few weeks. Same weekend as the toga party. Four o'clock. Care to join me?"

"Yeah, sure. You coming to the toga party, then?" Jake was asking for a fair trade.

"Yeah, fine."

I was looking forward to seeing Jacob Somersby dressed in nothing more than a toga. I imagined him to resemble a marbled ancient Roman wonder, with every blade and curve carved with wondrous, sheer perfection.

A/N: Did you know that Professor Julian and Sapphire have their own story?  It's called Lessons on Seduction, which ended up getting published by a romance publisher. An unedited sample is on my profile page, but it's mature-rated because it's an erotic love story with BDSM. It's more for the Fifty Shades readers who like a thriller plot and more mature characters.

I wrote Keepsake years ago so my writing has changed a lot. Saph is nothing like Lydia - she's sharper and takes calculated risks while Julian makes Jake seem like a Disney kid. Julian used to be a gigolo to pay off his college debts before he became a professor.

There's also Vera, Julian's sister, a lawyer. She's a wild, confident, and playful. She meets billionaire player Alistair Scott, a sex addict with a dark past. It's a crime romance with BDSM and kink. The story was submitted to my publisher and if it's accepted I'll put a sample on my profile.

Please vote and/or comment if you like this chapter. ⭐️