Her slight grin vanished. Her mouth pressed into a flat line as she said, “It’s Professor Baun, and not only was that inappropriate but it was also not entertaining. Do it again, Mr. Kade, and you’ll be out of this class.”

I closed my eyes. That was like a personal challenge to Logan. I knew what was coming.

He leaned back in his chair, gave her a cocky smirk, and asked, “To clarify, if I hit on you one more time in this class, does that mean I can go back to the other hour? Because I have to say, the other class worked better with my schedule, but this one has my brother’s girlfriend in it.” He threw his arm around my shoulders and patted my head. “See Sam? I’m never inappropriate when she’s around.” His grin grew as he showed his perfect white teeth.

A guy in the back coughed into his hand. “Bullshit.”

Logan turned around and gave him the thumbs-up sign, too, and coughed right back. “Asshole.”

“Okay, Mr. Kade.” The professor snapped her fingers and pointed to the door. “Out. I’m not going to deal with this. You can come by my office immediately after this class ends.” The glare she fixed on him meant business.

Logan stood, and another smart-ass comment was about to leave his mouth.

I clamped a hand on his arm. As he looked down, I shook my head. “Just don’t.”

The cocky smirk vanished, and he straightened, nodding to me. “All right. Wait for me afterward. I still need to talk to you.”

As he went, the professor’s gaze fell on me with a look of disappointment and derision. The old Sam would’ve shrunk back into her seat. I’d changed, and I stared right back at her. I enjoyed this class, and I enjoyed learning from her, but I’d done nothing wrong. If she was irritated with Logan, that had nothing to do with me, so I lifted my chin.

Mason’s words from last weekend filtered back to me. “You lift your chin, and you get this look, like you’re going to bulldoze your way through a tornado if you have to. No one’s going to stop you.”

I felt the same determination now. She wasn’t going to bulldoze through me or try to intimidate me. I’d stand my ground. A second later, after she’d held my gaze, she dropped hers and pointed to the board behind her. The class continued after that, but tension filled the room from Logan’s departure and my stare-off with the professor. I’d endured more than this awkwardness, so I sat back and gave everyone a silent fuck-you back.

I looked bored throughout the class period. People noticed. Some gave me disgusted looks. Others seemed more attentive to me. There were a few who nodded in approval.

For once, I felt like I could take the Kade name on. I am Samantha Kade. Hear me roar. That confidence lasted until the end of the hour.

“Miss Strattan.” The professor plunged a knife through my daydreaming. She had the same disappointment and derision written over her face. “May I talk with you as well after class?”

A girl who was sitting two seats down from me sucked in her breath.

A guy muttered under his breath behind me, “Damn.”

With that one request, the professor tainted me. Whatever her issue with Logan, it extended to me.

I’d done nothing wrong. Fuck that. I asked, “Why?”

She had forgotten me, gathering her papers, as everyone started to leave. At my question, they sat back down.

She looked around the room. “You can all go.”

They ignored her.

She pressed her lips together and pinned me down with a stare. “I can explain in private, Miss Strattan.”

Fine. My jaw was clenched shut, and I gritted my teeth, shoving up from my seat. I clutched my book, notebook, and bag in my hands. “I’ve not done a thing wrong. I want to make that clear for the rest of the students. I’ve not missed a day. I’ve never been late. All my assignments have been handed in and done well, if I might add, from the exemplary scores you’ve given me up until this point.”

Her head cocked to the side, and she came around, standing beside her podium with an arm resting on the side. “Are you challenging my request to meet with you in private?”

“I’m making my record known to the rest of the class.”

“Why?”

“Because, at the beginning of the hour, I was just another student. Logan came in, and he challenged you. He did that. Not me. Now, you’re requesting to see me after class. I don’t know why, but if you start downgrading my assignments, I want to make my history known to everyone else in case I might have to challenge you in the future.”

Her nostrils flared. “Based on what?”

“Based on discrimination.”

Her chest jerked up and held. Her fingers wrapped tighter on the podium, and her free hand pressed into her hip. “Discrimination of what?”

“Whatever feelings you have toward Logan. I don’t want them projected to me as well, not unless I’ve earned them.”

“I think you’re earning them right now.” Her lips were pressed tightly.

I had nothing more to say. I stated my case. I’d stood up for what I felt was coming my way, and I’d made it known. If she were going to paint me with the same disdain that she had for Logan, it wouldn’t be fair treatment. I’d been treated unfairly by classmates but never teachers, so I wasn’t going to let it start in college.

“Class dismissed.” She swung her head around, giving the entire group a pointed look.

They’d all remained, waiting for the end of our exchange, and when I didn’t say anything more, they began collecting their things and leaving the room.

A couple of girls walked by me, grinning at me over their shoulders. The professor noticed but didn’t move. She didn’t say a word. She stood in silence, just like me. A couple of guys walked by as well and nodded at me before slipping from the room.

Respect.

I earned theirs, and though it hadn’t been my intention, it felt good. It felt liberating.

Once the last student was about to leave the room, she said to him, “Close the door, Frederick.”

He paused and shot me a look, but he did as she’d said.

From the other side, he mouthed the words to me, Good luck, and he gave me his own thumbs-up sign before leaving.

I held my breath. I had a feeling I would need it.

“You think I’m going to treat you unfairly?” she clipped out.