Chapter Eight

Odette

“S he sleeps like a rock,” I faintly heard Niko’s’ voice.

“Wake her up?” Aiden responded in a duh tone.

“I tried,” Niko whispered. “She slept through every attempt I made. She didn’t even wake up to my shower’s horrible screeching sound. I even checked for a pulse,” he chuckled.

“Odette,” Aiden said firmly.

I stayed still, falling in and out of sleep.

Footsteps approached, “What are we doing?” Wyatt asked.

Ugh, can’t a girl sleep?

“Turns out Odette is a heavy sleeper,” Niko sounded amused.

“I don’t think she has class until ten today. Let her sleep,” Wyatt dismissed.

It was quiet for some time, which I was grateful for. “How was last night?” I heard Dominic’s quiet voice out of nowhere.

Niko let out a long breath, and I could hear the grin in his tone. “It was delicious.”

Wake up, Odette! Open your eyes and move your body so you can end this conversation! I yelled in my mind.

“Hmm,” Aiden hummed. “Did you happen to see a tattoo on her hip?” He asked, curiosity laced in his question.

Niko scoffed, “You think I was looking at her hips?” He chuckled. “I’m not going to ruin the surprise for you, but wait until you see her pussy.”

Wake. Up.

My three other professors chuckled at their friend’s smugness. I recalled the mesmerized look on his face when he pulled my panties to the side last night and how it melted my insecurities away.

“So... you didn’t see a tattoo?” Aiden asked again.

“No, I would have noticed,” Niko said. “She told you she didn’t have one; why are you so adamant on finding it?” He chuckled.

“She has one, I know she does.”

Sometimes, I caught Aiden staring at strange areas of my body, but I hadn’t thought much of it until now. It wasn’t sexual, lustful looks; he was studying me. I’d caught him staring at the area behind my ears, hands, and any part of exposed skin he might not have seen before. Last night with the flashlight is one of the more apparent happenings. Now I understood. He was trying to find my tattoo.

For some reason, this brought me an immense amount of satisfaction. Aiden knew everything about everyone; it was one of his more egotistical traits. I like that I was making him question himself; it was strangely rewarding.

With my mind finally ready to wake my body up, I slowly peeked my eyes open. The four of them were standing in or around Niko’s doorway, all dressed in work clothes, ready for the day ahead.

I was lying on my side, the blanket up to my ribs, with my arms and chest outside the blanket. I opened my eyes and smirked at Aiden, “I don’t have a tattoo,” I lied, hoping to stir his mind more.

My voice captured their attention, and they all turned to look at me. Dominic and Aiden both shifted their bodies towards me, arms crossed with looks of intrigue. Wyatt looked caught and was slowly inching his way out of Niko’s room, which I thought was utterly adorable. Niko looked relieved, sending me a charming smile as he sat on the bed next to me.

“Well, good morning, Cari?o,” he said playfully. “Would you like to come downstairs and have breakfast with us?” He invited.

It was then that I faintly smelled something deliciously sweet, like pancakes. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, “That sounds wonderful,” I agreed happily. I felt slightly out of place in bed with pajamas on when they’d all clearly been up for a while. “Let me get dressed, and I’ll be down in a sec,” I stood up, the cool hardwood floor sending a chill up my body.

Aiden smirked, a mischievous tilt to his lips that made me shrink, “What?” I questioned defensively, trying not to show how much the simple look intimidated me.

He cocked an eyebrow at me, “Found your tattoo,” he claimed, still only looking into my eyes.

A gasp left my lips, a blush on my cheeks, hating the thin, skimpy tank top. I quickly looked down at myself, moving my hands to my chest to make any adjustments necessary to cover any part of my boob that was exposed.

To my relief and much confusion, there was no part of my breast or tattoo that was exposed. With furrowed eyebrows and a slight pout, I looked back up at Aiden to see him with the most prominent look of satisfaction.

To answer my confusion, he shrugged, “You made it too easy, Babydoll.” He glanced down at my chest for a split second before he winked, “You do have a tattoo, and it’s on your boob,” he said bluntly.

My lips parted, dumbfounded at how easily he cracked me. I crossed my arms over my chest, “You cheated,” I mumbled.

Aiden started walking towards the door to exit with a winning grin, “Don’t lie to me, Odette. It won’t end well for you,” he warned as he left.

