Class Act: A Coach/Student Romance
Class Act: Chapter 24

IT WAS TOUGH AS hell enduring breakfast with Teresa playing the dutiful wife. I felt like an outsider, and her entire personality seemed to shift whenever she addressed me. Sometimes I caught her watching me, and I swore she knew what was going on between Abe and me.

After breakfast, I offered to do the dishes, and while Abe and Mandy disappeared, she stayed in the kitchen with me.

“I’m sorry my offer seemed to have come across as me foisting you on one of my clients. I didn’t realize I was coming on so strong,” she said. “I attribute it to how persistent I have to be in the courtroom, but I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Don’t worry about it. Abe helped me realize I was out of line making that suggestion, and I hope you can forgive me.”

What could I say to that other than I forgave her? “Sure. It’s okay.” She left me to finish the dishes, not even offering to help me. But deep down, I was glad. Anything to avoid being around her. After I’d dried the last cup, I hurried to the den, where Mandy and Abe were watching TV, since the one in the living room was still busted. He wouldn’t be able to get a new one until tomorrow, and I might have been the little devil in Mandy’s ear, whispering that a new episode of a show we were both obsessed with on Netflix was out.

I took a seat on his left while Mandy was on his right. Like I’d known he would, Abe handed us the remote, but instead of leaving, he’d remained sitting on the couch, right in the center.

Despite not having a clue what was happening in the over-the-top drama show, he watched in amusement, and I felt a lot better about everything that had happened this morning.

“Break!” Mandy paused the television and surged to her feet. “I need to use the bathroom. Nobody resumes the show without me.”

“Or else what?” I challenged.

“Don’t you dare, Emery!”

I laughed as she hurried from the den. As soon as the door closed, I was on Abe, my legs over his waist and my mouth on his. He shoved his big hands under the waistband of my shorts—brand-new shorts his wife had loaned me—and squeezed my cheeks.

“Damn. No underwear?” he murmured against my lips. “If we had five minutes…”

“What would you do?”

“Make you get it wet with your spit and then sit on it.”

My mouth fell open. “Abe.”

Footsteps approached, and I scrambled off his lap and as far away on the other side of the sofa as possible. Abe grabbed a cushion and placed it on his lap to hide his erection.

“Look who’s joining us.” Mandy walked into the den, Teresa right behind her. “Now we’re all here.”

“I should go,” Abe said, but before he could get up, Teresa plopped her ass down onto the cushion in his lap and wiggled around to get comfortable. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

My heart pounded in my chest, and I tore my eyes away from them. Mandy smiled at the display of affection—like a little girl who’d begged Santa to get her parents back together. Christmas had come early for her this year. She might be damned pleased, but I was seething.

“Emery and I can finish watching this another time,” Mandy said and changed the channel to a romantic movie. “This should be cute to watch.”

She prattled on, but I wasn’t paying attention. The sight of Teresa in her husband’s lap made me angry with Abe too. Why was he taking so long to tell Mandy the truth? She was getting her hopes up again that her parents would work out their differences and they would all be one big, happy family.

“Well, honey.” Teresa shifted in Abe’s lap. “You seem happy to see me.”

Heat coursed through me. How dare she hump on the erection I’d given him? It wasn’t hers to take. It was all mine, but I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

“Gross, Mom.” Mandy pulled a disgusted face.

“Don’t be childish, Mandy,” Teresa said. “How do you think you got here? Your father and I have always had amazing chemistry in bed.”

“But we’re watching the movie with the kids,” Abe said. “We shouldn’t make them uncomfortable.”

“Why would they be uncomfortable? We’re life partners. Naturally, sex is a part of what we do. I’m sure Emery and Mandy understand that.”

Nope, I was out. I couldn’t take any more of this torture.

“I don’t think I can make it through this movie, Mandy.” I got to my feet, not looking at Abe or Teresa. “I’m going to take a nap. I had a hard time sleeping last night.”

“Are you okay, dear?” Teresa asked. “I heard some sounds in the night. Was that you getting up?”

“Umm, yeah. I fell out of bed, but I’ll be fine. Enjoy the movie!”

