“Tom.” I dip my chin, keeping myself polished so I appear confident and not disorganized like I usually am. “I’m happy to be here. I hope my plan for the curriculum will suit the schools needs, and the students as well.”
“I told you before, we’re looking for something fresh and new and I want you to challenge them in whatever way you feel is necessary. I’m throwing the standard curriculum out the window and giving you the freedom to inspire these students. I want you to do what you will with it.”
“You got it.” My shoulders are feeling tense; I’m being far more professional than usual. I think he knows that but I don’t want my flighty personality to come off disrespectful.
“I only have one request.” My eyebrows raise inquisitively. “Don’t date a student. They might be of age, and it’s not necessarily against the law, but the last thing I need is some scandal at my school about a teacher and a student when it’s totally unnecessary and completely avoidable.”
I wonder if he gives this speech to all the new teachers or if it’s just me because of my reputation.
“That won’t be an issue,” I reply simply, because it’s true. I have zero desire to date anyone right now.
One-date Dane has morphed into No-date Dane and frankly, I’m currently pleased with this title. I have no plans to give away my already shattered heart.
“Good to hear. I’ll walk you to your classroom.” He holds out his arm and I take the lead walking back through the threshold of the doorway and into the hall. We exit the historicadministration building and cross the quad into the newly constructed technology center in the middle of campus.
We make small talk, striding in pace, as we make our way through the building. He stands tall and proud as he tells me about the University and how this specific building was constructed. He doesn’t have to say it, but I know he reserved the largest classroom in the most pristine building on campus, just for me.
“I know you have a busy schedule, I appreciate you dedicating time to teach here this year.” Luckily his back is turned to me as my brows raise in response to his statement.Yeah, busy backpacking the world with zero responsibilities and even less obligation.But people will conjure up their own idea of what my life is like now, and I’ll just let them continue to think I’m noble and busy and doing something worthwhile with my time. I’ve enjoyed every aspect of my life until recently, when I started questioning how much of it I’ve been wasting.
He stops in front of a frosted glass entry that looks more like an entrance into a modern cathedral than a class room. “I hope you’ll consider making this a permanent thing because we’d love to have you longer than just the year.” He pats my shoulder then grabs the shiny metal handle, pulling the door open. “Welcome to your classroom, Professor Campbell.”
29
ETHAN
Iglance around the room taking in all the modern decor; it’s by far the nicest classroom I’ve ever been in.
It’s already full with students, only a few empty seats remain. Stadium style seating that ascends up toward the back of the room and overlooks the center. Everyone is whispering amongst themselves in their groups because apparently our teacher is some hotshot billionaire with a genius IQ who created some AI code that revolutionized computer technology as we know it.
At least, that was the explanation I overheard someone saying on the way to class.
I don’t really care who it is. I’m not exactly here by choice. If I can’t have the career I always wanted, I might as well do whatever is financially more stable, regardless of how miserable I am doing it. Even though I’m already working for my father, he demands the MBA title on my business card because, ‘it looks better to clients’ if I have it.
Reaching in my bag, I pull out a notebook and a pen. I highly doubt we’ll have much of anything except intros and orientation but at least I can doodle a bit before it starts.Glancing down at the pen, inscribed on the side isBonjour House.
The words seep into my vision and the memories of walking in and out of the hostel are so vivid I can smell the lavender scent that lingered in the lobby. The way Hannah smiled the moment we saw it because it was the coziest hostel we checked into. The naked man dressed in nothing but a towel, humming to himself like he didn’t have a care in the world.
I can still see the reflection of light off the droplets of water that cascaded down his back. The way his muscles flexed when he moved. I close my eyes and can still see his face staring up at me when he took my hard cock to the back of his throat.
A chair screeches next to me, ripping my thoughts back to the stale room. I have so many regrets about how we left, but I revert back to what I heard at the hostel and begin to feel so much rage for what he did.
I just hate more than anything that I can’t stop thinking about him.
Hannah and I haven’t even talked about it, it’s like we pretend it never happened because whatever did happen was deeper than we ever expected. I know it was for her, even though she probably doesn’t want to admit it to me. I think she’s afraid of hurting me or that I would be jealous of her feelings for him.
Some days I want to tell her I don’t have an ounce of jealousy. In fact, there was something about watching him with her, not just sexually but when they would interact, flirt, and talk to each other. There was something that we all brought that just made it feel…right.
I shake my head because it doesn’t matter. It’ll never be anything more for us. Nothing about having some side piece in our relationship makes any sense. Plus, if my dad found out…that would be bad. Really bad.
So, it’s a good thing it ended the way it did.
I just need to find a way to erase the flood of flashbacks. They’re a special kind of torture I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I hate how he drew out all my fantasies, everything I’ve been suppressing for so long, so easily. It’s like he knew everything I wanted and pulled it from me effortlessly.
The glass door to the classroom opens and my breath gets trapped in my throat in the form of an animalistic choking sound. Immediately I shrink down into my seat as the man I’ve thought about every day for the last month strides across the room.
Am I fucking hallucinating?
The classroom goes quiet, a few shushes and whispers echo through the room as he makes his way further into the class.
