Page 54 of Avoiding Temptation
Our nighttogether is quiet at best. Joe allows me the space I need to try to process everything, but I fear no amount of time is going to help me figure this out. I want him. I want him like I’ve never wanted anything in my life, but is it enough to give up on the only thing I’ve got left? The only thing I’ve ever really had? He keeps saying that he’ll quit, but I can’t allow that. He deserves this second chance at his education. He deserves to follow his dreams. It’s just all so fucked up, and what I’m running from doesn’t even feature. Whenheshows his face again, and I know he will if he’s gone to the effort of finding me, then shit’s really going to hit the fan.
We don’t finish what we started earlier against the wall. Joe doesn’t even attempt it. Instead, when we fall into his bed, he just pulls me close and falls asleep with his arm locked around my waist and his cock snugly pressed against my arse.
I lie there all night, trying to make sense of everything, but by the time daylight starts to show through the gap in the curtains, I’m no closer to making any kind of decision.
There’s a heavy tension between us as we both get ready for work. Joe knows what’s coming, and I can’t help but think he’s trying to put off the inevitable, hoping that I’ll have forgotten. Sadly, that’s nowhere near the case.
“Can I drop you off?”
“Around the corner, yeah.”
I follow him down to his van, emotion clogging my throat, knowing that our time is passing me by too quickly, but I know I’m doing the right thing.
Neither of us says anything as Joe fights with the rush hour traffic to get me to college, and when we pull up at the curb around the back of the building, we both let out heavy sighs.
“When can I see you again?”
“You’ll be in class Thursday, right?”
“Let me quit. I’ll re-enroll somewhere else. Please, Quinn. It doesn't need to be like this.”
“Just give me a few days. This weekend has been...intense. I’ll see you Thursday, and we’ll talk after.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
I walk away with a heavy heart. I want the promise I made to be true, but really I’ve no idea. My head’s a mess, and as I walk away with his stare making my spine tingle, I fight the need to turn and run back into his arms.
The day drags. Jodi looks like she’s not slept or eaten all weekend, although I don’t spot any more bruises. I’m not stupid enough to believe that they’re not hiding below her clothes. I know she’s been in for a meeting, but she doesn’t say anything or give away that she clearly must know it was me who reported it.
It’s just after lunchtime when Eddie knocks on my classroom door and walks inside with something in his hand.
“Did you have a good weekend?” he asks curiously when he reaches my desk.
Thoughts of my weekend has tears burning the back of my throat. “Y-yeah, thank you. You?”
“Same old, same old. Here, these were just dropped off for you.” His eyebrow lifts as he hands me a set of keys.
“My flat was broken into. I’ve had all the locks redone.”Or Joe has.I try to ignore the feelings that threaten to bubble up, knowing that he’s sorted all of this for me today.
“Oh shit. Everything seemed normal when I popped around on Saturday afternoon. Was anything stolen?”
“Not that I could see, but I didn’t stay there long after I discovered it.” I ignore the fact that he was there, hoping he doesn’t ask where I was.
“Where did you go if you didn’t stay?”
“Oh...uh...a friend’s.” I say it with a wince, because Eddie knows full well that he’s my only friend.
His face hardens. “You know I’m only at the end of the phone if you need anything.” There’s something different in his tone, and I fear he’s already more suspicious about what I’m up to than he should be.
“I do, thank you.”
Thankfully, one of my students puts their hand up to ask a question and our conversation comes to an end before he shows himself out. The last thing I need is Eddie poking his nose in any more and discovering what I’ve really been doing. He found me this job when I needed it the most; I’m sure he could take it away from me just as quickly. He likes to make out that he’s my friend, but a huge part of him isn’t all that different from those I left behind. His reputation is more important than a lot of other things I’d consider much more important. I can only imagine how he’d feel if I were to bring scandal down on his department after he grovelled to employ me.
I’m a nervous wreck as I make the short walk from the tube station to my building later that night. It’s dark and raining too heavily for the fact that I don’t have an umbrella or even a hood on my coat. Water is running down my face by the time I get to the still broken front door. I guess that wasn’t really for Joe to get involved with.
My heart’s in my throat as I climb the stairs.