That warning has more to unwrap than what’s on the surface. I’m too defeated and hungry to dive into the puzzle that is Aiden right now.

Dominic tilted his head towards the open door next to him, gesturing for me to get ready. I quickly moved my feet, not wanting to spend another second in this outfit.

Dominic’s feet stayed planted where he stood next to the door, making my palms sweat as I passed him. I felt an unfamiliar sting on my ass, making my jaw fall open. I turned to Dominic with wide eyes, gently rubbing my ass cheek that he smacked.

He was much closer to me than I anticipated. His vast body dwarfed mine. His intense gaze that held amusement and challenge made my confidence falter, and I no longer wanted to scold him.

I raised my eyebrows up at him. If he wants to slap my ass, I’m going to allow that. All the momentum I went into the turn with slowly dissipated. The only thing I could think to say was, “Ouch.”

The corners of his lips turned up slightly, “That wasn’t ouch, Darling,” he said lowly. “Now go get ready before I actually give you something to say ouch about,” he smirked.

Never has a threat sounded so inviting. I bit my lip, my lower stomach clenching as I looked up at him dreamily. “Yes, sir,” I half-joked.

Before I turned to go to my room, I caught a glimpse of Dominic looking up at the ceiling, mouthing, ‘Oh my God.’

I stopped myself from giggling at the expression on his handsome face. It was similar to the one I wore when he called me a good girl. I think I found something Dominic likes.

I wore a short black dress with a tan cardigan over it and white slip-on shoes. I braided my hair to the side, trying to make a low-effort outfit look like I had tried.

After getting ready, I made my way downstairs, where the sweet smell only got stronger. Wyatt stood at the stove, flipping a fluffy pancake. My stomach rumbled, but luckily, no one heard it. There was a freshly made stack next to him that I beelined for.

He smiled, “Good morning, Odette,” he greeted politely. His eyes slowly moved down my body, once again giving me whiplash.

Wyatt confuses me. He’s incredibly polite and kind, making me think he’s less intimidating than the others. Then he has these moments of complete and utter dominance where he looks at me like he wants to rip my clothes off. It’s exciting, not knowing which Wyatt I’m going to get.

I smiled, “Good morning. Do you like my dress?” I questioned innocently, knowing for a fact that he most definitely does.

He cocked an eyebrow at me, catching onto my teasing. He returned the innocent smile, “It looks lovely on you,” he complimented. “It’ll look lovely off of you too.”

I raised my eyebrows, feeling butterflies flutter in my belly as he stared down at me.

Wyatt smirked at my silence, my own words backfiring on me. “You have class with Niko today, right?” He questioned, sounding like he already knew. I nodded. He smirked, “Hmm,” he thought. With the same look of false innocence, he wrapped his arm around my lower back, pulling me against him, “Do me a favor?” He started.

My heart was hammering in my chest as I breathed heavily. I nodded, my body completely putty, ready to agree to anything he requested.

He tilted his head down, his lips barely brushing against mine. I closed my eyes, ready for him to kiss me. I craved his lips against mine, but his lips passed mine, leaving that craving unfulfilled. His large hands traveled from my ribs to my hips, slowly moving down my body.

I opened my eyes, looking down as he started to kneel. I sucked in a breath, watching his hands grip my exposed thighs, just where my short dress ended. He hummed lowly, his eyes lingering on my skin that stuck out from between his fingers. He looked up at me, his eyes suddenly much darker than usual.

His eyes stayed locked on mine as his hands moved up under my dress. The rough skin of his hands on the soft skin of my thighs sent a rush of arousal through me. I bit my lip eagerly as his hands moved higher.

I felt his fingertips brush against my clit, outside my panties, and flinched, “O-oh,” I grabbed onto the counter. My cheeks flushed as I blinked slowly at him, “What was the favor?” I reminded him.

Wyatt smirked in satisfaction, moving his hands past my pussy, much to my dismay. He hooked his hands around my panties and slowly pulled them down my legs, making me shiver.

When he got to my feet, he gently lifted my leg up. He kissed my knee, which bent towards him, a surprisingly romantic gesture given the circumstances. I smiled, watching him as he kissed my other knee, skillfully removing my panties.

He stood up, towering over me once again. I watched with wide eyes as he stuffed the pink lace thong into the front pocket of his dress pants. He grabbed a plate and placed two fluffy pancakes onto it, holding it out for me. “Sit in the front row and spread your legs,” his words came out in an order, not a request.

