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“The Secret Gardenis a classic,” Dr. Banks chimes in, turning to eye Connor. “It’snota girlbook.” As he turns back to the front,bothboys burst into a fit of laughter.
I eye them in the rearview mirror, trying to see what set them off, but I haven’t got a clue.
The two of them are just talking their heads off.
“Do you want me to take you home?” I ask Dr. Banks as I pull out onto the main road.
“You can just take us back to Bert’s.” His voice is gruff and jarring, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it up close.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind taking you home. You’ll still be stranded.”
“Well, Bert happens to be a good friend. I’m sure he can give us a ride home. I also need to call a tow truck for the car.” Dr. Banks lets out a heavy sigh.
“Just let them take us home,” Connor calls from the backseat.
“Yeah, it’s not like we have anything better to do.” Dorian giggles before handing over a notebook to Connor.
What are they doing with that thing?
Dorian must notice my stare. “We’re playing Tic-Tac-Toe, not writing bad notes about you.”
“Good to know.” I shake my head.
Dr. Banks chuckles,chuckles,at the exchange, and I glance over to him, meeting his piercing blue eyes.
Oof. They’re stunning.
I swallow hard and focus on the road, navigating my way back to the bar and grill. Traffic is picking up as it nears rush hour.
I can’t get lost in his eyes…
He’s still a jerk.
And there’s no getting around that.
“Dude, do you have a phone?” Connor asks Dorian in the backseat as I finally pull into the parking lot.
“Yeah.” Dorian laughs. “I’m pretty sure everyone has phones these days. There’s only liketwokids in my class that don’t. And I have to have mine to get ahold of Mel.”
“Lemme have your number, then.”
Dr. Banks grunts, and I expect him to tell Connor that he can’t get my brother’s number, but he doesn’t—and the two middle schoolers exchange them with smiles.
I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or not for Dorian to get close to my professor’s son...
But I’m not going to stop him from making a new friend.
It’s not always easy for him.
“Do we really have to stay here and wait for Bert to take us home?”
“I’ve already gotten an Uber,” Dr. Banks’s eyes are on his phone. “It’ll be here in forty-five minutes. We’ll grab some dinner while we wait.”
“Oh! Can Dorian come with us? And Mel?” Connor no longer seems upset, his eyes bright as he unclicks his seatbelt.
“Uh...” Dr. Banks unhooks his own seatbelt. “I don’t think so. It’s not professional for me to share dinners with my students.”
Connor makes a face. “Oh, come on, Dad. Nick says that some professors dowaymore than just sharedinnerwith their students.”
