Page 18 of Teacher's Pet

Fuck, I’d love to show him what he was missing.

“I’m glad, Ryan.” His expression pinched just a little, and I hated that. Step it up, Ryan. Why are you being shy?

Fuck it.

“I just like the way you teach. You make everything so easy to digest, like little pieces that actually fit in someone’s mouth.”

He chuckled. “I’ve never heard it described like that, but I appreciate it. I love teaching. It’s my passion. Especially with motivated students.”

The raw honesty in his voice pulled me closer without me even thinking.

He started talking about his thesis, how he found his passion for psychology.

“Why not therapy or psychiatry?” I asked lightly.

We’d been talking for half an hour now.

Would he rather be here with me than at home with his wife?

Maybe she was a nag. Maybe she made him miserable. Maybe I was a breath of fresh air.

That shouldn't make me this giddy.

I fucking hate cheaters. My dad made sure of that. The thought of Mr. Thorne being one makes me sick. He seemed too good for it.

And maybe that’s the problem.

Some vicious part of me wanted to see if I could make him fall. To be the reason he’d cross that line.

I hate that I want that. I hate that he might be capable of it.

“Well, although I love these concepts in theory, situational awareness escapes me.” He chuckled. “I’m not the most aware. My wife used to love reminding me, when we were out to dinner, apparently…” He lifted his fingers in air quotes. “‘I’m easy to flirt with.’”

I don’t like that.At all.

He needs to learn to catch those moments, or I’m going to drag him through hell and back.

“You really can’t tell?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.

He looked at me again, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

“Well, I definitely can now.” His calm smile held something restrained. “But I’ve learned it’s more graceful to be kind, especially when the other person isn't really someone to worry about.”

I nodded stiffly. “Yeah, I—”

I felt my ass vibrate.

“What the hell was that?”

He laughed. “I’m sorry. I should have mentioned this earlier, but you’re sitting on my phone.”

“Oh.”

I lifted myself just enough to feel it under me. I waited to see if he’d reach for it, but clearly, that was a boundary he wasn’t going to cross.

“Right.” I grabbed it and handed it to him.

He answered it immediately, putting it up to his ear.