Page 61 of Teacher's Pet
He opened the passenger door, and I slid in. His car was a wreck, fast-food bags spilling over the console.
Jesus. One week without me, and he already looked like this?
In class, he’d been different. Colder. Distant. I’d told myself I didn’t notice.
He leaned in, buckling my seatbelt before shutting the door. I slouched low, stealing glances at him as he rounded to the driver’s side.
Was he even okay to drive?
We rolled out, his hands steady on the wheel, but after a few long, empty roads, he pulled over near a dark park and killed the engine.
“What?” I asked quietly.
He leaned into the steering wheel for a moment. “I’m drunk.” The words were low, like admitting them cost something. “I shouldn’t have come.”
“Then why did you?”
No answer. Just the soft creak of his seat as he leaned back.
I unbuckled my belt and edged closer. “I thought you hated me… after—”
I let it hang, staring down at my hands.
“I don’t hate you, Ryan.” His voice was softer, but tired. “You’re my student and—”
“That’s it? That’s the only thing in the way? A title? That’s your moral line?”
He exhaled through his nose. “I hardly know you. Every time I think I’ve got a sense of you, you do something and it’s…” He shook his head.
“You know me more than most,” I murmured.
He gave a humorless huff. “Is that really saying much? You seem like a different person every time I talk to you.”
The words caught me off guard. My jaw tightened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” he said too quickly. “I’m just drunk.”
“No. Tell me. You’ve been holding onto that for a while.”
His gaze slid away. “You know you ruined my marriage, right?”
I didn’t look away. “Yeah.”
“I’m mad. Waking up like that… naked… I can’t stop thinking about it. I have this idea that you drugged me.” His voice cracked, sharp with anger before falling quieter. “That kind of thing isn’t okay, Ryan. It makes me think you need consequences,real ones,but I also know you’re a child…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
“I’m not a child,” I snapped. “I’m twenty-three.”
He turned then, pressing a finger to my mouth. “Please, Ryan. Just listen.”
“You’re not a child,” he said, voice low, “but you’re young. And it’s obvious in the way you act.”
I stayed quiet, leaning forward just enough to drag my tongue along his finger. For a split second, his eyes locked on my mouth before he pulled away.
“I want to help you, Ryan. I do. And what I said about you… it wasn’t fair. It was cruel, and I meant it to hurt you.” His jaw flexed. “But the truth is…”
He turned toward me. “My marriage wasn’t explosive. It just… never felt like the movies said it should. I thought that was normal, fine enough.” He leaned back, eyes closing for a moment. “Everything in my life has been easy. Forgiving her for cheating was easy. My job is easy. But you? You’re not easy. You’re a puzzle piece I can’t place, and I keep trying to mold you to fit. But you’re also young, and you deserve something more….”
The words settled on my chest like a boulder.