I widened my eyes, “You want me to do that in class?” I repeated, shock taking over my nerves. I was all for teasing them because they were obviously doing the same to me. But showing Niko my pussy in class while he’s lecturing... I don’t know. What if other students notice? I bit my lip, remembering how he was practically drooling at the sight of me last night.

Wyatt nodded nonchalantly as if he didn’t just take my panties and ask that I flash Niko. “Would you rather show him tonight at dinner?” He challenged.

I widened my eyes, “No!” Because I was sure Niko wouldn’t be the only one looking.

Wyatt smirked, “Good,” he ended the conversation. He handed me the plate. “Now, go eat. Everyone is in the dining room,” he instructed.

Walking without my panties on felt strange and naughty. The thought of getting caught without them was nerve-wracking yet exhilarating at the same time.

I sat beside Aiden, spreading jelly on my pancakes as the three spoke about some meeting. “Odette,” Aiden broke me from my thoughts, and I looked at him with a mouth full of pancakes.

“Hm?” I chewed.

“I said we won’t be home until this evening. We have a staff meeting to attend,” he informed. I must have missed it the first time he said it. In my defense, it’s just past seven in the morning, and I had an eventful night, to say the least.

I swallowed my food and gave him a smile, “I think I can manage on my own for a few hours without burning the place down,” I joked.

Niko chuckled, “This house is a tank, Cari?o. I’d be more worried about the house burning you down.”

I smiled, “You’d better knock on wood; I’m notoriously clumsy,” I cringed, remembering the times I’d tripped over air, run into walls with 20/20 vision, or accidentally hit something that made an alarm go off. I couldn’t be trusted.

“I believe it,” Dominic murmured, taking another bite of his pancake.

I sat up straighter, “I can make dinner if you want,” I offered, eager to finally help with something around the house. I keep my belongings clean and tidy. If I make a mess, I clean it right away. Whenever I’ve tried to help with dishes or offered to do their laundry, they tell me they’ve got it.

Niko raised his eyebrows at me, a hesitant expression slowly taking over his features. He glanced between Aiden, Dominic, and myself a few times. The look was gone as he looked at me after a few seconds with a small smile, “We’d love that... but the gas stove can be a little touchy,” he warned as if recalling a past incident.

I shrugged, “I’ll figure it out,” I dismissed. Even if I can’t, I’ll just make sandwiches.

Niko looked surprised, “Alright. We’ll be home around six,” he said.

My phone buzzed, and I looked down at it, seeing a new voicemail notification from an unknown local number.

“My phone never rings out here either, but I always get voicemails,” Aiden explained, looking down at my phone in my lap.

“I’m sure it’s some scam call,” I said quietly, raising my phone to my ear to listen to the message.

“ Hi, my name is Tristan. I’m calling for Odette. My sister, Anna, gave me your number; I guess you’ve been on the same volleyball team for a year. Anyway, I know this might sound strange, but I saw a posting on our school website- we go to the same university; maybe I should have mentioned that first. The posting is for a students v.s. professors volleyball match this weekend. Uh, every ticket to the match goes to some charity, I guess. Anyone can sign up to be on the team until all the spots are filled. I saw that Mr. Wright signed up to play on the professors’ team... he flunked me, so I really want to kick his ass in this game. I’m a setter, so I’m trying to build the perfect team before a bunch of random people sign up. Anna said you’re the best outside hitter she’s seen, so I hope I’ll see your name on the roster. Okay... uh, I’m going to make a few more calls. Bye.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and gave Wyatt a knowing look as he walked into the dining room. I smirked, putting my phone on speaker and playing the message again. The four of my professors looked intrigued, and I even saw Dominic crack a smile when Tristan mentioned his failing grade.

Wyatt looked amused, “You should sign up,” he told me.

“I’m going to.” I gave him a playful look, “You know your team is going to lose, right?” I added.

He chuckled, “Think so?”

I raised my eyebrows, “It sounds like this guy’s building a team, and there are probably more students who have a personal agenda against some of the teachers,” I explained. I was willing to bet that, like Tristan, several other students are dying to spike a ball at a teacher’s head.

Aiden smirked, “Then we should all sign up,” he suggested. “Our team vs. yours,” he challenged.

