Page 31 of Don't Date A DILF

Clark was a grown man who had his shit together far more than I ever would, and yet here he was, getting scolded by his grandmother. There was something so sweet and wholesome about that.

He glanced toward the classroom and caught sight of me through the doorway. He held up one finger, in the universal sign to wait a minute.

“We can talk more later, Nana. I have a parent here for a meeting, okay? But I really don’t think another setup is a good idea… Because I don’t. Because it’s uncomfortable!” He groaned theatrically. “Yes, okay, we’ll talk later.”

He lowered the phone and turned toward me.

I winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

He shrugged. “Well, you were at the pub, so…not like you didn’t know already.”

“Your nana feels pretty strongly about setting you up with a date, huh?”

“Unfortunately.”

“My mother hassles me every time we talk too,” I said.

“Must be something in the water,” Clark said with a pout.

Still adorable.

“Yeah, I actually lost my cool at work. Yelled at Tucker about how everyone in this town wants me to date. You know what we should do?”

“What?”

“Go on a date together.” I laughed. “That would shut everyone up.”

Clark’s eyes widened. “I think it would do the opposite.”

“You know what I mean though. Can’t set up a couple of guys who are already dating.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “Genius, right?”

I heard footsteps, then a throat clearing behind me. I turned to see a woman in a pair of dressy slacks and a billowy blouse. “Mr. Fletcher, when you finish here, can I please see you in my office?”

“S-sure,” Clark said. “Give me ten minutes?”

She checked the time on the phone in her hand. “Make it five, if you can. I’ve got a phone meeting.”

The hall echoed as she click-clacked away in heels. “Was that…”

“My boss,” Clark said. “She probably wants to tell me not to date a dad.” He laughed nervously. “It’s kind of a no-no.”

“Oh, is it? Crap. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”

“You Rhodes boys,” Clark said lightly, though it sounded a bit forced. “Always expecting trouble.”

I chuckled. “Too true. Speaking of Rhodes boys, I let Toby know you were considering tutoring. He’s thinking about it. I figured you’d want him to opt in.”

Clark took a breath, seeming to shake off the worry, and squared his shoulders. “Okay, good. Let’s go see what we can do.”

“Thanks, again,” I said. “You really don’t have to help us like this.”

Clark merely shrugged. “I’m doing my job, that’s all.”

But we both knew it was a lie. Clark was going above and beyond for us, and I regretted that I might have made waves with my silly suggestion to date, even if just for show.

I didn’t know what had come over me.

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