Page 67 of Beautiful Trauma

“Ezra, I believe you already know Henry Sullivan?” Pres said jovially. Too jovially for my liking, and I grew suspicious. Did he know my true relationship with Henry, or was he saying that because I was the one who recommended Henry for the job? “As you know, Henry was supposed to be working with Professor Millstone, but my assistant took one look at me and freaked out.”

“Because?” I asked.

“My size made her uncomfortable, but she was too worried about insulting me to request a change. The last thing I need is an assistant who is afraid to be alone with me, so I talked to Regina this morning. And now I have Henry,” Pres said with an unreadable expression on his face.

“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Sullivan,” I said, walking toward Henry with an outstretched hand.

Henry’s stricken expression made me sick to my stomach, but luckily, he masked his anguish before Pres could see it. He accepted my hand, gave me a weak smile, and said, “Likewise, Dr. Meyer.”

I fucking hated the formality and the awkwardness thickening the air around us. “Pres, are you ready? I have a lot to do, and I have an appointment later this afternoon I can’t miss.” Myappointmentwas a trip to Kings Island with Henry. I wanted to be with him as much as I could before school started and occupied most of his time.

“We wouldn’t want that,” Pres said dryly, looking between Henry and me. Hedidknow, but I wasn’t sure how.

Picking up on Pres’s mood, Henry stiffened and looked at me with wide eyes, begging me to believe he hadn’t betrayed us. I fucking hated the situation we were in but felt powerless to do anything about it. Gathering his binder slash planner up from Pres’s desk, Henry looked at Pres. “Is there anything else you need from me, Professor Stone?”

“That’s right,” Pres said, nodding. “You also have an appointment this afternoon you can’t miss. Um.” Pres paused like he was thinking. “I can’t think of anything, but I’ll email you if I do.” Pres smiled at Henry, but it was brittle instead of friendly. Then he turned toward me with barely concealed disappointment, which made me want to back out of our plans. I knew it was better to get the conversation over with. “Not again,” he muttered when he passed by me on his way out the door. A darted glance in Henry’s direction let me know he heard it too and was jumping to all kinds of conclusions.

I wanted to stay and clear things up with Henry, but Pres felt like a ticking time bomb that needed diffusing first. “I’ll explain later,” I said, begging for Henry’s understanding. Tears filled his eyes, but he nodded. I turned quickly and caught up to Pres down the hallway.

Pres maintained a brisk pace when he set off for Dante’s Bistro, and because of the difference in our heights, I practically had to jog to keep up with him.

“Are we going to talk about what’s bothering you?” I asked, trying to make small talk.

Pres looked around and made sure no one was within hearing distance. “I cannot believe you, Ezra. Of all people, you know better than to get involved with a student. Wasn’t the fallout in Connecticut bad enough for you, or are you a fucking masochist?”

“The situations aren’t at all the same, Pres,” I said.

Prescott stopped suddenly and stared down at me, anger radiating from him. “A professor fucking a student spells disaster, Ezra. Always. You know this.”

“It’s different with Henry.”

Pres rolled his eyes and kept walking. “Like I’ve never heard that one before. You’re the worst fucking kind of hypocrite, Ezra. Rationalizing your actions to justify plowing a sweet, tight hole.”

“Watch how you fucking talk about Henry, Pres. I love him.”

Pres released a harsh breath. “I think I’m going to be sick. How stupid can you be?”

“You’re sick with jealousy,” I hissed. “You thought this was the chance for us you’ve been waiting for, Pres. Don’t bother denying it. You’ve been coming on to me since the night of the faculty meeting, not wanting to take no for an answer.”

“Fuck you, Ezra,” Pres growled then stormed off toward the bistro.

“Don’t you hurt him, Pres,” I called after him.

Pres stuttered to a stop then pivoted to face me. “The fact you think me capable of such pettiness shows me just how wrong I was about you.” Pres shook his head when I didn’t comment further, then turned and walked away again.

I didn’t call after him even though his parting shot struck a bull’s-eye, nailing me right in the heart. Rather than walk to a different restaurant, I headed to the cafeteria to pick up a sandwich, chips, and a soda to take back to my office. I wanted to be alone until it was time for me to meet Henry at my condo to change clothes and head out for an afternoon and evening of fun.Like Henry wants to go anywhere with you now after that shit show.

Up ahead in the hallway, I saw Henry duck into a bathroom. Knowing it was probably a mistake, I casually altered my course and entered behind him a minute later. Henry’s eyes widened when our gazes met in the mirror. It felt like déjà vu.

“Are you okay, Henry?” I asked after confirming we were alone.

He briefly closed his eyes and shook his head. “No, Ezra, I’m not okay.”

“I know you heard what Pres said, and you’re jumping to conclusions—wrong ones, I might add.”

“He didn’t mean to imply that this isn’t the first time you had an affair with a student?” Henry boldly asked.

“Please keep your voice down,” I begged. “I’ve never had an affair with a student, Henry. That isn’t at all what Pres meant.”