Shawn rubbed the corner of his eye. “No—I mean—I don’t know. I… I kinda gave him a key to my place.”
Christian started laughing.
Shawn kicked him under the table. “Shut up. It made sense to do it. Sometimes he comes very late, and I don’t want him to wake up the kids with his knocking. It doesn’t mean what you think it means.”
“Oh, really?”
Shawn heaved a sigh. “I don’t know. Things have been weird lately. He’s so good to me sometimes, and I feel like… I feel so good with him, you know?”Happy. “It’s so confusing.”
“No shit. Don’t you talk?”
Shawn shrugged. “Sure, we talk, but not about that. He comes to my place in the evening and if the kids are still up, it’s not like we can talk properly. If they’re in bed already, we don’t spend much time talking.”I just want to get him naked and on me. “And he’s not exactly the talking type.”
“Looks like he wants to talk this time.” Christian nodded towards something behind him.
Shawn turned his head and saw Rutledge walking toward him briskly. Shawn stood and took a step away from the table just as Rutledge reached him.
“Something wrong?” Shawn murmured, glancing around. They were attracting curious stares; instructors normally didn’t visit the cafeteria.
Rutledge’s shoulders relaxed a little. “No,” he said, turning around and heading out of the cafeteria, clearly expecting Shaw to follow.
Rolling his eyes, Shawn did.
“I’m leaving for a few days,” Rutledge said once they were outside.
“Where? Why?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s none of your business.”
Shawn crossed his arms over his chest. “Really? Then why are you even telling me?”
They glowered at each other.
Shawn refused to drop his gaze.
“I’m leaving,” Rutledge said with finality.
“Fine. Go.” Shawn bit the inside of his cheek, trying to hold back dozens of questions. Questions that would make him look like a pathetic, needy teenage girl.
Rutledge took a step to him; their faces were only inches apart now. There was a strange restlessness haunting Rutledge’s dark eyes. Something was shifting between them, and it scared Shawn. And excited him.
A few seconds passed as they just looked at each other.
Some guy walked out of the cafeteria, and they sprang apart.
“Sir,” the guy said respectfully to Rutledge.
“Right,” Shawn said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’ll go.”Before I jump on you and kiss you in front of everyone.
Rutledge nodded stiffly and stalked away.
Shawn sighed. Dammit.
Maybe a few-days’ break would do them good. Their relationship was getting too weird.
Or maybe the problem was it wasn’t weird anymore.
Chapter 21
