“Because … right now …”I’m kinda just Hector’s whore.“I’m just trying to figure it all out.”
Dad smiled at me. “That’s okay.”
“Okay …”
We fell into another silence, but this time, it wasn’t as awkward as the first few.
Dad smiled at me from across the table, and I smiled back, finally feeling like I had him back in my corner again.
CHAPTERSIXTY-FOUR
HEATHER
“So?”I hummed, leaning back against the balcony that overlooked Pittsburgh and gazing at my bestie. I pulled my white fur coat over my shoulders, my fingers grazing against the collar around my neck, and placed one of my red-bottomed shoes against the concrete wall. “Did you give him the contract back?”
“I want to do it when the time is right,” Sierra said, looking into the restaurant’s double doors at the New Year’s Eve party, her gaze on Steven.
Apparently, he had given her a contract to officially be his submissive. And it was about time!
Steven and Hector chatted with each other over a glass of wine on the suede white couches as Athena stumbled onto the balcony after flirtingheavilywith Charlie, who leaned against the bar, his hazy gaze never once leaving her.
“You sure the contract looks good?” Sierra asked.
Athena threw her arm around Sierra’s shoulders. “You literally haven’t given it back to him yet?!”
I threw my arms into the air. “That’s what I’m saying.”
“The contract is perfection.” Athena giggled, some of her shimmering orange hair falling into her face. “I honestly don’t think that a contract could be more in your favor. You can step away and cancel it whenever you’d like.”
With a drink in his hand, Steven approached the double doors that led off onto the balcony.
“Professor Big Dick is here,” I hummed, pushing myself off the balcony and grabbing Athena’s hand to drag her stumbling ass back into the restaurant. “Have fun out here!” I shouted to Sierra. “Make sure to give him a big ole smooch at midnight!”
When we made it back into the restaurant and bar area, Athena slipped away to Charlie, and I found my way to Hector, who stood from the white couch.
“Look at this,” Hector said, handing me his phone.
I sipped on my drink and stared down at the news article. The headline read,Professor Arrested for Blackmailing Grad Students,and the image accompanying it was of Professor Eric in handcuffs.
“Serves him right,” I said, handing the phone back and smiling.
“Thoroughly deserved.”
My brow arched at how calm Hector looked. “Did you have something to do with this?”
“Maybe.” His lips curled into a smirk, and he glanced behind me, his gaze distancing. “Look.”
Twisting around, I searched the crowd and spotted Sun with a husband and wife that I vaguely recognized from Radiant. Sun’s cheeks were flaming red, and she shuffled from foot to foot, glancing at the wife through her lashes.
“Are they …” I started.
“A thing?” Hector finished. “I don’t know.”
A giggle slipped past my lips. “I hope so. Sun needs some. She’s too innocent.”
“If she’s with them”—Hector chuckled—“she’s not innocent. She’s?—”
“Sweetheart!” someone called from behind Hector.