Page 20 of Falling for Roxanne

“I’m fine. I’ll quit looking at her. I just—you know what? You’re right. I think I’ll grab a bottle of water. Want one?”

“Sure,” he said.

I came back with a couple bottles of water and about that time, Drake started talking about how he and Carla were binging the latest season of Yellowstone and how he wanted to head home, so he didn’t miss out on their snuggle time in front of the TV.

“Snuggle time?” Rick said, a scoff clear in his voice.

“Yeah, you’re lonely and bitter, whatever,” Kyle quipped. “I wouldn’t mind heading out myself. I have a woman who loves me, and I’m not keeping her waiting any longer.”

He tossed some bills on the table and walked out, trailing after Drake.

“You’re next,” Aaron said to me.

“What? Colin’s at my sister’s tonight. I’ve got nobody waiting on me,” I protested the implication.

“I mean you’re the next to fall. There’s only three of us still standing at this point, and you’ve been checking out the view across the bar like a man who doesn’t want to go home alone,” he pointed out.

“Spending the night with someone is not the same as giving up bachelorhood. Not that I’m spending the night with anyone here. Not even considering it, by the way. I have—”

“Needs? Wants? A shriveled-up dick ready to fall off?” Aaron supplied.

“Rules?” Rick put in.

He was making it clear that he figured my rules were about as impressive as Kyle’s and Drake’s had been. I’d trust Kyle and Drake with my life, and I knew neither of them had done anything suspect or objectionable. That they had the full consent of and commitment to their wives, no matter what circumstances they’d met under.

On paper, it might have seemed questionable, since both of my friends got involved with women who were students in their graduate level courses. But in real life, I knew both women as well as my longtime friends, and anyone who thought that a professor or anyone else could take advantage of Mindy or Carla had another thing coming. Mindy would roll her eyes and walk away, and Carla might shank someone who harassed her considering her background. I chuckled at the thought.

“You realize that consenting adults make their own choices,” I said, “and neither of those guys, our friends, would threaten any consequences if they were turned down by a woman. They’re honorable men, and there’s no reason to talk crap about them in front of me. I won’t sit here and listen.”

“I literally said the word ‘rules’. Who’s talking crap?” Rick asked, insulted.

“You implied that their rules were broken or bent when they—”

“I didn’t imply anything, man. Take it easy. I’m on their side, and on your side. Always. We’re bros, even if some of us chose the old ball and chain.”

“Yeah, where’s the guilty conscience coming from?” Aaron asked. “No one’s attacking Kyle and Drake, and nobody’s attacking you either. We’re just hanging out, having some beers.”

“I guess I’m sensitive about the subject of getting involved with a student. It caught me off guard, seeing Roxanne outside of class or the office. It set me off balance.”

“Maybe because two of your close friends have married their former students, and you gave more consideration to the possibility than you’d like to admit,” Rick said. “Which isn’t a judgmental comment, by the way, before you take my head off. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t looked twice where I wouldn’t have before, because two guys I respect found a way to cross that line without being inappropriate. So the idea’s in my head now. That it’s possible.”

“Same,” Aaron admitted.

CHAPTER 12

ROXANNE

“Stop it. You keep checking the time on your phone. I know what you’re thinking. ‘Oh if I leave now I can still work on my project that isn’t due for three more weeks,’” Cathy said. “Live a little. We cannot burn ourselves out when we’re this close to the finish line. We need a little R&RF.”

“You mean R&R,” I corrected with an eye roll.

“No. I mean R&RF. Rest and recreational fucking.”

“Cath,” I snorted, “stop. I just,” I stopped and wiped my face with a napkin, “I almost did a spit-take.”

“Not my fault. You know better than to take a drink when I’m being hilarious. You want a sip that bad, it’s your funeral,” she shrugged.

“Funny and humble. Why haven’t you been snapped up by some lucky guy?” I laughed.

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