Page 68 of Brutal Game

Tovah, who was susceptible to flattery when it came to her writing, smiled. “Sure, he can sit with us.”

As we sat, I was aware of the professor’s arm against mine. But unlike when Jack touched me, Dylan’s nearness didn’t send tingles running up and down my spine. Instead, a low-grade revulsion filled me.

“Aviva,” Dylan said, drawing my attention away from the game. “I’ve been worried about you. Something’s been going on. Is it Jack Feldman?”

I cleared my throat. “I’d rather not talk about Jack.”

Jack, who was currently flying across the ice.

“Oh?” Dylan asked. “So then what is going on?”

I cleared my throat, forcing out the next words. “Professor?—”

“Dylan,” he corrected, placing a hand on my elbow.

“Dylan,” I said, putting my hand on his to remove it from my body. “If you found out that an…authority figure on campus had sexually abused one of his students…”

Dylan’s hand tightened on my elbow, squeezed.

“Who have you been talking to?”

“What?” I stared at him, momentarily forgetting about the game. “Do you know about Coach?—”

“Aviva, you should know better than to spread rumors. Really, I expected better from you,” he tsked, not releasing me.

“Why are you touching her?” Tovah waspissed.

Dylan released me immediately. “Forgive me, I was concerned.”

Even though he wasn’t touching me anymore, I could feel the ghost of his hand on my elbow. I felt sick. I didn’t want his patronizing ass near me. I should’ve listened to my gut. I’d made a mistake, and now?—

There was a loudthumpas someone slammed into the glass. I looked down, expecting to see a fight. Instead, Jack glared up at us.

He slammed the glass again.

“Move,professor,” he yelled.

Everyone in our vicinity turned to look at us. Some began whispering. I felt my face heat.

“Jack!” Coach Jensen yelled in frustration.

Dylan shook his head.

Slam.

“I. Said. Move.”

It was like the entire arena had gone silent.

“Shouldn’t you be playing a game, Mr. Feldman?” Dylan taunted, a small smile playing at his lips.

He’d done this on purpose. Was taunting Jack on purpose. Whatever Jack had on him, it had pissed the professor off, and now he was using me to get back at him.

Powerless men always need to feel powerful,my inner voice mused.

“You don’t want to play games with me, professor. And you certainly don’t want to use Aviva in your games, unless you want everyone to know why you had to leave Yale.”

Dylan—Professor Johnathan—blanched.

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