I accidentally let out a laugh, genuinely amused, “Go ahead,” I shrugged. “You do realize that this is what I do, right?” I grinned. I’ve played volleyball forever, in school, clubs, and camps. I got a scholarship, for God’s sake. I’m not usually one to brag, but volleyball is the one thing I’m exceptionally talented at.

“I’m very aware, Odette,” he nodded. “You might give Niko a run for his money; he also played volleyball for a few years,” he cocked an eyebrow at me.

Niko grinned at me, “I’m also an outside hitter, Cari?o,” he winked. “This should be interesting.”

Just as Wyatt requested this morning, I sat in the front row for Niko’s lecture.

It’d been half an hour since he started teaching, and I hadn’t gotten the courage to spread my legs yet. He kept glancing at me, giving me small looks every few minutes before his eyes wandered around the class again.

When I decided to sit in front rather than my usual seat in the back, his bright smile dimmed the sun.

None of the other students in the class noticed his frequent glances at me; why would they? For all they knew, he looked at me the same way he looked at everyone else in class.

But I knew better. I knew exactly what he was thinking about. Last night, he told me what he would be picturing as he lectured. Unfortunately for me, I was imagining the same thing.

I watched him walk around the room, confidently explaining complicated equations. I bit my lip, having flashbacks to his head between my thighs, his wet tongue swirling around my clit. I craved the feeling of his soft tongue teasing my hole before pushing it into me.

“Alright, for the remainder of the class, I want everyone to work on solving this equation,” he started writing an extended mix of numbers, symbols, and letters on the board. “Remember the tools and methods I’ve shown you and apply them. If you need help, please ask,” he finished.

He gave me another secret look before he sat at his desk directly in front of me. We were only separated by a few short feet of carpet. The desk I occupied had an open front, making this the perfect opportunity to follow through with Wyatt’s request. No one in class would be able to see, as they were all behind me.

After I wrote the equation down, I nervously placed the end of my pencil between my lips. I glanced up at Niko, seeing him writing on a piece of paper at his desk. I looked down at the equation I wrote down, slowly spreading my legs.

The cold hit me like a freight train, and I shivered. My earlier recollection and dirty thoughts of last night made a slight tsunami between my thighs. Honestly, after years of feeling absolutely nothing, it was a relief and incredibly refreshing to feel. I never expected myself to feel so effortlessly aroused as often as I was around my professors. It was both a blessing and a curse.

My heart hammered in my chest, knowing how wrong and downright inappropriate this was. I was surprised that a part of me loved the mischievousness and the risk. There was a chance Niko wouldn’t even look up and notice my pussy on full display for him.

A few long minutes passed by as I worked on the problem. I felt watching eyes that lit my skin on fire, and I knew exactly who was watching me.

I slowly looked up through my eyelashes, nervous to see his reaction.

I was stunned to see the same hungry, mesmerized expression he wore last night. His eyes looked darker, clouded over and entranced. His lips were slightly parted, making me want to suck his lower lip. The pen in his hands looked frail, ready to snap under his grip.

I shifted my legs, breaking him out of his trance. He lustfully looked at my face, a prominent warning behind his eyes. I liked that I had this effect on him: I could scramble his mind and turn him on so easily. It was only fair; he and his three friends had the same impact on me.

I crossed my legs, covering myself from his view again, having gotten the reaction I wanted. He pushed his eyebrows together, “Class dismissed,” he called into the open, not standing up from his chair.

Students started leaving the classroom eagerly, happy to be dismissed early. I slowly began to stand, gathering my books and notes. The entire time I stuffed my bag with my belongings, I felt his eyes burning my skin.

“Not you,” he said firmly as the last student left the class, leaving us in the big room.

Niko was leaning back in his desk chair, his elbow resting on the armrest, his hand holding his face by his jaw. He watched me like a hawk, ready to strike at any minute.

I turned towards him. “Yes?” I questioned, pleading innocence and pretending I didn’t know what I had done.

With his free hand, he curled his finger at me, beckoning me to him, “Come sit on my desk,” he ordered. At my hesitation, he added, “ Now,” in such a stern tone I barely recognized it as his own.

I quickly moved my legs, walked over to his wooden desk, and gently sat on the corner, making sure to keep my distance from him and my legs together.