I rushed out of the den and up the stairs. Shit. I slammed the door of the guestroom open and collapsed to my knees at the edge of the bed. The scent of our sex lingered on the sheets. Tears slipped from my eyes, and I clamped them shut, concentrating on my breathing. Not now. I couldn’t have an anxiety attack.

When I’d calmed down some, I pulled myself up and grabbed my smokes from the bedside drawer. I snuck out of the house and to the pool. With a sigh, I lowered myself to sit and dangled my feet in the water. The pool wasn’t heated like it’d been the night of the party, but I didn’t care. I lit up a cigarette. After the first few drags, I felt better.

I should just go. It’d been two days, and if Dad stayed out, we wouldn’t get into a fight. Hell, I could be so quiet he wouldn’t even know I was back at the house.

“Emery! There you are.” Mandy hurried toward me with a couple of books in her arms. “What are you doing sticking your feet in the water? Isn’t it cold?”

It was. Fuck. I pulled them out and clenched the cigarette at the side of my mouth to free up my hands to rub some warmth back into them.

“I spaced out.”

“I thought you were going to take a nap.”

“Have a lot on my mind, so I got a cigarette.”

“Gimme.” She reached for the cigarette, but I smacked her hand away.

“No, Abe will kill you if he replaces you smoking.”

He’d probably kill me if he knew I did too, but I’d use the excuse that he and Teresa had driven me to it. Let him try to chastise me, then.

“Ugh, help me with this.”

She tugged at my arm, and I got up and walked to one of the wicker chairs.

“What are you carrying?”

“Our family albums.”

As if I wanted to see them.

“Why did you bring them?”

“I want you to help me pick out the best photos of our family.” She flicked her hair over her shoulder and grinned. “Did you see my parents in the den just now? Maybe they just need a push to remind them how lucky they are to have each other, so I’ve decided to play matchmaker. Of course you have to help me.”

She flipped the album open and turned the book toward me. “You take that one and choose for me while I go through the one they started putting together when Mom got pregnant with me.”

“Mandy, I’m not sure your parents would appreciate me going through their album. What do I even look for?” And no way in hell did I want to see how happy Abe appeared in these photos with Teresa.

“Nonsense. You’re practically family now. Just select photos of them together that will remind them how much in love they are. Get working.”

My stomach was in knots as I flipped through the pictures. The first ones went back as far as high school for Teresa and Abe. Though the photographs were over two decades old, the happiness on their faces hadn’t faded. Abe looked at her the way he looked at me now. They kissed and hugged, intimately gazing into each other’s eyes.

Dismissing the tightness in my chest, I picked a few photos until I got to the ones from their wedding. I was jealous. Jealous of the memories they had together. Of how many good years she’d given Abe. What if I didn’t measure up? How could I measure up?

I shoved the album back at Mandy.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I just remembered there’s something important I need to do at home.”

“Can’t it wait until after?”

“No, I’m sorry. I really need to go.”

This house, the memories—it was all suffocating me. I needed to get away, clear my head, and refocus. The way I felt, I shouldn’t be around Abe and Teresa right now. I would only do something stupid, like show my hand.

“Okay, calm down. We can go tell Dad and Mom you’re going.”

“No. They’re busy. Right? Let’s not interrupt them. I’m sure they’ll understand when you tell them I needed to go. Please, let them know I appreciate them letting me stay here again.”

I hurried inside and up the stairs and grabbed the stuff I had left in the room. Thankfully, it wasn’t much. I didn’t even bother to change out of Abe’s shirt.

“Emery.”

I stiffened at Abe’s voice and spun around to face him.

“Please don’t try to stop me.” I held up my hand. “I can’t watch you two pretend anymore.”

A look of panic flashed over his face. “I’ll tell Mandy right now, I swear. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t lose me unless you want to, but right now, I have to leave.” I blinked away the tears and slipped past him, but I didn’t get far. He grasped my arm and pulled me back against him. I wasn’t strong enough to fight him, even if I wanted to.

