Page 8 of Forfeits

“Yes, Lucy.”

“We have the coolest supply teacher. Aiden is so—”

At that moment the door to the office opened and a man, presumably a teacher, came in. When he saw me he stopped and seemed surprised, but then smiled warmly and turned to Lucy.

“You forgot your notebook.”

“Oh thanks! Dad, this is my supply teacher, Aiden. He’s the best!”

Aiden looked at me and it was at that moment that I recognized his dark-eyed gaze, the color of his skin and the close curl of his hair.

There had been a twink and an embarrassing encounter in the passenger seat of my car, months and months ago, when I was still reeling from Daniel’s unexpected passing. But before the twink and the car, I had seen him. I had a sudden recollection of him stepping toward his ‘friend’, gripping the other man’s wrist and forcing it behind his back.

The man named Aiden stared at me, and I was tongue-tied.

Did he remember seeing me? A lost, grieving, drunk man being pulled by a gorgeous, barely dressed, glittering twink whose name I still didn’t know.

For a long moment we seemed to be hypnotized, and I realized that whatever was holding us was mutual. Maybe he did remember me. And he might even be into me. I was definitely into Aiden.

He was the first to break free. He forced his gaze from mine and turned back to Lucy.

“Have fun at the dentist,” he said.

“Yeah, thanks a lot,” Lucy replied, grinning. “Bye.”

“Bye, Lucy,” Aiden said.

“Oh, there’s Mia!” Lucy said, pushing through the door and into the hall where she hailed her friend and probably complained about having to go to the dentist.

Kate made a shushing sound then rolled her eyes and shrugged.

Aiden straightened and looked at me.

“Nice to meet you, Lucy’s Dad,” he said with a smile that just about knocked me off my feet.

“Fletcher,” I said. “Fletcher Marin.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Fletcher. Lucy is hilarious—and so smart.”

“Thanks,” I said. “You’re replacing Lucy’s regular teacher today?”

“Yes. Actually, I’m on contract for a few weeks.”

“Oh. Well, Lucy will be happy.” I certainly was. That would give me the opportunity of running into Aiden again…somehow.

“Have a wonderful day, Mr. Marin,” Kate said from her place behind the desk, giving me a smug smile.

“Thanks. You, too,” I said, wondering if she’d noticed the attraction between Aiden and me.

“Well…I’d better get back to my class before all hell breaks loose,” Aiden said.

“Yes, good idea,” I agreed, following him out of the office and into the hall, where Lucy was standing, shifting her backpack and tapping her foot, now that Mia was gone.

“See you tomorrow, Lucy,” Aiden said.

“Bye, Mr. Thompson.”

I watched Lucy’s supply teacher walk away from us, appreciating his slim, well-dressed form. Before he turned the corner, he glanced back and smiled. The blood pounded in my ears as my dick twitched.

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