He raised an eyebrow, not impressed with my choice to sit as far away from him as possible while still following his orders. In a swift movement, he placed his hand on the side of my ass, pushing my whole body across his desk effortlessly. I gasped as my ass slid across the wood surface, placing me directly in front of him. “That’s better,” he mumbled.

His eyes yes dropped down to my closed thighs. He smirked at me, “Are you going to play shy, Odette?” He questioned. “Or are you going to spread your legs for me?”

I nervously bit my lip, turning around and looking at the unlocked door to the classroom—the door that students, teachers, and anyone else on campus could enter at any moment.

I flinched, turning back around quickly, feeling a harsh slap on my thigh. Niko narrowed his at me, “Spread them, or I will,” he warned, obviously not having the same concerns I was.

Deciding I didn’t want to push my luck, I slowly opened my legs, giving his greedy eyes precisely what they wanted. “When’s your next class?” I whispered.

His hands traveled up my legs, pushing the dress up my thighs, over my ass, leaving it bunched up at my hips. “Whenever I’m done with you,” he answered.

I widened my eyes, my heart pounding in my chest as his middle finger ran up and down my slick slit a few times. “Niko,” I warned breathlessly.

This definitely wasn’t allowed.

He smirked, grabbed my ankle, and placed my leg over his shoulder. “You’re the one who wanted to act like a little slut, showing me your pussy while I’m teaching,” he pushed his finger into me, and I let out a moan at the intrusion. “Now, be a good girl for me and stay quiet,” he ordered.

A fire ignited somewhere deep in me as he pumped his finger into me. I placed my hand over my mouth, stopping the desperate whimpers that spilled. I never thought I would like having something in me, not like this.

He hummed in pleasure, practically drooling as he watched my pussy. “Fuck, you’re so tight,” he husked. “Look, Odette. Look how tight your little pussy is squeezing my finger,” he chuckled evilly.

I blushed but had a hard time looking away from his face. He seemed so entranced, and although he wasn’t getting any pleasure himself, he was almost enjoying this as much as I was.

Niko pressed the pad of his thumb on my clit, the shockwave of pleasure causing a moan to escape from my hand. “So sensitive,” he circled his thumb, making my leg flinch. He hummed in pleasure, watching as my arousal dripped down his hand, “I can’t wait to overstimulate this pretty little clit,” he suddenly leaned his face lower, replacing his thumb with his tongue.

My eyes rolled back, and I pressed my hand firmer on my mouth. It didn’t help much to muffle the string of moans that escaped me, not with his finger fucking me and his tongue expertly flicking my clit.

His free hand wrapped around my lower back and pulled me roughly. My ass was practically hanging off the edge of his desk as he shoved my pussy closer to his mouth. He groaned, pulling his face away and moving his finger faster. “I could eat this fucking pussy all day,” he licked his lips. Without warning, he started sucking my clit again, flicking it with his tongue.

I moaned lowly, my head too clouded with lust to care if anyone heard us now. I removed my hand from my mouth and tangled it in his hair. Both of us moaned, equally clouded by the moment to care about people passing in the hall.

His finger started viciously fucking into me as he sped up his tongue flicking. My mouth fell open, “Niko,” I moaned, “It’s too much.”

His eyes looked up, meeting mine. “I know,” he dismissed. “Cum all over my hand,” he urged. He curled his finger in me, making my thighs try to close. He chuckled, “Ah, ah, ah, Cari?o, you keep those fucking legs open,” he slapped my thigh.

I covered my mouth again as I came. Whimperes and moans filled the room as I struggled to keep quiet. He continued curling his finger as I came, and my leg over his shoulder started to shake from the intensity.

“That’s a good girl, you look so pretty when you cum,” he praised. I pressed my lips together, quieting my whimpers. Niko smirked, “Awe, look at the mess you made,” he teased, pulling his finger out of me, leaving a slick string between my pussy and his finger.

He smirked, raising his finger to my lips, “Lick my finger clean,” he ordered. “Then thank me,” he added with a challenging grin.

I licked the tip of his finger, tasting myself on him. He looked intrigued as he watched me, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. I didn’t look away from his eyes as I leaned forward, wrapping my lips around his finger. I swirled my tongue around his finger and sucked on it, hopefully making his dick jealous.

I pulled away from him once his hand was clean from my cum. I gave him an innocent smile, “Thank you,” I said quietly.

He stood up from his chair, never looking away from me, as he reached into his front pocket and pulled out my panties that Wyatt had stolen this morning. “Your reward for listening,” he claimed.

