She glanced down at my offered palm, a flash of hurt dancing across her eyes before they flickered back up at me.
Agitation sparked, maybe even a little anger.
“Same,” she clipped before she quickly shook my hand, then released me.
Wes, Shaw, and Theo introduced themselves next, shaking her hand just the same.
She’s a student.
A nauseating feeling formed in my stomach. She didn’t look like a student, nor did she act like one. Anyone with half a brain knew it was no secret that student/teacher relationships were forbidden. Even if she was an adult.A graduate student.It was written in the code of conduct. Consequences were serious. It was basically career suicide.
“Preston is who I was telling you about.” Rodney wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “He’ll be right across the street from you. You can call him if you need anything at all.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I frowned.
Rodney chuckled. “Sorry. I forgot to tell you that I’m renting out the house across the street from you for Trinity. She’ll be staying there until the spring when she graduates.”
My neighbor?
“I told her you would be around if she ever needed anything,” he offered.
I fought like hell to keep my gaze on him, but the force was too strong. I couldn’t resist.
I locked my eyes on her face. She wouldn’t even look at me, not until she felt the weight of my stare.
Green eyes drifted up to meet mine, her smile shifting to fake and strained. “Don’t worry. I won’t be calling unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
To everyone else, her statement was laughable. A joke. But I knew what the underlying meaning meant.
So when they turned to leave, and I witnessed almost every single one of my players watch her ass sway, my fists clenched. This was bad.Really bad.Because it was on the tip of my tongue to make sure every one of them knewshe was mine.
8
Trinity
I could barely function past the tight coil in my stomach as my father guided me and Julia back to the field house.
He was a coach.
Worked with my father.
A freaking athlete.
I knew it. Had my suspicions, but now that there was confirmation, this was the part where I usually felt relief that I dodged a bullet. But for some foreign reason, I felt…disappointment. Which was stupid.
And another little piece of information that caused the contents of my stomach to churn was the other bomb my father dropped.
He was my neighbor???
My mind raced, trying to recall if I had even paid attention to any of the neighbors. I’d been busy with unpacking and getting things set for my classes. I barely stepped outside.
“So Baldwin University is where you did undergrad?” Julia asked as my father held the door open for us.
“Yes. Graduated in May,” I answered as we tracked down the brightly lit hallway.
“Good school. Very good health education program.” She smiled over her shoulder before leading us through a set of double doors.
“Pretty impressive, isn’t it?” My dad beamed.
