Page 89 of Don't Date A DILF

“And now he’s teacher’s pet,” he said, “but that doesn’t mean I will be.”

“Will…”

“Can I go already? My mom is waiting out in the parking lot.”

“Yeah, okay,” I said. “Just try giving us a chance, Will. I’ll help you and Toby however you need. If you need more from me, just tell me. All right?”

“Sure,” he said, sounding unconvinced, and headed for the door. I frowned, watching him go. The program wouldn’t work for him unless he chose to let it work. Same as Toby had. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a process I could force. It would take him time to let down his guard and opt in as the other kids had.

I was banking on Toby being a good influence, since he hadn’t wanted to join this program either. I just hoped it didn’t backfire on me. Will was vocal, and the last thing I wanted was for his negativity to drag Toby down.

* * *

HUNTER

I chopped carrots aggressively,hoping to burn off a little frustration before Clark arrived.

Running a focus group was painful. There was always that one guy in the room who had to ask dumbass questions or try to derail the purpose of the meeting to demonstrate he was the smartest guy in the room. Of course, he was never the smartest guy in the room, not that he’d ever believe it.

Today, that guy was Zach Mosley. To make it even worse, we’d been teammates in high school, so he kept smacking my back and expecting me to agree with him. At one point during a break, he’d even had the balls to bring up the gossip about me and Clark.

“I figured it had to be a joke, right?” He’d snorted. “That Clark kid is almost as pretty as a woman, but you’re Hunter Rhodes, all-state champ! You were drowning in pussy in high school, so there’s no way—”

“Let me stop you there,” I’d said firmly. “I am dating Clark. It’s not a joke.”

“Dude.” He’d screwed up his face, a mix of confusion and disgust marring it, though I doubted my expression looked much different. “If you’ve lost some game since the divorce, I get it, but there’s no need to give up.”

I clapped my hands, regaining the attention of the rest of the focus group, which was a cross-section of officials in education, housing, parks, and business in Granville. “Okay, break time is over. Let’s get back to the discussion. Tucker has a few data points he’d like to make you aware of and then you’ll each fill out a private feedback sheet so we know your honest opinions…”

Zach continued to be a pain in the ass until the very end of the meeting, and I’d had to shake him loose with difficulty when it ended. He’d invited me to go out with the guys so they could hook me up with a proper chick. I’d told him, as calmly as I could manage, that meeting women had never been a problem for me, then clapped him on the back a little too hard and wished him luck in his own efforts at finding a girlfriend who lasted longer than Sheila Winters had in high school.

Sheila had dumped him after two dates.

Not my finest moment, but Zach’s comments about Clark and his unwillingness to believe I’d choose a meaningful relationship over a quick hookup with a woman got under my skin. He was the perfect example of why I’d cut ties with most of my high school friends. There were plenty of them still in Granville, and I’d reconnected with a few when I first came home without Toby. But it didn’t take long to realize we had very little in common. Zach, and most of the guys who’d never left Granville, were stuck reliving their glory days. High school was where they’d peaked. But I had moved on to college, then a career in Minneapolis.

Even though I was back now, just another Granvillian, high school felt a million years ago. I didn’t want to relive those days. Besides, once Toby arrived, I was more concerned with being a great dad than how many points I’d once scored in a basketball game. Once I made Toby my priority—namely, not going out to drink and relive the glory days—my old friends had fallen away.

Clark was the one who’d been there when I needed a friend. The one who was supportive of the person I was now, rather than then.

The doorbell rang, and I perked up, a smile hitting my face for the first time in hours.

“I got it!” Toby called.

A few minutes later, Clark walked in, looking adorable in his usual school ensemble of skinny jeans, button-down shirt with a sweater overtop, and a red bowtie. I turned from the counter, took two big strides toward him, and froze.

My intent had been to greet him with a kiss, but Toby was standing right there watching us both. I hesitated an awkward beat then patted Clark on the shoulder.

His lips twitched with amusement, and I felt like an idiot. I’d justpattedhim.

“I’m glad you could make it.” I chuckled, my gaze going to Toby. “Gotta keep up this dating story, right?”

“Right,” Clark said with a nod. “Do you need help with dinner?”

I turned to my pile of haphazardly chopped carrots and rubbed a hand over the back of my head. “I wanted you to relax and enjoy,” I said sheepishly. “But I may have taken some frustration out on the veg.”

Clark peeked around me and laughed. “Well, hey, I’ve had a frustrating day too. Mind if I join in this chopping therapy?”

“Sure, why not? I was going to make a stir-fry. Is that all right?”

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