I raised my eyebrows, realizing this had been planned since Wyatt took them off me. Wyatt must have passed my panties off to Niko and told him what he asked me to do. It was a test to see if I’d actually do it.

I stood up, my legs slightly wobbly from the orgasm and pulsing between my legs. “And if I wouldn’t have listened?” I questioned, taking my panties from him and sliding them on. I adjusted my dress back to its original position. My flushed face was the only indicator between us that something had happened.

Niko tilted his head, “What’s the opposite of a reward?” He hinted.

I got flashbacks to my childhood. Whenever I stepped a toe out of line or did something I shouldn’t have, my father would take something away from me. Sometimes, it was a toy; other times, it was a meal or freedom to play in the garden. When I got older, it was my car, phone, pillows, blankets, or the freedom to leave my bedroom. Once, when all the cooks were on vacation for a week, and I got home five minutes late due to traffic, he locked the fridge and pantry. He would say, if you want to live in my house and eat my food, you will do exactly as I say. I won’t tolerate any disobedience.

I blinked at Niko, “Are you going to take something away?” I asked, not knowing any other answer. The opposite of reward was having something taken.

Niko pushed his eyebrows together, looking confused by my answer. “No... no, we wouldn’t take anything from you?” He said more as a question. “Why do you think we’d take your stuff?” He asked.

I shrugged, not understanding his confusion. That was what happened when people didn’t listen? “That’s the opposite of reward, isn’t it?”

Niko shook his head, “No. The word I was looking for is punishment,” he said. He tilted his head at me, “Has someone taken things away from you before?” He pushed, a stern look on his face.

I got the overwhelming feeling that having things taken away was not an appropriate punishment. It was something that I hadn’t even questioned until now. Seeing the concerned expression on his face told me all I needed to know. I didn’t want Niko to pity my childhood or know of any of the horrible things Charles had done. I gave him a small smile, holding his hand in mine to ease his concern. “No, it was just the first thing I thought of,” I lied.

He didn’t look convinced but didn’t push it as he nodded. He pulled my body flush against his and kissed me softly. The kiss melted all my worries away and flooded my mind with butterflies.

We heard footsteps in the hall, and I quickly moved away from him, putting a safe distance between us. A group of students walked in, barely glancing at us as they took their seats.

I blushed, widening my eyes at Niko. That was close. A few minutes earlier, they would have caught us with Niko’s head buried between my thighs. I pressed my lips together. “Okay...” I shuffled backward, not knowing how to act. “Thanks for the lesson?” I cringed, and Niko smirked at me, amused at my awkwardness. “I’ll see you at home,” I whispered the last part.

“It was my pleasure,” he grinned, sending me a sneaky wink as I left the classroom, still tingly between my legs.

“Stop judging! I don’t see you trying to make pasta on this darn flamethrower!” I stressed at Cat, who was sitting on the floor a few feet away from me, just watching. I’d been home for a couple of hours now and decided to try making chicken fettuccine for dinner. But the gas stove kept making a flame that was a foot high every time I tried to turn it on.

Niko said it was touchy, not deadly. I was going to burn this place down! How did they manage to cook anything? I’d seen them cook with a low flame many times. How the hell did they manage to do that?! I didn’t want to give up because I really wanted to make them something they’d like. But I also wanted to live.

“Hello?” The front door opened, and I heard a man’s voice, which I didn’t recognize.

I froze, fear taking over me as I stared at Cat, who didn’t care about the intruder at all. My professors shouldn’t be back for another hour, and I was all alone with the worst guard cat ever. No one should be this far out from town unless they had a purpose to be here.

“Did one of y’all get a new fancy-shmancy car?” The man called again, followed by a chuckle. His accent wasn’t exactly southern, but I could tell there was some kind of twang in there.

I grabbed a pair of tongs that I got out to mix the pasta and turn the chicken and slowly walked to the kitchen door. Just as I reached to open the door, it swung open in the opposite direction.

I shrieked, seeing an older man with gray hair. He was slightly heavier and in rugged overalls that had stains all over them.

The man looked just as surprised as me as he stepped a few feet back. He widened his eyes, “Well, I’ll be damned. What are you doin’, sneaking up on me like that,” he took a breath, setting down a vacuum I didn’t realize he was holding.

