Professor Carlson shot him a sideways glance. "Norris, you're not making sense. Aren't you a neat freak? How can you stand watching people dump greasy soup on the floor?"
"Our students are actually quite restrained. If you look at the neighboring campus, they've got people brawling in the locker rooms," Norris replied, trying his best to defend his sister.
Carlson looked bewildered. "Is it really that bad over there? Fighting in the locker rooms? Are they doing it naked?"
Norris's mouth twitched. "The floors were slippery. A few of them wiped out."
This was the latest gossip floating around.
Norris hadn't intentionally gone out of his way to find out.
But students at The Cabinda University loved to watch the drama unfold at their rival school.
When a joke like that made the rounds, it was impossible not to share it.
Norris had been forced to overhear the absurd details.
"Why were they fighting?"
Carlson was incredibly curious.
Norris recalled a snippet of what he'd heard. "Apparently, it was over a girl."
Why else would a bunch of guys brawl in a locker room?
Carlson sighed wistfully. "Ah, to be young again. Back in my day..."
Before Carlson could finish his sentence, someone approached their table.
It was a tall, stunning female professor.
The only reason anyone would immediately recognize her as faculty was because she dressed far too elegantly to be a student.
"Hello, Professor Churchill."
Norris furrowed his brows. "Hello."
"I'm the new history professor. I just joined The Cabinda University this semester." "My name is Honoria Beaumont."
Normally, whenever people heard her name, they would compliment its elegance.
She assumed Norris would be no exception.
To her surprise, he didn't react to it at all.
"Professor Beaumont, is there something I can help you with?"
Norris's tone was flat and entirely devoid of interest.
"Nothing in particular. I've just admired your work, and I was wondering if I might have the honor of treating you to dinner."
"It's my birthday this Saturday, and I've invited a few colleagues out to celebrate."
"I was hoping you'd do me the pleasure of joining us."
Honoria obviously had money to burn; she carried the distinct aura of a wealthy heiress.
Usually, when she extended an invitation, the faculty leaped at the chance. Unfortunately for her, Norris's life didn't intersect with hers in the slightest.
"My apologies. I'm busy this weekend."
Norris wasn't going to give her the time of day.
"That's a shame." Honoria kept her eyes locked on him.
"Perhaps you can ask me out next time you're free."
"I assume you don't have a girlfriend yet?"
Was that a hint?
It was a blatant proposition!
Carlson was green with envy over Norris's luck with women.
in
They were both college professors, yet Norris had endless romantic prospects throwing themselves at him while Carlson was left inthe, dust.
His family constantly had to beg acquaintances to set him up on blind dates.
Was it just because he was a little shorter and came from an average background?
He was a professor at a prestigious university-why did people still look down on him?
Carlson felt utterly sorry for himself.
"That's none of your business, is it?" Norris retorted, not sparing the woman's feelings in the slightest.
Seeing Honoria's expression sour,
Carlson quickly jumped in to smooth things over Professor Beaumont, don'Dbe upset. Norris just doesn't know how to talk to women.'
"He might be busy, but I'm free! Your birthday is on Saturday, right?"
"I'll go! Can I come?"
Carlson's overeager interjection only made Norris seem even colder by comparison.
Naturally, Honoria thought nothing of Carlson. To her, he was too short and looked like a pestering little toad.
But to
Carlave face, Honoria flashed
a brilliant, practiced
"Wonderful. Please do come
Dim mile.
Professor Carlson
"You bet!"
The two chatted and laughed, eagerly exchanging contact information, completely leaving Norris in the dust.