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I felt Carter following behind me, and I wondered why for a brief second before I was distracted.

“Give us your number,” one of the guys told me. It wasn’t a question. It was an order, and his tone was gross. “What’s your Insta?” another guy asked, his tone slightly less offensive. “We’re having the party of the year at our frat tomorrow, and you’re coming.” They all laughed at that like it was really clever.

I rolled my eyes and opened my mouth to say something sassy back, but Carter beat me to it.

“Elliot Brown, is that you?” Mr. North’s deep voice boomed from behind me. It was his sternest professor voice, and I shivered a little.

One of the guy’s eyes bulged open comically. “Mr. North?” he asked, sounding way different than he had all night. More meek.

“Ah, you remember me,” Mr. North rumbled out darkly, glaring at him. “For the rest of you, I was his high school English teacher a few years ago. The same high school this young lady still goes to.” He paused, smiled grimly at their reactions. “That’s right, she’s in high school. I hope you’re ashamed of yourselves for hitting on an underage girl. How about you avoid this place from now on?”

He hadn’t even finished speaking when they started to get up and leave. One of them finally handed me a credit card and I settled them up.

I grinned at Carter when they were gone. “Would you come here every weekend and do that? I’m not half so effective when people won’t leave.”

He sat down at the closest table, rubbing a hand over his tired face.

“Sure, baby girl, whatever you need.”

“I was kidding.”

“I wasn’t. I wasn’t kidding about paying you to be a student instead of working yourself to the bone, either.”

“I’m not comfortable with that.”

“How about I pay you to do other things?”

I felt my cheeks heat. “Like sex?”

He looked like he wanted to choke me silly. “Of course not. Like office work. Something that takes less of your time so you can get your grades back on track. I’m very serious about this. If there’s anything you wanted from me, anything at all, I would do it if you would do that for me.”

The way he said it, so grave and steady, like he’d given it a lot of serious thought, had me pausing and considering instead of immediately refusing. “I’ll think about it,” I told him finally.

“Another thing. If you ever leave again because you’re angry with me, please don’t go to a shelter. There’s enough money in your bank account that you can at least get a hotel room.”

“I don’t want to waste money. You know I’m still saving up.”

“Trust me, there’s enough money in there that you don’t have to worry about getting a hotel room if you need it.”

“How much is in there?” I asked, feeling a bit odd, conflicted. I was touched by his generosity but ashamed at my need for it.

“Enough,” he said curtly, rising. “It’s late. I’ll see you at home.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

CARTER

When we got home, I sent her to bed, going the opposite way to my own bedroom. “Think about it and give me your answer as soon as you know,” I told her as I walked away.

She didn’t want my money or my help. It was infuriating. I needed something to bribe her with so that, at the very least, I could make sure she graduated from high school.

The next day I woke up early to find her gone. I tore down to the garage to find my Porsche gone, as well. I breathed a little easier. She was coming back.

I was edgy all day as I waited for my last class.

My heart pounded when she finally walked in. She didn’t even say hi, just sat in her seat, and plopped a piece of candy in her mouth. She sucked on it and stared at me like she wanted to eat me alive. Great. Another class where I’d be lecturing from my seat. It was becoming a habit.

I didn’t have to ask her to stay after class.