I held out the tongs in his direction, warning him to stay back. “Who are you?” I questioned, my voice slightly shaken from my scare.

“Sugar, all the knives and shit they got in that kitchen, and you choose meat grabbers?” He chuckled. “What would you have done if I was some lunatic, click ‘em at me?” He shook his head.

I blinked a few times, slowly lowering the pathetic choice of defense I grabbed, “I don’t know! I grabbed the closest thing to me,” I explained.

“Didn’t your mama or daddy ever teach you how to throw a punch?” he asked as if it were surprising to him.

“No!” I shook my head, pushing my eyebrows together. This was the strangest experience I’d ever had.

He rolled his eyes, turning his body, “Crash course, little lady, pay attention,” he started, and my mouth dropped open. He balled his fist, “Alright, remember when you throw a punch, keep your thumb on the outside of your first, or you’ll break it,” he informed. He parted his leg, “All your power comes from this here leg, got it? So you’ll want to step into it and swing like hell,” he gave me a quick nod.

I stood there stunned for several seconds, replaying the last two minutes over in my mind. “Who are you?” I repeated again, this time my voice less scared and more confused.

He held his hand out to me, “Pardon my manners, little lady. My name is Chester. Chester Wright.”

My shoulders relaxed, and I realized the horrible misunderstanding I’d made. Wright, this must be Wyatt’s dad.

He raised his eyebrows, “And who might you be?” He prompted.

I slowly reached out and shook his hand, “Odette. Your Wyatt’s father?” I confirmed.

He smiled brightly. “That’s right, that’s my boy,” he said proudly. “I borrowed his shop vacuum; I was just dropping it off,” he explained. He glanced down at my hand that he still held. What kind of handshake is that? Girl, you better give me a firm one. Didn’t your daddy ever teach you how to give a firm handshake?”

I raised my eyebrows and squeezed his hand, holding mine firmer.

He nodded, “That’s better,” he let go.

I’d never met anyone like Chester before. He was direct yet polite and very unfiltered. I’d never noticed Wyatt’s accent before, but Chester seems to be from the Deep South.

He put his hands in the front pockets of his overalls, “I’ve never met one of their lady friends before; they keep real private,” he said suddenly.

Their? So... Wyatt’s dad knew that they like to share? That was strange. “Oh, I’m not- I mean, not really,” I struggled to get the words out. I wasn’t ready for labels, and I was sure Wyatt wouldn’t appreciate me telling his dad our business.

Chester chuckled, “You don’t gotta lie to me, sugar. Them boys have been dating the same girls since they were in middle school.” He picked up the vacuum and walked past me into the kitten.

I paused for a second before I followed him in, “Really?” I let the curiosity get the best of me.

Chester nodded, making a strained sound as he set the vacuum in a storage closet. “Oh yeah, they tried to be sneaky about it, of course. But teenagers are stupid, and Wyatt never could keep a secret from me,” he said nonchalantly.

I smiled. “And you allowed that?” I asked. My father would have disowned me—literally.

Chester stood back up and gave me a questioning look, “What do you reckon I should’ve done with him?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know. A lot of parents would have been... less than pleased.”

Chester smiled, “Not this old man.” He glanced around the kitchen, “My boys done a damn good job at everything he’s ever done. His friends are good kids too, and I’m happy that they’ve got each other,” he nodded quickly.

I smiled, wishing that somewhere, at some point, my father was telling someone about how proud he was of me. But I knew that he’d never do that. “Well, you did a good job raising him,” I said honestly.

Chester grinned, “I’ve gotta give some credit to his mama, but yes, I did,” he joked. He glanced at the unopened ingredients on the counter. “What are you makin’?” He asked.

I ran my hand through my hair, “I’m trying to make fettuccine, but the stove keeps igniting a flame a foot high. Even if I quickly switch the gauge to a lower setting, it stays lit,” I explained. Having someone else to vent to besides Cat is refreshing. I’d been fighting with the stove for half an hour.

Chester walked over to the stove and tried it himself, quickly turning it off when he saw the high flame. “It looks like the gas might be too loose,” he diagnosed. He started walking to the door. “I’ve got my tools in my truck. Let me take a look at it,” he stated.

I widened my eyes, “You don’t have to do that, Mr. Wright-”

“Happy to do it,” he dismissed. “And call me Pops, Sugar. My sons got the degree, I just work on cars,” he smiled, exiting the kitchen.

