Page 67 of The 21-Day Boyfriend
I turn on the ignition and pull into the road, heading for the college.
“If you didn’t want to come, if you’re too tired…”
I shake my head. “A deal is a deal.”
“A deal.” There’s a disappointment in his voice that I can’t deal with right now – not when I’m still trying to deal with my own.
“Isn’t that what this is? An agreement, or however you want to call it?”
“You can call it whatever you like.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Mmm?”
“Why is your voice so… Bitter?”
“Bitter?”
“I feel like you’re annoyed at me.”
“Why would I be?”
“I don’t know, maybe you thought that… There could be something between us, or something.”
“Oh, sure. You think the stupid, boring professor has been drawn in by your puppy-dog eyes?”
“I just meant that… Are you taking the piss?”
Sean opens the passenger door when we stop at a red light. “I think I’ll be fine on my own from here.”
“What? Why?”
“Because as much as this is all pretend, I’m a real person, with real feelings; feelings that you’re trampling over.”
“What the fuck…?”
“And honestly,Frederick…” Hearing Sean say my name like that hurts a hundred times more than hearinghimsay it. “It’s not even worth it.”
He slams the door closed behind him and storms down the pavement, leaving me sitting alone in my car like an idiot. The cars behind me start to beep their horns.
I pull away into O’Connell Street, stunned by what’s just happened, but certain that I don’t want this thing between us to end like that.
19Sean
Igrab another drink and try to swallow down the bitterness of our encounter – but it’s not easy.
I was stupid. The phone call, his voice, the walk back home, his eyes, those evermore frequent smiles…
Yeah. I was falling for it all.
It’s as if I weren’t used to this kind of guy; as if I didn’t know how these things go when you become hooked on a man like that, with the kindest eyes I’ve ever seen. As if I didn’t know what happens when someone like me pines after someone like him.
“So, Mr. Quinn.” Professor Smith makes his way over to me with two of our donors – the donors who made this new library wing possible. They’re philanthropists from two wealthy families hoping to secure their name on a campus bench, or on a plaque on the Language Department building. “I’ve been told you aren’t coming alone tonight…” He winks at me as if we didn’t have the same conversation this morning, before nudging me gently on the shoulder.
I should’ve kept my business to myself.
“Where is your date?” one of the two men asks me. Word travels quickly around here. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
