Page 120 of Wicked Little Secret
“It would be longer than that, Nyssa,” he says. “You might not be my student anymore after you graduate law school, but we’d still have to exercise caution. If we were to be together right after you graduate…”
“Then people will put two and two together and realize we were messing around before that.”
He picks some crackers to add cheese spread on. “Precisely.Yourreputation wouldn’t recover.”
“Mine?” I ask, my brows rising. I finish the apple slices I’ve been nibbling on and follow his lead, going for the crackers and cheese spread.
“Yes,” he answers. “If we’re being realistic about the situation. I’ve seen this song and dance before.”
“Care to elaborate?”
He sighs, his brows pinched, his expression best described as tormented. “In this kind of society… in this community, I could maybe recover. My family name is enough. My standing is solid enough. But you…”
I laugh as I understand what he means. “You mean I’m a newcomer? Some young Black girl without the fancy family name to protect me?”
“I know these people. How these situations play out,” he says, caressing his hand along my head. “It doesn’t matter that I’m older. ThatIshould get the blame. That I abused my power as a professor and took advantage of a student?—”
“No,” I interrupt, “you’ve never taken advantage of me. I’ve made choices to be with you. I’ve wanted everything we’ve done. If anything, I made a move on you?—”
“Nyssa,” he cuts me off right back. His tone’s hardened,grown more disciplinary. “Listen to me very carefully. If a situation does occur where we are caught—really caught—you will not tell them it was your choice. You will tell them I took advantage of you. I pressured you and used you. It was all me.”
I blink at him. “You want me to throw you under the bus?”
“Yes. If there’s even a chance we can save your reputation and career prospects. I’ll be fine.”
A feeling I can’t describe washes over me and almost makes me want to tear up. An alarming enough turn of events considering I almostnevercry.
Yet here I am, listening to Theron telling me he’ll take the blame, and my eyes are suddenly itchy.
I look away, fighting against the intrusive thought about why I’m feeling this way…
Stay strong.
“Are you ready to come out?” he asks. He rises from the side of the tub and grabs one of his giant bath towels. “How about we get you changed into one of my hoodies and then head downstairs to watch one of these TV shows you’re always bringing up? Atticus also needs some attention. He’s been whining in his bed.”
A small laugh tumbles out of me as I give a nod and stand up in the middle of the bathtub. Water sluices down my naked body, cold air rushing me. Theron’s wrapping me up in the warm, cozy towel not a split second later. He grabs my hand and carefully helps me out. I let him lead me out of the room into his closet with the same intense feeling trapped inside me.
No matter how many times I push back, it returns stronger than before.
They don’t mean anything. None of them do.
Theron does…
“It seems Atty is as enamored with you as Peaches is with me,” Theron says in amusement. We’re huddled close on his sofa, the TV playing the movie we’ve selected for the evening. As soon as Theron put his arm around me and pulled me against his side, his golden retriever stood on his hind legs and dropped his head in my lap.
A soft giggle leaves me as he licks at my hand and peers up adoringly at me like I’m his new stepmom.
I indulge him with plenty of scratches and strokes. “You are such a happy boy, aren’t you, Atticus? Your owner could learn a thing or two from you.”
Theron glares. “Perhaps make sure I’m out of the room before you trash talk me to my dog.”
“Don’t worry,” I whisper to Atticus. “I’ll sneak you an extra snack when he’s not looking.”
“That’s one way to win him over. He’d let burglars rob the entire house if they brought him a milk bone.”
“Very smart. He might as well get something out of it.” I lean back against Theron’s side, watching as Atticus trots back over to fetch a toy from his bed. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. Did you name him Atticus for the reason I think you did?”
“If you’re asking about Atticus Finch fromTo Kill a Mockingbird, then yes. You’d be correct.”