Page 14 of Hank

Which was a memory he’d rather forget.

He’d been all geared up to ask when he could see her again—to go on an actual date—but he hadn’t been given the chance. Not with how Jo had obviously made up her mind otherwise. His heart had taken a huge hit when the woman he’d bet his massive student loan debt on wasthe onetell him he was nothing but a one-night stand had dried the words up in his mouth.

After that, she’d basically bolted away from him.

Standing shirtless and shoeless in the cold, with the brisk wind picking up, had sent gooseflesh popping up on his skin as he’d watched her go. All while another kind of chill had raced up his spine as her hurried steps had taken her to her nearby car—alone—without one backward glance, before getting in and driving away.

Still did.

"The bell rang, Dr. Lawton. Do you need anything else before I go?"

"Hmm?" Hank glanced up at the clock hanging on the beige, cinderblock wall in the back of his classroom, then over at his assistant gathering his books. He hadn’t even heard it. "No, thanks, Wilson. See you tomorrow."

While Wilson made fast tracks from the room, some of his second period class filed in, chatting and taking their seats.

And there he was.

Collin Webster.

Tall and lanky, with wavy, light-brown hair. And, at the moment, sporting red cheeks as he approached Hank’s desk.

"Dr. Lawton?" Hank sat forward and crossed his arms on his desk, eyeing an ever-reddening Collin finishing with, "Umm…"

Might as well give the kid a break.

"Yes, Collin?"

"Well…" Collin straightened to his full height—just over six feet—with determination filling his hazel eyes. "I just wanted to let you know I’d like to take the make-up exam." Then his look of bravado sort of faded. "If that’s okay."

"It is." Relief flooded the young man’s features until Hank added, "Your mom has already let me know."

"I wish she wouldn’t do that kind of cr…" His eyes widened as he stammered out, "Um…uh…stuff."

Hank held in his grin. That Collin was embarrassed he was about to saycraptold him a few more things about him. It made him like the kid even more.

No matter who his mother was.

"I’m sure your mom and dad just want what’s best for you."

"It’s just me and Mom." Collin’s slight grin reminded him of someone, but he couldn’t put his finger on who. "I don’t have a dad. Well, not one that I remember. He left when I was little."

"Oh, I didn’t realize." So, jwebster was a single mom. That might explain some of her overprotective tendencies.

"Yeah, but Mom does a good job." A distinct look of love and pride filled the young man’s eyes, while his grin widened. "She just worrieswaytoo much."

"I guess that’s her job." Maybe he could let go of some of his irritation at jwebster. Raising a good kid wasn’t always easy when there weretwoparents. From his interactions with Collin, his momhaddone a good job with him all on her own.

Whether the woman was a huge pain in his ass or not.

"So, when can I take the test?"

"Well," Hank said, contemplating Collin’s hopeful expression. "If you can take it tomorrow morning before school, you’ll be good for the first basketball practice in the afternoon. Can you come in early? Say, seven?"

"I sure can. I really appreciate it, Dr. Lawton. I…" Then he grimaced and his shoulders slumped. "Oh, wait, Mom has a breakfast meeting every Tuesday and I ride with a friend."

"Can she get out of it?"

"No…" Collin shook his head. "I mean, I don’t think so. It’s something she has to do for her work."

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