Zander shrugged, because of course he couldn’t come out and say yes. “Sure, if you want.”
“I want.” There was a long list of things I wanted to do with him, but I bit that back. I pointed to a grassy area under a tree. “Should we head over there, Legolas?” I teased, hoping to get a smirk out of him.
“Will you ever let me live that down?”
“I think I deserve some credit for waiting this long, but if you want my honest answer, then no, I won’t. You should get used to it now.”
“You’re an annoying man, Mr. Robinson…”
I whipped my head toward him, laughter trying to break through my chest. “You did not just call me that.” The Graduate jokes?
“I think I did.” Zander sat down, looking too smug and sexy for his own good. “Two can play this game.”
With a lightness in my chest I had no business feeling after the run we just had, I joined him in the grass. The truth was, I enjoyed our banter. It made me feel like Zander was comfortable with me, like he didn’t feel as if he had to hide behind the walls he kept so firmly around himself. He’d let them down our first night, but that had been because he didn’t know me. He didn’t think he would ever see me again, but now that wasn’t the case. “Remind me again why I like you?” I asked as I began to stretch.
“I have a great ass?” he answered, surprising me. Our gazes held, but he didn’t look away.
“One that I can’t have again, but I won’t deny it’s an asset. Especially considering you’re such a brat.”
“Was that a pretty big diss in your day?” He grinned, winked, then bent over, legs spread and chest nearly flat on the grass. Fuck, he was flexible.
My dick twitched. He’s Ross’s friend. I can’t have him. I don’t want to do something that will hurt either of them.
“Why do you want to be a teacher? Not the bullshit, easy answer. Not one you’d give everyone.”
For a moment his eyes darkened, brows pinched together as he bit out, “Don’t ask for much, do you?”
“I can say please. I’m curious about you, Zander. Tell me.”
“Why are you so interested?” There was no anger in his tone, no sarcasm. It was as if he couldn’t imagine why I would want to know more about him, like I must have some ulterior motive. That realization sat heavy in my chest.
“Because I’d like to think we’ve become friends. Don’t friends want to know more about each other?”
“I’m Ross’s friend.”
“You’re not mine too?” I cocked a brow, unhurt by his statement. There wasn’t any heat to it, nothing suggesting he didn’t want to be close to me, just that he couldn’t see why I’d want it.
Zander sighed, bent one leg, stretched again. I wasn’t sure if he was going to tell me, but then he said, “I was a wild kid. My mom used to struggle to keep me under control. I wasn’t bad, just couldn’t settle down. Mom didn’t know something was wrong. At first people just told her I was a troublemaker, that I was quirky and refused to listen, but my third-grade teacher…she was the best. Her name was Ms. Ackerman. She, um…she saw something different in me. She talked to Mom and set it up with the school for me to get tested. Found out I had ADHD. So I wasn’t a troublemaker. I’m just neurodivergent. Things were a little easier for me after that. I was able to get the help I needed, and…”
He picked at a piece of grass. My gaze didn’t leave him, watching, waiting for more.
“I wanted to be like her. I wanted to help kids like me. I’ll never forget her, and I want to be Ms. Ackerman for someone else.” The tips of his ears turned that familiar shade of pink. “Anyway…I’ve had enough talk like that for the next year or so. What about you? Ross said you got a job at a dealership, put yourself through college, and at the same time worked your way up, eventually taking over?”
I wanted more about him, wanted to find all his secret hiding places and for Zander to want to open them for me. Which was ridiculous, considering I’d never desired that with anyone else before. Maybe it was his age. Maybe a part of me really did want to help take care of him because of it. Zander would kick my ass if he knew that, so I replied, “Yep. I’m good at it, though I don’t know why. I know the stereotype of a car salesman.”
“I think it’s because you’re different that it works so well. You’re genuine and honest. People can see that. I’ll also never admit that again.”
“Oh, something else I’ll never let you live down. I’ll add it to my list.” We shared a chuckle before I continued. “Anyway, I started as a janitor, worked my way up to salesman, grew their revenue by crazy numbers. Kept moving up the ladder. Eventually, I was able to buy the dealership, put someone in charge and go to another. Success followed, and I made enough to buy several. I invested, bought condos and that sort of thing. I wanted to make sure Ross was always taken care of.”
“You’re a good dad,” Zander said.
“Even though I want to fuck my son’s best friend?”
“Fucked me, you mean. You fucked me.”
“Yes, I did, but I’m not gonna lie and pretend there’s not a part of me that wishes we could do it again. I won’t, but it’s not for lack of desire.”
“Ugh!” Zander dropped to the grass, lying on his back. “It’s so unfair. You’re a really good lay. I don’t even hook up all that often, and you make me want to do it again.”
Well, that was news. I hadn’t been sure he felt the same draw I did. “You don’t?”
“Nah, I have too many responsibilities as it is. I don’t want to deal with all that as well. I’m not a monk by any means. I have sex, but sparingly, I guess, and that’s as far as it ever goes. I don’t ever plan on doing the boyfriend or serious thing.”
“Because you’re too busy being responsible?”
“Nope, but I don’t know you like that, so I’m not sharing the rest. Don’t take it personally. I don’t know anyone like that.”
We shared another laugh. “I guess I’ll just be grateful I was in the bar that night.”
“You were my graduation reward, Jamie Fraser.”
“Who?”
“Outlander? Holy shit, you need to read those books. He’s the definition of sexy. I mean, you’re all right, but when it comes to Jamie…”
That caught my attention. I leaned closer to him. “Be careful, Mr. Wescott, or I might think you’re flirting with me.”
“Just an observation,” he countered, then changed the subject. “So it’s not your dream? You made a more rational decision and followed the money?”
I clutched my heart. “Ouch.”
“No, no. I didn’t mean it like that. Sometimes I just…I think I should have made a different decision, ya know? It’s not a secret that teacher pay isn’t the best, but I—”
“You followed your heart; that’s what you did. Don’t ever regret that. I admire you for it. That takes courage and…well, heart, I guess. I used to want to be a photographer. I haven’t taken photos on anything but a phone in years.”