• • •

Brad blew the smoke away from me, shoving one of his hands in his pocket, "I would say they're usually not like this, but then I'd be lying."

I laughed, but decided not to comment on what he'd said. They were still his family and I wouldn't talk shit about them to him.

I'd just wait until later to talk shit with Jaxon.

"I know you don't smoke by the way." He continued, "I was just tying to give you a breather."

"How generous of you."

He nodded, "So Jaxon seems to like you. We've only met one other girl before."

I wasn't sure where he was going by telling me that, so I asked, "Did your family kill her and cover it up?"

He must've been talking about the girl from college since I'm sure it couldn't have been the other escort.

Brad only smiled slightly, "No, she's still around."

I'd already seen what he meant by his family beating around the bush, but it was becoming more prominent the longer I was around them.

He was quiet as he pulled from his cigarette glancing out at the street, "Forgive me if this comes across as rude, but are you really an escort?"

"Do you ask everyone you smoke cigarettes with are they an escort?"

"Only the women my brother brings to lunch."

Okay so maybe I didn't like Brad.

Sighing, I moved the hair that the wind had blown into my face and turned to go back inside.

When I sat back at the table everyone was quiet, Jaxon keeping his eyes on the food in front of him.

He looked irritated so I rested my hand on his thigh, stroking it slowly with my thumb so he'd calm down.

Brad eventually returned, continuing to eat his food as if nothing happened.

We were seated near the back, away from everyone, so it caught me off guard when I heard my name.

"Kyser!" A girl from my English class last semester called.

Why is she not at school?

"Hey." I greeted with a fake smile, recognizing the other 2 people she was with as also being in our class.

The rest of the table, save for Jaxon, looked towards them curiously, wondering who they were.

Quickly removing my hand from Jaxon's leg, I watched as they came closer.

"Hi Mr. Carter." She said while batting her lashes at him.

Girl....

He smiled politely but otherwise said nothing.

Their eyes went around the table, the question they wanted to ask burning in them.

"I didn't know you hung out with the professor Kyser." One girl said with a small smirk.

We never got along really. She was one of those 'this is my seat' people. Like girl, I'll sit on top of your damn head if I want to.

"I don't really." I replied while trying to think of a lie.

This situation posed a dilemma I'd long forgotten about since Jaxon and I hardly ever went anywhere during the day, and if we did, it was far enough to not run into anyone we knew.

"He just happens to be my boyfriend's brother."

"You're dating his brother?" She asked with a fake smile.

His parents watched us with confusion on their faces as I introduced my former classmates to his brother.

As my boyfriend.

When they finally left, Cheyenne smirked, "So you were his student."

It wasn't a question, but rather a statement, that needed no response.

Garrett sighed, "Jaxon when are you going to stop thinking with your dick? You do realize if this gets out, you'll lose your job, right?"

Our school had a strict policy against professor/student fraternization. So if someone were to find out about our relationship, my grades would be questioned, but Jaxon would lose his job.

It begged the question of why we were even out in public knowing this.

Melissa was more focused on my age still, "So you're around 20?" She asked, basing her guess off the fact that I was in community college.

"Yes." I replied, not even attempting to hide my annoyance, "I'm 20."

She didn't seem to care, looking back to Jaxon, "You should be ashamed."

He stood up abruptly, "I'm done with this shit."

He curses at his parents? Well then.

"It was nice meeting you Kyser." Brad said as he took a bite of his bread, "I'm honored to have been your boyfriend for five minutes."

Cheyenne snickered, "See you around."

No you won't.

As we exited the restaurant and walked towards his car, we didn't notice that the girl from class had stepped outside to take a phone call.

• • •

He was quiet the entire drive home, his irritation once again shining through, "I shouldn't have taken you there. I apologize."

The lunch wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be, so I replied, "You're fine."

As my mind replayed the events I thought back to his mother telling him he should be ashamed after finding out my age.

I then thought of the look of anger when Heidi found out my age.

"Why do people get angry at you when they find out I'm 20?"

His arm flexed as he gripped the steering wheel tighter, "People?"

I explained to him what happened at Ava's new year's party, watching the slightest bit of anger show on his face.

There was silence as he continued to drive, finally looking at me when we came to a stop light, "My mom watched the video so she thinks she knows what it looks like. She likely feels you're too young to know what you're signing up for, hence the reason she said I should be ashamed."

His explanation made sense, "And Heidi?"

"Heidi may very well be trying to sow seeds of doubt so that you'll be hers."

"I thought you guys were friends?"

"As I've said before, friend is loose term for me."

I didn't know if I believed him, but I wanted to.

So I did.

________

thanks for reading 💕