NATHAN
“Yes, of course, Linda.” My wife chuckled into her cocktail, addressing my mother.I glanced at her, grateful it was finally the weekend.
She looked gorgeous, blonde hair pinned neatly into a bun, her black dress hugging her just right. Her chest looked amazing. My fork stalled halfway to my mouth.
She caught me staring and nudged me lightly.
“Creep,” she teased, giving me that wide-eyed look she used when she was hungry for something more than dinner.
Except there was something calculated in it tonight, a flash of performance before she sipped her drink.
My parents were chatting amongst themselves before my mother turned the conversation back to us. She’d insisted on dinner tonight; she adored my wife.
“So, Nathaniel, how’s work?”
I bit down on my medium-rare steak a moment longer, letting the slow grind of my teeth stand in for the answer I wanted to give. Cursing inwardly, I kept my gaze on the plate. My wife and I had only just managed to drop this subject at home.
I opened my mouth to answer, but Lilly beat me to it with a sardonic smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“He loves it. Comes home at eleven most nights.”
My grip on the steak knife tightened. This again? My jaw locked around the words I wanted to say.
Her smile didn’t match the wrath in her gaze, the tension between us crackled, invisible but unmistakable. I thought we’d left this issue at home.
“Yes,” I said pointedly, looking at Lilly over the rim of my glass, “I have office hours that keep me later than usual.”
“Office hours forwellover an hour with the same student for the last week,” she added, her voice carrying just enough edge for my parents to notice.
“Is that true?” my father asked, brows knitting.
“And he always walks them home,” Lilly continued.
“Nathan,” my father sighed, “you need to set boundaries. This young lady may be trying to court you.”
“Dad.” I raised a hand, keeping my tone controlled. I didn’t appreciate Lilly airing this out in front of my parents, whom I hadn’t seen in six months. Passive-aggressive remarks at home were one thing. But here? Now? Absolutely not. “I’m a grown man. My student, Ryan, is—”
“Ryan? Is that a male name?” my mother asked.
“Yes.”
“Oh, honey…” My mom burst into laughter. “I thought it was some pretty young thing entertaining you.”
Objectively, that was a way some might describe Ryan.Not me.But some.
She sighed into her drink, clearly content.
“But I do agree, my son should focus less on his students and more on his beautiful wife,” my father added, coughing and wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.
My mom shoved him lightly. “Oh, Richard.” Then he turned to Lilly. “But dear, be happy it’s not one of those pesky blonde bimbos. Trust me, my Richard used to get flirted with all the time when he was a professor. Those women will do anything to snag them.”
My mom rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively.
Lilly nodded politely, but the way she gripped her fork told me the tension hadn’t left.
***
The car ride home was usually filled with banter, sometimes dirty talk if she’d had enough to drink, but tonight was heavy with silence. Not exactly how I’d wanted to spend my weekend.
