Page 176 of Teacher's Pet

Chapter 32

Noah

"So, honestly," Will mutters. "Is my daughter doing okay?"

His voice barely pulls me from my thoughts.

My mind is elsewhere—half in this conversation, half scanning the crowd, trying to track her.

Jake wouldn’t be stupid enough to try something here. Not with so many people around. Not with Meg and Elijah’s parents chatting away, not with professors scattered throughout the event.

And yet…

Something feels wrong.

The crowd grows denser, the conversations louder, making it harder to see her through the shifting bodies.

My fingers twitch.

"Ana?" I murmur, my attention flickering back to Will, but my focus still split.

Will exhales, shaking his head. "You seem to know her well," he says, watching me closely. "And I played it off earlier, but let’s be real. I don’t know many professors who would fly out a student’s parents. Or let their student call them by their first name."

His words sink into me like stones.

Slowly, I straighten, finally tuning in to the conversation.

Will’s expression is unreadable as he studies me.

"How long?"

My stomach tightens.

"How long have you been seeing my daughter?"

The question lands like a hammer, the weight of it pressing down on my chest.

I take a shallow breath, trying to play it off. "I don’t-"

"Spare me," he sighs. "Before you back yourself into a corner and try to talk your way out, just give me clarity."

There’s a ghost of a smile on his lips, but his voice is firm.

I exhale, my jaw tight. "Since the school year started."

Will nods slowly, letting the words settle between us.

Then, after a beat, "Was there anyone before her?"

"No." I don’t let him finish the thought. "There will only ever be her."

He watches me carefully.

I know what he’s thinking. That I’m fucked up, that maybe I get some sick power trip out of this.

So I cut to the chase.

"I know how this looks," I admit. "I know what you’re probably thinking. But I didn’t take this job to fall in love with one of my students."

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