He may be a homophobic fuck, but I can’t claim he’s been entirely wrong about everything.
“I just wanted to stop by and remind you of the deal we had,” he says.
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Ourdealwas that I’d never do anything else that would threaten the reputation of our school. As though he expects two queer people can’t be in the same room and keep their hands off each other.
That says a lot more about him than it does me.
His steady gaze lingers on me in that way that feels as though he’s peeling back skin just to see if he can make you flinch.
“I’m glad to hear that.” He leans back in the chair like he owns the room. “Because another unfortunate circumstance like that could do irreparable damage, more so than this school’s already had to deal with.”
“I’m aware,” I say, my voice tighter than I’d like.
He hums. “Good. Because I know thisJacksonkid is in your class, and as I hear it, some say you’ve taken an…interest.”
I inhale slowly through my nose, trying to contain this rising heat in my chest. “He’s one of my best students. I take an interest in all of them.”
“Of course you do.” One corner of his mouth faintly curls. “That’s what you said about Dylan too, wasn’t it?”
My fingers twitch against the desk, and I lace them together to keep still. “Nothing is going on.”
“I just want you to be careful, Isaac.” His tone is almost gentle now, and that’s somehow worse. “We both know how dangerous obsession is. I don’t want to see a similar situation happen again. For either of your sakes. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you how bad things got.”
I can taste the memory before I even let myself think it. The accusations, the disciplinary hearing, the silence of the facultywho’d once called me a friend. The way my own reflection had looked foreign for months after.
“I remember,” I say, my voice low.
“Good.” He leans forward again, resting his elbows on his knees. “I vouched for you, Isaac. Iprotectedyou. Despite what everyone was saying. Despite thetruth. I’d hate to see all that hard-earned redemption of yours go to waste.”
There’s that word again.
Redemption.
Like tenure is some kind of absolution for sins I never got the chance to explain.
“You have nothing to worry about.”
He stares at me for a moment longer, seconds that stretch uncomfortably between us. Then he nods once, stands, and straightens out his jacket.
“I just wanted to make sure. I don’t think I could protect you a second time.”
Then he’s gone, leaving the faint scent of his cologne and the echo of his threat behind.
I stay still for a long time after the door clicks shut, every muscle coiled tight. Unable to help myself, I open my laptop again, the screen’s glow washing over my hands. I stare at the list of student essays waiting for feedback. Jackson’s name sits near the top.
For a moment, I hover over it, and my chest tightens. There’s something about him in the way he looks at me sometimes, like he’s measuring something, calculating.
It’s probably nothing.
But after everything that happened with Dylan, andwhohe was connected to, I’d be a fool not to wonder, to be cautious.
I close the laptop again.
Maybe Richard’s right about one thing.
I don’t trust myself. Not when it comes to men who look at me the way Jackson does.
