“What?” Brandt whispered. He slapped his hands against the stone table and jumped to his feet. “Are you out of your goddamned mind, Flynn?” His eyes nearly bugged right out of his head. “He’s astudent, and the son of two of our biggest benefactors, men who I’m sure won’t want their son dating an older teacher.” He pointed at the library, not that he needed to remind me of the name slapped on the side. “The Daughtlers!”
I rolled my eyes and huffed. “You don’t think I know that?” Keeping my voice low was difficult because he’d managed to upset me. “I tried to hold him off, but he kept asking me out, and he’s handsome and charming and—”
“All rich men are charming!” He glanced around as if checking to make sure we were still alone. “They always get what they want.” He fell back onto the stone seat and sighed. “Flynn, I know you’re sad about the breakup with Chris—”
“This has nothing to do with him!”
“And I told you to get laid, but this is ridiculous.” Brandt lowered his voice. “He’s half your age. Men that age only want to empty their nuts. Hell, I only want to get laid and how old am I?” For a second, he stared into space as if he was doing math, then shrugged. “He’s not looking for a lifetime partner like you are. You are the kind of guy who wants to be romanced.”
I threw my hands up and glared at him. “Thank you for telling me what I am.”
He reached over and took my hands into his, a sad smile curving his mouth. “I don’t want to see you hurt again. Maybe River knows someone our age? He goes to Triple X regularly and that club is primarily gay men.”
I shook my head and tried to steal my hands back, but he wouldn’t let go. “Please don’t question me, I’m an adult.”
He stared, gaze intent for a long few seconds before he nodded and released his hold. “You’re right, you’re an adult, and I’m not your father. I’m only concerned.”
“I know.” I smiled because I knew Brandt, and all he’d ever done was care about me like a brother. “But I don’t know what this is yet. We’re having fun. He makes me feel happy in ways I haven’t in a long time, even when I was with Chris. It sounds stupid, but he makes me feel more confident in myself.”
“How so?” He rested his chin on his hand, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.
I shrugged, not quite sure how to explain it to him. “You know me, I’m always worried about hurting other people’s feelings, even if it works out badly on my end. But Judge helped me avoid a horrible situation recently. I feel like a stronger man around him.” Heat crept into my cheeks and I ran a hand over my face. “He worships my body and loves my muscles.”
Brandt’s eyes narrowed. “In a kinky way?”
“Yeah.” I grinned stupidly.
He laughed. “Okay, maybe I like him.” His face turned somber. “But that doesn’t change who he is, and you have to socialize with his parents tonight.”
“I know, but I can keep it together. They won’t have to know. Not yet.”
Brandt didn’t appear to believe me. “The party’s at six. Pick me up.”
I only hummed in agreement, guilt and worry gnawing at my insides. Maybe I could avoid them the entire party. I perked up. Yeah, I’d just make sure I was always in a conversation with someone else.
The day flew by and I finished teaching late in the afternoon. I went home, showered, dressed, and headed to Brandt’s house to pick him up. He didn’t mention Judge during the trip back to the school, and I was grateful, but that didn’t stop me from fretting when we finally got to the party and it was in full swing.
Dr. Hun noticed us immediately as we arrived, hurrying toward us with a wide grin and even wider eyes. She was a short Asian lady with large, round silver glasses and black hair she kept in a ponytail. I’d guessed she was around my age, although I wasn’t completely sure, but she spoke with a strong Southern accent that had me grinning every time I talked to her. She’d graduated from law school in St. Loren, Louisiana, and had passed the bar in at least eight states, including California, which was no joke. I was in awe.
Tonight she was even more beautiful than usual in a flowy black dress that sparkled with glitter around the base. She’d brushed on tasteful makeup, and the glimmer of silver jewelry on her wrists and neck transformed her into the queen of the law school.
“There you are, Flynn. I worried.” She nodded at Brandt as well, her brown eyes twinkling. “They’re all here, ready to be charmed out of cash.”
I gave her a half-hearted smile and took stock of the room. Men and women flocked around the New Gothenburg State basketball court, which we usually commandeered for fundraisers like this—we’d thought about using a different area, but everyone had decided the nostalgia of being in the gym would make people more inclined to turn out their pockets and donate. The women were all dressed as elegantly as Dr. Hun, and the men’s suits were extravagant. I could practically smell the money.
“Flynn?” Dr. Hun gave me a frown. “Are you all right?”
I forced myself to nod. “Fine.”
“You’re good at this.” She patted me on the shoulder. “You can convince them to spend enough money to make this school one of the best in America.”
Mostly I listened to them rave on about their businesses and made them feel superior—“those who can’t do, teach” after all, and every person at the fundraiser was firmly a “doer”—but tonight was different. I hadn’t met Judge’s parents, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Judge had texted this afternoon to ask me out on another date, and I’d let him know I had a school event without going into details. Now I wished I’d opened up more. I didn’t even know what his parents looked like. If I’d ever crossed paths with them in the past, I hadn’t paid attention. I talked to so many people.
“Off you go.” Dr. Hun shoved me in the direction of the crowd, and I went, eyeing the men and women milling around on the court. Near one of the hoops was a long table of refreshments, and some of the donors were already sitting in the courtside seats chatting with other instructors.
Nerves ate at my gut, but I took a deep breath and focused on one man I did know: Mr. Alton Bouchard. He was well known for donating to academic causes, so this would be a breeze. I smiled as I approached Alton, but Dr. Annaliese Pickering beat me to the punch, sneaking in between us. Alton gave me an amused smirk as I backed away and glanced around again.
“Are you Mr. Goddard?” a masculine voice asked behind me.
