Page 9 of On The Run

I could tell Max had so many other questions, but really, we were just strangers, and I was glad he didn’t pry. I quickly checked the time. I had to be on the other side of campus in eight minutes, but I couldn’t leave without knowing why he was here. Oh shit, I really hoped he wasn’t actually a professor. That would just be weird as hell.

“What are you doing here?” I asked super bluntly.Way to go, A. “I mean, do you teach here or something?”

Max barked out a laugh, and fuck, did that do something to my insides. I tried to discreetly adjust my hoodie so that it was covering everything. Everyone knew how little gray sweats hid, and I did not need to pop a boner in front of this man.

“No. God, no. A buddy of mine from college is a professor in the engineering department and he’s doing a lesson on bridges. Somehow, he strong-armed me into talking to his class, since they’re kind of my expertise.”

This man built bridges? Why was that hot? Why was he so fucking perfect? “That’s awesome. So that’s what you do, build bridges?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Well, I’m a civil engineer, but bridges are my passion.”

I had so many questions, but I really needed to go to class. My professor was the type to lock the door exactly at starting time and refuse to let anyone in. “Oh, wow. Sorry to be totally rude, but I really gotta run to my lecture. But I’ll see you and Gray tomorrow?” I asked hopefully. I really did feel like shit that I bailed on the kid, even if I had a good reason.

Max graced me with one of his brilliant smiles, the kind that would be called panty-melting if I were a girl. And fuck, if I wore panties, they’d definitely be melting now.

“We’ll be there. Have a good class, Aiden.”

Fuck. “Thank you. Have a good, um, lecture?”Wow, very smooth, A.

Max just chuckled and nodded goodbye. I hated turning my back on him, but I really did need to hurry. I took off on a run, leaving Max standing there. My mind was already on seeing him again in the morning.

Chapter5

Max

“Are you all right,honey? You seem a little distracted.”

I turned toward my mom, who was sitting on the patio chair next to me, her face full of concern.

“I’m fine, Ma. Just a little tired.” That was what happened when I spent all night thinking about my favorite barista. Ugh, when did I become such a pervert?

Mom narrowed her gaze, clearly not buying it. Of course, she didn’t. Hana Campbell didn’t miss a damn thing. Never had.

Luckily, I was saved by my sister Laura and her wife Jana who came and sat in the two empty seats around our parents’ outdoor kitchen set. On the lawn, Gray was giggling wildly as he chased my sister’s puppy, a German Shepard-Husky mix named Nova.

Laura poured herself a generous glass of sangria from the pitcher and then one for Jana. “What’s Max done now?” she asked conversationally while I sputtered, indignant.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Laura shrugged nonchalantly. Out of the three of us, Laura and I looked the most like our dad. We both took on his coloring and his height and bone structure. Our middle sister, Emily, looked the most like Mom. She was a good six inches shorter than the two of us, a few shades lighter, with dark pin-straight hair. I kept my hair short, but it would be just as curly and wild as Laura’s if I didn’t. Growing up, people used to think that Emily was our stepsister, or just a friend. It used to drive her crazy.

“Nothing, little bro. Just that, Mom has that look on her face that she always does when one of us is up to something.”

I huffed. Laura always brought out my childish side. “I’m not up to anything. I’m just tired and she’s asking about me.”

Mom sighed like she always did when she was over mine and Laura’s dramatics. “Hand me that pitcher, will you, Jana? I think I’m going to need it.”

Jana laughed and pushed the pitcher toward Mom. “I can make you something harder if you’d like, Mama C. I always need a vodka tonic after dealing with these two.”

Now both Laura and I were huffing indignantly while Mom and Jana just laughed at us. Honestly, I thought parents were supposed to pick their children’s side, not their in-law’s.

Though truthfully, I was glad, and I knew Laura was too, that our parents accepted and loved Jana so much. Both of them came from extremely conservative, strict religious backgrounds, yet they accepted their two queer children as easily as they did their heterosexual daughter.

My mom squeezed Jana’s hand affectionately. “I’ll stick to the sangria for now, but I may take you up on that later.”

I rolled my eyes.Honestly. “Can we talk about something else, please?” I groaned.

“Of course, honey. Didn’t you do a guest lecture for Lincoln the other day? How did that go?” Ok, this wasn’t any better of a topic because, of course, my mind went to the adorable man in his threadbare sweats and oversized hoodie. That reminded me. I had to see if I could figure out who was on his sweatshirt. The character looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

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