Page 11

CHAPTER 11

Rodney

Andry looks as if he’s two seconds away from attacking me. I know he’s not really going to hurt me. But the adrenaline crashing through my body isn’t all that sure. It wants me to flee. To run as far as I can until this threat is gone.

Except I can’t.

Not when he pleaded with me for a few minutes of my time. Five minutes and it’s over. Five minutes, and I can restart the process of trying to forget him.

“Back in Russia, it’s not ok to like men. I’ve watched people get hurt for looking at someone else the wrong way. I never felt safe,” he starts.

While he’s already told me some of this, it still hurts my heart that he’s had to hide so much of himself. Ma and Aries have always supported me. My sexuality has never been an issue for either of them. I can’t imagine having to pretend for my own safety.

Andry continues talking, oblivious to my mood change. “The few times I could be with others, I had to enjoy it for as long as I could. That meant researching what I wanted before meeting them. There wasn’t time to experiment like others.”

“Experiment?” I ask, though I hadn’t meant to say it aloud.

“Yes. Kinks, you know.”

My eyes go wide at the single word. He can’t be saying what I think he’s about to say.

“Well, I found I really preferred one thing above the rest. I wanted to take care of someone. Wanted them to trust me to be there for them in all ways.”

Andry’s eyes meet mine. There’s nothing but honesty in his gaze. He’s not trying to make me uncomfortable or anything. It’s more like he just wanted to be honest.

I relax a bit as I wave for him to continue. The timer is moving pretty quickly.

“You bring out the caregiver in me. I want to date you, Rodney. I want to be the man you can turn to when something is wrong. I’m not sure what happened when we had dinner before, but I promise to fix it if you’ll give me a chance, little genius.”

“Little genius?” I repeat slowly. “You call me that because you’re a…”

He nods. “I am a Daddy. Or I’d like to be. I want to be your Daddy. Ugh! I’m messing this all up.”

“No, you’re not. I’m confused, yes. But I’m also curious. Why me? There’s nothing special about me. You could be with anyone else on campus. Anyone in the world, really, with the way you play.”

“You’ve watched me play?”

His voice is filled with emotion. It’s reverent, and I’m thrown back to Aries asking Ma if she’d be able to make it to one of his games between her busy work schedule when he was in high school.

I’m sure with the level of skill Andry has, he’s used to being fawned over. At the same time, with his history in Russia, maybe all the attention was unwanted. Being the apple of everyone’s eye would mean he had even less of a chance to be his authentic self.

“Not yet. I’ve heard all about you though. They say you’re a definite pick for getting drafted.”

“That is what they say,” he replies softly.

Does he… does he not want to be drafted? He’s not bragging like the other guys would if I mentioned it. My own brother went around shouting from the rooftops the minute he thought he’d make it all the way.

The timer goes off, startling me and leaving Andry frowning. It’s obvious he isn’t done.

“Keep going. I want to hear what else you have to say.”

He brightens a bit. “I know you might be wary of my intentions. The only thing I can say is that I do not want anything bad to happen to you, ever. If you gave me a chance, I’d show you I’m the perfect Daddy for you. I’d be everything you need.”

“I’m not sure how to respond to this. You’re telling me you want to date me and that you want to have a power dynamic relationship as well. I’m already a social pariah. This would only make things worse.”

“People won’t know what we do behind closed doors. It’s none of their business.” He frowns, and it makes him somehow even more attractive.

Groaning, I throw my hands in the air. “People will find out. Everyone wants to know who you’re going to date. My older brother has a power dynamic relationship. I didn’t ask to know, but it’s hard to hide that kind of thing when one person is called Daddy all the time.”

The room goes silent after my shouting. Andry stares at me like he’s trying to solve a five-thousand-piece puzzle.

“What if we don’t let others know anything?”

“Are we like a secret or something?” I ask in reply.

He shrugs one shoulder. The move is meant to be nonchalant; however, it feels more like he’s faking it. I watch his face closely for any sign of the truth.

“We could be together to see if we’re — what’s the word?” He snaps his fingers as if the move will give him the answer.

I laugh, then freeze when his gaze snaps to mine. “What?”

“Your laugh. It’s one of my favorite sounds.”

“You can’t just say things like that, Andry. I think you were trying to say something before I distracted you.”

“I’d love for you to distract me every day. Nothing is as important.”

Shaking my head, I urge him on. “Seriously. I’ve stopped the timer, but I can’t stay here forever. I’m supposed to be tutoring someone. Or was that a lie so you could trap me in here?”

“I’m the one you’re supposed to tutor. That part wasn’t a lie.”

With a frown, I think over what he’s saying. If he really does need a tutor, then I’d be the best fit. Especially if he’s struggling with two subjects like Yaz said.

“Get your books out. We can still do an hour of studying if you have the time to spare. I don’t know your practice schedule.”’

Andry pulls out his phone. “I’ll send it to you now. And yes, I can stay. I need lots of help.”

Normally, I’d tell him it’s unnecessary to send me that much information. We’d just schedule a session through the center anytime he needed help. That’s usually my preference since I don’t want direct contact with the students.

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your outlook, Andry already has my information. I hear my phone go off a minute later, then his attention is back on me.

“What now?”

I tap the tabletop. “Get the books out. Show me where you’re struggling. I’m officially your tutor now, Hot Shot.”

The nickname slips out without a second thought. It’s far too easy to go back and forth with him. He makes me comfortable in a way I rarely find with others.

Andry’s smile is full of humor when he turns back to his books. “Whatever you say, little genius. Let’s hit the books. Then we can get back to our talk about me being your Daddy.”

My jaw drops at his audacity.

A part of me is still excited to know he’s not giving up so easily. I’ve never had anyone fight for me like he’s doing. If he keeps this up, I’m going to buckle and let us both have what we want — him as my Daddy.