Was this what it was like to have a good dad?

I laughed, taking another sip of the beer Chester offered me. We’d been talking for hours, and I absolutely adored him. I mentioned not liking beer, and he insisted that it was because I was drinking it wrong. Truthfully, I’d only ever smelled beer and always hated the scent. He cut up some limes, and we plopped them into the glass with our thumbs.

I was on my third beer and feeling slightly tipsy. Chester was showing me old photos of Wyatt and my other professors when they were younger.

He fixed the stove and even looked at the hot water heater after I mentioned our freezing water situation. He screwed a few valves, and messed with it for a few minutes, and said we should have more hot water now. He even helped me make dinner.

Wyatt was fortunate to have had such an amazing dad, and I was jealous.

“Wait, wait, so he went to school without clothes on?” I repeated, looking at the picture of Wyatt in nothing but his panties with a huge grin and an unamused teacher standing next to him.

Chester nodded, “Sure did! Of course, I didn’t send him out of the house like that. His mama would have beat us both,” he chuckled. “He stripped down to his tighty-whities, so he wouldn’t have to go outside in the cold for recess. That boy always had his head in a book,” he said.

I smiled, “Then it looks like he’s in the right profession,” I claimed.

“Pops?” I heard the front door open, followed by footsteps. “Where are you at?” Wyatt called.

“In the kitchen with some pretty young lady!” Chester called back, chuckling at his own teasing.

Wyatt opened the kitchen door, followed by the rest of my professors. He smiled at his dad, and Chester stood up to hug him. “Hey, what are you doing here?” he asked. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

Chester patted his back, pulling away from him. “You know me. I didn’t want you to go out of your way to make some fancy dinner for me like you usually do. I was just dropping off your shop vacuum; it works real good on car seats,” he nodded.

Chester turned to the other three men and grinned, “Hey boys, how’ve y’all been?” He gave them each a handshake.

Aiden grinned, “We’ve been doing just fine, Chester. How’s the shop?” He asked.

Dominic stood next to me, wrapping his hand around my hip and pulling me into his side. I smiled at him as Chester started talking about his auto shop. “He’s really nice,” I whispered.

Dominic nodded, agreeing. “Dinner smells good,” he complimented.

My chest filled with warmth, “Really?” I beamed up at him, softly giggling.

The corner of his lips lifted in an amused smile, “How many of these have you had?” He asked, grabbing my beer and taking a drink out of it.

“A few,” I raised my eyebrows.

“I see you’ve already met Odette,” Aiden said, capturing my attention.

Chester grinned, “She tried to assault me with meat grabbers, but other than that, she’s a dime,” he winked at me.

It felt like it was so long ago. Chester wouldn’t hurt a fly—I know that now. It seemed silly to think he would harm me. I chuckled. “You snuck up on me,” I defended.

Wyatt looked between the two of us and smiled, “You staying for dinner, Pops?” He asked.

Chester shook his head and held his hands up, “Oh no, your mama put a casserole in the oven this mornin’. I’m sure it’s about ready by now,” he nodded.

Chester looked at me, “Walk me out, Sugar. I wanna talk to you,” he started walking out the door.

I widened my eyes. Oh no. What did I do? My palms got sweaty as I stepped away from Dominic. “What does he want?” I whispered to Wyatt, trying not to panic.

Wyatt chuckled and shrugged, “Don’t be nervous,” he said, amused. “Go find out,” he gestured to the door.

I caught up with Chester, standing next to him on the porch.

He gave me a pointed look. “I ain’t seen those boys look so happy in a long time. I know it’s because of you, so don’t pretend it ain’t,” he said before I could argue. I smiled. “Don’t go breakin’ my boys’ heart, little lady; I saw how he looked atcha when he walked through the door,” he said.

My heart skipped a beat. How did he look at me? I nodded, not knowing what else to say.

He smiled, handing me a business card with his phone number, “If anything else breaks, you give pops a call, and I’ll be right over to fix it for ya, alright?” He said.

I smiled, his words filling my eyes with tears out of nowhere. It was a kind offer, and something about it simultaneously broke and fixed something inside me. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, “Thank you,” I said softly.

He patted my back a few times, and I let go, blinking away any tears before they fell. Woman up, Odette.

He smiled, “You’re very welcome,” he nodded once before he walked down to his truck and drove away.