“Get down!” I hiss.
Ali slides off the desk and goes underneath while I pull up and button my pants.
A frantic knock sounds on the door.
The room smells of sex and bad decisions, but there’s little I can do about that aside from keeping him out.
“Mister!” the boy calls, looking right at me through the window.
“Just a sec!” I shout.
I take a wet wipe from a drawer and clean off my face chin to eyebrows, which feels like a damn waste. If I’m lucky, she’ll let me keep her panties.
The boy knocks again. “Mister!”
“I’m coming!” I snap, tossing the wipe in the trash and going to the door.
Act natural. This boy has no idea what you’ve been up to.
I exhale slowly, open the door, and put my body directly in front of his, disallowing him from entering.
“What is it?”
“Mister, I really wanted to get a Kit Kat.”
“Just take it, kid. It’s on the house.”
“Gee, thanks. They’re my favorite. I like Mallow Cups too, but they aren’t—”
“Jesus, kid, I’m awfully busy. Just get your candy and scat.”
I go back into my office, closing the door behind me.
The boy gets his candy bar, gets back onto his bike, and leaves.
“You can come out now.”
Ali emerges from under the desk, her naked body causing me to divert my gaze.
It’s silly that I grant her this privacy after what we’ve just done, but it doesn’t feel right to take liberties with her body now that our dalliance is over.
More like you came to your senses after you gave into your lust. That’s Hank Carter’s daughter, and you have no business trespassing on his kin. Not with everything he’s done for you. Put up the wall!
“This can’t happen again,” I blurt out.
“Oh-okay.”
“Hurry yer ass up. I’m gonna go wait in the car.”
I leave the office without waiting for a reply. It feels harsh, but it’s the only way to ensure the wall goes up and stays up. I’m never going to be able to resist Ali, so I have to make myself as unappealing as possible. Apparently, being broke does not accomplish this.
You’re doing the right thing,I tell myself.Be hard. Be rude. Be angry. Be anything other than the lovesick puppy dog you’re turning into.
My heart sinks into my chest as I settle into the driver’s seat of my car. I hate what an ass I was, but it’s the only way I’m gonna manage not to lose myself.
Heck, you’ve already done lost yourself. You’re hers. She just doesn’t know it yet.
I grip the steering wheel, determined to do the right thing and not the thing that feels so good. It just hurts so badly. Every good thing in my life is eventually taken from me. My scholarship. Vicki. Her son, Eric. Janer’s. And now…Ali.
About five minutes later, Ali comes out of the office, her eyes red-rimmed and pained.
It’s better this way.
I hurt so badly, and it’s all my fault. What’s worse, I’ve hurt Ali. She just wanted a summer fling, a way to pass the time, and I’ve treated her something terrible, not at all like the lady she is.
She slides into the passenger seat, refusing to look at me.
I turn the key in the ignition and do the only thing I can do.
I drive.