He tucked my head under his chin. “I understand. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Why does it feel that way?” He kissed the side of my face, and my knees buckled. Did he know how hard it was to ask him to let me go when I wanted nothing more than to stay?

“Abe, please. Someone might see.”

He only tightened his grip on me. “Where will you go?”

“Home.”

“Shit. I don’t want you to go back there, but you can’t stay here either. You’ll call me if you need me?”

I already need you, Abe.

“I promise. I just need a breather from this weekend. From you and her. I can have that. Can’t I?”

Abe released me, but I didn’t move away. I knew he hated the situation we were both in. It wasn’t his fault his wife didn’t want a divorce.

I gave him my best smile. “Don’t worry. Okay? I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the usual time?”

He nodded, and some of the tension seemed to ease out of him. I went up on my toes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for taking all the risks you have and letting me stay here.”

Walking away from Abe was hard, but it became easier with each step. Mandy waited for me at my car, her face full of worry.

“Em, is everything okay? You’ve been acting weird all weekend.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll all work out.”

“Can’t you talk to me about it?”

I brushed her hair away from her face and felt the overwhelming need to cry. She must have seen it because she threw her arms around me in a tight hug. I sniffled, trying to hold the tears back, but they spilled over my cheeks anyway.

“You’re going to hate me,” I whispered.

“What?” She chuckled. “Emery, you’re being silly. I’d never hate you.”

I stepped back and rubbed my eyes. Behind her, Abe watched us from the front door.

“I’ll explain everything soon.” Hopefully. Eventually, Abe and I had to break the news to her.

On the way home, I stopped at a fast-food restaurant and got a burger and milkshake. I didn’t dare to touch any of the groceries Dad had bought after what happened the last time. I handed my debit card to the cashier.

“I’m sorry, sir, but your card’s been declined.”

I frowned. “That can’t be. Can you try it again?”

She scanned the card and raised her eyebrows. “Declined again.”

Declined? This was the card where all my money from my camboy activity went. Several thousands of dollars were in that account.

“I’ll pay for it in cash.”

My hands shook as I gave her a ten-dollar bill. As soon as she gave me my change, I rushed to a quiet spot and opened the banking app on my phone, my mind swirling so much it took me a minute to remember the password. I punched in the two-step verification and swallowed as the balance appeared on the screen.

Six fucking dollars. I had six fucking dollars in my entire account.

“There has to be some mistake.” I hit the transaction history. What the actual fuck? There’d been a withdrawal. All my money was gone.

“Sir, here’s your meal.”

Numb, I slipped my phone into my pocket, accepted the bag and shake, and returned to my car. I called my bank, but I already knew.

“Sir, the joint party to the account, Devon Cannon, made a withdrawal of the amount on Friday.”

The fucking bastard. He’d taken all my money. How could he do that? I let my phone fall into my lap, the squeaky voice of the customer service agent asking if there was anything else she could do for me. My chest rose and fell, and I inhaled too much air in shallow puffs.

That money was supposed to be my way out of that shitty house. It would help me escape. Money I’d earned doing something I wasn’t necessarily proud of but what was honest work. I could have splurged on shit and even left home a long time ago, but I’d kept it for that day when enough really became enough and I couldn’t endure anymore.

I wasn’t stupid. The money sounded like a lot, but I could blow through it too quickly if I even found someone willing to rent me a place without a cosigner on the lease.

So I’d stayed put, suffering the abuse.

I upended the brown paper bag and dropped the burger onto the seat. I cupped the bag over my mouth and breathed inside it. The bag expanded and contracted with each exhale and inhale. Slowly my heartbeat returned to normal and my breathing slowed, but the episode left me exhausted.

Call me if you need anything.

I needed Abe.

Instead of calling Abe, I buckled my seat belt and pulled out of the parking lot. If I told Abe, he would get involved. If he got involved, my dad might out us. He’d already thought Abe and I were fucking long before we’d started. Abe interfering would only add fuel to the fire.

When I got home, Dad’s car was in the driveway. I stared at the house, dread filling my stomach. I’d wanted to avoid him, but he’d stolen my money. How could I let that slide? The second I’d hit eighteen, I should have gotten a new account instead of using the one he’d opened for me when I had my first job at fourteen.

