Page 77 of After Hours Lectures

HAYDEN

Tyler was freaking me out.

I had no idea why we had to hightail it out of the restaurant like the place was on fire, but something—or someone—had freaked him out while he was in the restroom. At first, I thought maybe he was ready forseconddessert,but as he kept looking back toward the bathroom, I knew that wasn’t the case.

“Tell me what’s going on,” I pleaded as I followed him outside.

“In the car, okay?”

I nodded my assent and followed him to my SUV across the street in the parking garage. After unlocking the doors with the fob, we slid inside. Tyler turned and looked back where we’d just come from.

“What is it?” I glanced behind us, but didn’t see anyone.

“Just start driving.”

“Did someone see us?” I asked, not able to start the car or do anything until I knew what was happening.

Tyler nodded, still watching out the window.

“Who?” I demanded, my heart racing.

“My ex.”

I blinked. “The one you live with?”

“Yeah.”

“Shit.” I blew out a breath.

In an instant, I knew things were about to change. The secrecy, the stolen moments, the hidden glances—everything. Why did I think driving into the city was far enough away that we wouldn’t get caught? I didn’t know how Tyler and his ex had ended things, but for him to act as though we’d just robbed a bank, I assumed it hadn’t been on good terms.

“What do we do?” he asked.

How the hell was I supposed to know? I’d never been in a position where the weight of someone knowing who I was dating caused a suffocating grip on my heart, but I was now. This differed from Charlotte knowing because she understood the consequences if she told the dean. Tyler’s ex was an ex for a reason. Would he report me right away? Would he want to get me fired?

“Is he going to tell?” I asked, but by the way Tyler was acting, I had to think he was worried his ex would.

“I don’t know. He wants to get back together—”

“What?” I seethed, turning the best I could in my seat to face him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought I had it handled since I’d told him I was dating someone, and I didn’t want to get back together with him.”

“Clearly you didn’t, and now he’s going to say something.” If his ex wanted Tyler back, he’d probably stop at nothing to achieve his goal and we’d just given the guy enough ammunition to break us apart.

“He might not. Fallon has known for a while and hasn’t said anything—”

“What do you mean Fallon has known?” I snapped.

He lifted a shoulder. “He figured it out after we got snowed in together.”

“You didn’t think to share that with me?”

“I didn’t want you to freak out, and I trust him.”

“And what about your ex?” I pressed.

“I don’t know,” he whispered, closing his eyes and leaning back on the headrest.