The Blueprint by S. E. Harmon

Author:S. E. Harmon [Harmon, S. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-178-3
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2018-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Kelly

ON MONDAY I debated dismissing my class ten minutes early. I’d like to say my kids just zoomed through the practice exercises I assigned, but the real reason was a little less academic. The rustling and restless shuffling and clock watching just got to be too irritating. I guess a ninety-minute lecture on the definition and applications of torque wasn’t exactly a crowd pleaser.

“Go on. Get out of here,” I finally said.

There was a whoop in the back as everyone started to pack and leave. “We’re discussing force and acceleration next time,” I said, raising my voice to be heard over the noise. “Please do the reading and be prepared to…. Ah, fuck it,” I finished under my breath.

I folded my arms and watched them scurry for the exit. A rueful smile pulled at my lips. Ungrateful whelps.

“Is everything okay?” Connor stepped aside to let a few stragglers out and then came in. He seemed worried as he looked around. When he saw me glaring, he wiped his forehead dramatically. “Oh good. It’s just your teaching. I saw the stampede in the hallway and started to worry.”

“They hustle out of your class too.”

“Not like there’s a carbon monoxide leak.”

I had to laugh. I looked around quickly to make sure the room was empty. Then I gave him the finger. “I think it goes without saying, but fuck off.”

He looked wounded. “And here I am, bearing gifts.”

“What kind of gifts?” I shut down my laptop and shoved it into my messenger bag with the HP emblem still illuminated.

“Heads up.”

My hand flew up almost automatically, and I caught the package. I turned it over in my hands. Dry erase markers. I grinned. “Finally. And a pack of twelve. Now we’re livin’ large.”

“I went to Costco. One for you, one for me.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Mostly because I’m a nice person, but also because I couldn’t listen to your bitchin’ one more day.”

“They’re not just primary colors. Fantastic.” I hugged them to my chest briefly and put them in my messenger bag. Those puppies weren’t leaving my sight. I could already see my diagrams on the laws of force, with the arrows in each direction in different colors. “I’ve never loved you more.”

“Good. Then maybe you’ll come over for dinner.” He raised an eyebrow at my surprised expression. “Unless that’s a problem, for some reason.”

“No, it’s not a problem, exactly, but I do have plans. Blue’s coming over after practice, and I promised I’d make him dinner.” I checked my watch and realized I’d better get going. I still needed to stop by the store. “Rain check?”

“Sure.” He looked uncomfortable as he scratched his neck. “So this thing with Blue… is it serious?”

“There is no ‘thing’ with Blue.” I barely kept my mouth from twisting into a scowl.

Sure, Blue and I played around a little, but he hadn’t mentioned it in the three weeks since then. He’d been busy with football, and I’d been busy with teaching, and we just fell back into our old patterns.

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