“There’s a student… a girl.”
When his eyes fill with caution, I know he’s about to tell me some mad craziness about this student of his. He’s always had the ladies chasing after him. It’s understandable as he’s not that much older than his students. No one cares about an eight- or nine-year age difference.
As wild as James is when he’s out with the guys and when we go to the Dark Odyssey, he’s professional when it comes to work. No one would think he was the same guy.
“What about the girl, James?” I narrow my stare.
“She likes me.”
“And this is different to the others because?”
His lips part, and he takes a moment to contemplate. Just from that I get the answer to my question. It’s different because he likes her too.
“I like her,” he confesses, confirming my thoughts.
“Oh,” I reply, but I can’t contain my shock at the confession because it’s been awhile since James liked anyone. In fact, it was so long ago that I thought he’d given up on trying to find that special someone and just decided to be the carefree playboy bachelor he is.
“Yeah…”
“James. I’m guessing it’s gonna be a massive no to get involved with one of your students.”
“Like fuck, of course it is, and I would be completely fucked if I did. I tried to get it out of my system, but something always happens to turn my attention back to her. I have no business going down that path. Bad enough that she’s a student, but she’s twenty-two. Older than the others in the class because she took some years out but still too young for me.” He sighs with frustration.
“The age difference is not that bad. What’s bad is the fact that she’s your student.” I raise my brows. Sure, I can admit to doing some questionable things, but this is something that could make him lose his job if he encourages it.
“I know, and the worst thing is I have a really bad feeling that Kevin suspects something. He’s looking for any excuse to get rid of my ass.”
“Fuck. Well, you haven’t done anything he can hold against you, have you?”
When his skin goes pale, my mouth falls open. Why did I bother to ask?
“I kissed her.”
And I thought I was bad with the shit I get up to. “What? When? I only saw you on Monday.”
“It happened Monday night at the bar. Yesterday, I told her I couldn’t get involved, and she was really upset. I’m upset too because now that I’ve put my fucking hands in the honeypot, I don’t know if I can resist. I’d be shooting myself in the foot, Paul.”
I can’t tell him that he’s not. I don’t know what to say to him besides encourage him to think with his head and not his fucking dick.
“James, you would be. Please don’t. You worked really hard to get where you are. Think about that.” That’s the best advice I can give him.
James comes from a family of lawyers who are filthy rich. He’s the only one of them who didn’t become an attorney and opted to teach instead.
It didn’t go down well at all. He teaches at Raventhorne University. He fought for his job there when he was just a teaching assistant and went through fire to become a professor. As his friend, I don’t want him to lose what he worked so hard for.
He nods. “Thanks, you know I will. Anyway, enough about me. I’ll figure it out. Do you have time for food?”
“Yeah, I have a few hours.”
He chuckles. “Where are you taking her tonight?”
“The club. I’m going to make it our playground.”
My mind goes back to Jia, and once again, I can’t wait to see her.
It’s been awhile since I was excited about anything.
Last night was the bedroom. The rest of this week will be enjoying all the other things we can do inside the club.