André stopped walking and adjusted his Yankees cap. His eyes were hidden behind his Ray-Bans, but Chess knew his gaze was fixed on the horizon.
“You might get upset.”
His heart began to pound. Was this it? No. André wasn’t leaving him. He forced a smile through numb lips. “What?” His legs began to shake, and he hoped his knees wouldn’t give way.
“Even though I’ve been home for only a couple of days, it’s hard for me to be away from work and not be in contact. I’ve never been cut off from the business, and while I love being with you and not tied to my computer, I can’t help but be concerned.”
Though relieved, at the same time Chess couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. André should be able to take time away if he chose to. Still, he wanted to be supportive, and he had to be reasonable. André was responsible for an international, multimillion-dollar corporation. And truthfully, he wasn’t thrilled about leaving his TAs fully in charge of his students. They both had people who depended on them.
“So,” André continued, “I was wondering how you’d feel about me keeping the phone off when we’re together, but checking it after lunch, let’s say, and at the end of the day.”
Chess smiled. “I’m okay with that. You know I don’t mean to pressure you.”
André pulled off his sunglasses and captured his lips in a kiss, leaving him heady and yearning for more. “I knew you’d understand, because you’re the most perfect person in the world for me.” Retracing their path, they continued kissing all the way up the steps to the house and the pool. “I’m gonna go for a swim.”
“Think I’ll catch some sun.”
Chess stretched out on a lounge chair by the pool, an umbrella tilted at the perfect angle to keep the sun off his face but still warm his body. The moment he sat, Dottie appeared with a pitcher of iced tea.
“Here you are.” She set a glass filled with ice on the table and poured for him. “I’ll bring you a bowl of fresh fruit to nibble on.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to go to any trouble.”
“None at all. I hope you two have the chance to relax and enjoy yourselves. I know how hard you work, and André is looking worn out. That man needs to slow down.”
It was the closest he’d come to hearing a complaint from Dottie, but he understood. “I agree. Maybe this trip will change all that. I’m hopeful.”
“I am too.” She peered over her glasses. “Tonight we have poached salmon for dinner with asparagus salad. And since lemon is one of your favorites, I have a lemon meringue pie made with fresh lemons from the greenhouse. Now, I have to go finish baking the bread.” She left him, and he closed his eyes.
The boy he’d once been, spiraling out of control, using drugs and sex to numb the pain of loss, belonged to a different world than the man who lazed on the grounds of a multimillion-dollar mansion, with the world and all it had to offer at his fingertips.
Why didn’t he feel any different? Was it all as precarious as a house of cards, ready to crumble with a simple breath? When would he feel safe? He sighed and picked up the tablet to read his book. Dottie returned with the promised fruit and a fresh pitcher of iced tea.
André churned by him in the pool, his tan body cutting through the water as he swam his laps. He’d been at it for twenty minutes, and Chess felt like a slug, but he figured he’d wait until André was finished before dipping his toes in.
A message from Spencer popped up on his screen. Damn, he’d forgotten he could get IMs on his tablet.
Spencer: Have you talked to André about the pictures?
A glance over the top of the tablet showed André was still swimming laps, so Chess returned to the screen and Spencer’s message.
Chess: No. I’m leaving it alone. Everything is going great, and I’m presuming it was a friendly kiss and nothing happened. We agreed not to be on social media too much, including keeping off our phones, so I can’t talk.
Spencer: That’s dumb on both accounts. What if something important happens? We need to be able to get in touch with you.
Chess: I’ll give you the house number here. If it’s an emergency and only that, then call me.
He typed out the number and saw Wolf had joined the chat.
Wolf: That means Chess doesn’t need to hear about your latest pull from one of your nights of depravity. Chess, I’m glad you’re going off the grid. Enjoy, and we’ll talk when you get back.
Elliot: I agree with Wolf. Go enjoy. FWIW, I think you’re right to ignore the photos. It was probably nothing.
Head bent and still snickering over Wolf’s comment, Chess closed the chat and turned his attention to André, who’d finished his exercise regimen. Water dripped off his shoulders and streamed from his hair as he mounted the steps, and Chess set aside the tablet, waiting for him to come over, admiring his long legs with dark hair and the corded muscles in his strong thighs shifting under the skin. Still, he could see André had lost too much weight, the pattern of his ribs showing faintly under his skin.
“You’re eating me up with your eyes.” André slid into the chaise next to him, a wicked smile on his lips. “Are you having evil thoughts, Professor?”
Without responding, he took an overly large strawberry from the dish and leaned over. “Taste.”