Now my stupidity was about to cost me everything.

Inside, I followed the sound of giggling to the kitchen. A young woman who couldn’t be that much older than me was loading the dishwasher. She had nothing on but a bra and a pair of matching underwear. Dad crowded behind her, holding a bottle of beer in one hand and shoving the other down the front of her panties.

“Dev.” She giggled. “We’ve already done it this morning.”

“Hey, I paid good money for this last night,” Dad said. “I might as well get all the use out of it I can. Right?”

She turned, caught sight of me, and squealed. Dad spun around. The look on his face wasn’t one of hatred this time. That stupid smirk he wore was one of spite. He knew damn well what he’d done.

“Who is this?” she asked.

“I’m his son,” I said, fisting my hands at my sides.

“Now you remember your gender?” Dad flung at me. “Get the fuck out of here.”

“I didn’t know you had a son,” she said.

“A son he stole from,” I said through gritted teeth. “Where’s my money, Dad? You had no right to go into my bank account.”

“You mean our bank account? How could I have withdrawn the money if my name wasn’t on the account?”

“As if you’ve ever put a dollar in that account? Your name was only on it because I needed a parent to open an account for me.”

“Sounds like your problem.” Dad pulled his companion’s underwear down her ass despite her gasp and attempt to stop him. “Now get out unless you plan to stay so you can watch how a real man fucks a pussy. You could do with some lessons, you fa—”

“Dev!” She pushed away from Dad and pulled her underwear up. “How can you talk to your son that way? Even if he’s gay, you don’t need to call him that.”

Dad frowned. “You defending him?”

“You can’t say things like that.”

Dad’s face turned red, and a vein stood out on his forehead. “Don’t tell me how to raise my son. Get your shit and get out. Don’t forget what I paid for—your fucking pussy, not your advice.”

She paled and took a step back. “Well, I’m giving it anyway. I’m sorry he has a piece of shit like you for a father.” She stormed out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with him, but for the first time, I was too fucking mad to be afraid of him.

“I need my money,” I said. “All of it. Now.”

He laughed. “I took it for services.”

“What?”

“You think I don’t know?” he snapped. “I found the videos on your fucking laptop, which I threw in the trash by the way, along with all the camera equipment you’ve used to turn my house into a fucking whorehouse. So I charged you a housing fee—to house your filth and you.”

“You took all my money,” I choked out. “It doesn’t matter how I made it. I worked hard for that money, and you just fucking took it like it was yours. Then you destroyed my shit. How dare you!”

“Watch who you’re talking to, boy. You know I’ll knock your fucking teeth out.”

“I fucking hate you!” I launched myself at him, but he captured the fist I flung at him, and he delivered a punch right to my cheek.

“You want to fight your old man?” He shoved me hard up against the counter and hit me in the back of the head.

“Stop! Stop it!” The woman he’d brought with him cried out. “I’ll call the police. I swear I’ll call the police.”

“Go ahead! I’m sure they’d love to know the business you came here to transact. Last time I checked, it’s against the law to sell your pussy, but be my guest. Call them.”

A blow to my back left me so stunned I couldn’t even cry out. He kicked me in the back of my knees, and my legs buckled. I tried to grab the counter to steady me, but instead, my hand landed on a pile of dirty dishes. I clenched my fingers around the top one while the rest tumbled off the counter and shattered on the floor.

Wincing, I fell on the shards of broken earthenware around me. Dad pulled back his fist. When he drew close enough, I smashed the plate into his face. His fist caught me at the temple, and my head snapped back, pain piercing my skull.

I groaned and clutched my head, fighting against the darkness and nausea rising in my throat. Hands pulled at my shoulders, and I screamed.

“No, it’s me,” the woman said. “Get up before he comes around. Let me get you out of here and to the hospital.”

She helped me to my feet, and I leaned heavily on her. As she led me out of the kitchen, she sidestepped my dad, unconscious on the floor. Was he dead?

God, I fucking hope he’s dead.