Page 10 of Teaching Cayden

“You can’t drive.” I sighed as I mirrored her position.

Her head snapped in my direction. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.” Her finger waved between us. “There’s no ‘we’ here.”

“So you’re a mean drunk.” I nodded. “Good to know.”

“I’m not drunk.” She pushed off the railing and turned to face me. “I have more going on in my life than you could ever fathom, and just maybe I’m tired of always being the responsible one. Maybe,” she flung her arms out, “I just want to be able to have fun once in a while. Maybe my brother could act like something other than a spoiled kid for once.”

“Yep.” I nodded. “Mean drunk.”

“Oh screw you.” She downed the rest of her beer and stormed inside.

“I wish,” I thought. I followed in her wake, determined to not let her drive.

“Later.” She waved as she passed a few brothers who were sitting on the couch. A girl was sandwiched between them, and they might as well have been having a threesome. She was half naked and moaning as they pawed all over her. “Tell Tris that Will can give her a ride home.”

I stumbled as my feet skidded to a stop. The only Will in our fraternity was our president, Will Porter. Oh fuck. Will is the brother Addison is mad at. Oh fuck fuck fuck.

“Wait!” I grabbed her elbow as she started down the steps out front. “Will’s your brother? As in the president?”

“Welcome to the party, Freshman!” she growled as she started to pull away from me.

“Would you stop calling me that? I’m not a freshman.” Anger began to boil inside of me.

“Why? You act like one.” Her lip curled on one side as her beer-soaked brain attempted to find whatever bit of information she was about to throw at me. “This test doesn’t reflect what I’ve learned in class. Please don’t fail me,” she mocked as my mouth dropped open and embarrassment flooded me. Her arms crossed over her chest before she began to move toward the steps, but I stepped in front of her.

“You’re not driving.” I placed one hand on each shoulder. “Say whatever you want. I’m not letting you get behind the wheel.”

“You’re such a goodie two shoes,” she growled as she unfolded her arms and pushed at my chest.

“Maybe, but you’re going to be alive because of it.” I held my ground as the anger began to melt away from her features.

“Fine. Let’s go, Freshman. I’m tired and my vibrator is waiting on me.” She strode down the sidewalk and paused. “Which one of these is yours?” She turned to face me, and that’s when I realized I hadn’t moved. I pointed at my car as I attempted to get the vision of Addison getting herself off out of my brain. No amount of naked old people was going to erase that, and she knew it.

“Something bothering you?” She laughed as she climbed in the passenger seat.

“Nope.” I swallowed again as I slipped behind the wheel and cranked the engine.

Aside from Addison giving me directions, the ride to her apartment was quiet. When I turned in the parking lot, she turned to face me.

“I’m sorry I was such a bitch. You wanna come in?”

I pulled into the parking space and sighed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why. You afraid of my big bad brother?” She rolled her eyes as she opened her door and climbed out.

“Your brother is only the beginning.” I blew out a breath as I closed my eyes and repeated over and over that I was just going to walk her to the door.

“Your loss. I’m told I’m quite a catch.” She pulled the tie out of her hair that was holding it in the messy knot and shook her hair out. Without a word, I followed her to her door. “How come you’re so nice?” She peered back at me as she unlocked her door.

“Habit, I guess.” I laughed lightly as I tried to quiet the voice in my head that kept telling me to leave. “If I were as nice as you think I am, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.” She jumped when she heard how I close I was. “I shouldn’t be here, Miss Porter.”

“I know,” she whispered as the door slowly opened and she turned to face me.

“Then why am I?” I swallowed.

“Because despite what you think you know, I see what could be, and I’m tired of doing what’s expected. My brother gets what he wants. Why can’t I?”

“I don’t know.” I started to turn and go back to my car. She was inside now. She was safe from anything that could happen, but before I could she fisted my shirt.

“I like you, Cayden, and I’m tired of doing the right thing.” She yanked at my shirt, and pulled me through the door, and that’s when my common sense took a vacation. My hands cupped her cheeks and I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers.

She released my shirt and stumbled towards me. I turned us and pressed her back against the door. All the fantasies I’d had over the years about this moment didn’t hold a candle to the real thing. Her lips tasted of beer, and as they moved over mine she drugged me with lust. My body reacted like any male’s would who was being pressed to the woman of his dreams, but like an inexperienced teen, I tried to hide it.

“You like me too.” She moaned against my mouth as her hand palmed me. Why it was then that my brain decided to catch up was beyond me. That action was like a bucket of cold water and I stepped back, panting.

“We can’t do this.” I ran my hand through my hair and turned to begin pacing, a nervous tick of mine. “Your brother would kill me, and not to mention you’re the TA of one of my classes, a class I need to graduate.”

“You’re right.” She nodded as if the gravity of the situation was just beginning to sink in. “You need to leave.” She moved away from the door and opened it so I could step outside. “See ya around, Freshman.” She smiled before closing the door and separating us, effectively ending what was probably my only chance with her.

“I’m not a freshman.” It was a weak retort, but she’d wrecked me. I’d had a taste, and now I was royally fucked. I’d never be able to look at her again and not relive that kiss. Eight more weeks. That’s all that was left of the semester. Eight weeks, and she wouldn’t be my teacher anymore. Eight more weeks, and Will would graduate. Eight more weeks was all I needed to survive, but who was I kidding? Eight weeks seemed like an eternity when I had to be near her and pretend this never happened.

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