“Knew it. Never did meet a jock who could make cookies. Maybe next year, Big Dude. Have some champagne.”
“Stan? How many fucking jobs do you have?” Darren took a glass of champagne off the tray.
Stan grinned toothily. “Dude, I keep my options open and go where the flow is – if you know what I mean.” He rubbed his finger against his thumb – the international sign for cash. “Always be gigging, my man. You both have a beautiful night, and let me say – you look really great together. Happy for you, Big Dude. You too, professor man.”
Stan headed off to share wisdom with another couple who took some champagne flutes with a smile from him.
“So, that’s the great Stan the Man, huh?”
“Don’t judge. Stan’s fucking awesome.”
“I’m just saying he...”
“Shit. There’s Mom and Dad. They’re talking to Dean Remington.”
“The dean is totally hitting them up for a donation. Trust me.”
“Oh, I knew all along that’s what he wanted. It comes with the territory, you know? Whenever anyone realizes you come from money, they always want something. I knew he wasn’t an exception.”
Darren’s mother waved at us and touched her husband on the arm. He turned and nodded at us.
“I guess that’s our cue.” I put my hand through Darren’s arm, and we walked over.
“Darren. Dean Remington was just telling us all about your music production major. I’m glad that you have a lot of business classes as part of that, son. They will go well with your business management minor.” John puffed his chest out happily. It was nice to see that he wasn’t fighting Darren about his choices anymore. I wanted them to find that bond between a father and a son. Maybe this was a step in the right direction.
“Hello, Thomas.” Mrs. Petersen smiled at me kindly.
“Mrs. Petersen.” I smiled back, and she laughed.
“I think we are past that, don’t you. Honey, call me Madelaine or Maddy if you prefer.” She reached out and placed her hand on my arm. “The two of you together look very handsome. It’s like you were made for each other, and I guess you were.”
“When Professor… er… Thomas came to me about what he was feeling. I knew it wouldn’t be right to split the two of them up. Of course, we might need to move Darren to another studio now that they’re officially together. Just the look of it, you know.” Dean Remington elbowed John gently, and he glared over at him.
“You wouldn’t dare,” John said as he looked at his son. “I think he’s in the right studio with the right person.”
“Well, Mister Petersen, the college does have an issue with a professor teaching someone they are seeing. It’s not… er… grounds for dismissal or anything, but it is frowned upon.”
“If you want me to make that donation to your department, you will turn a blind eye.” John’s voice dropped an octave, and I had to hide the grin that exploded with my hand as I watched him squirm.
“Well, I’m sure that can be arranged. I didn’t know you were considering a… thank you,” he stuttered.
“We support our colleges, and I suppose that now means we support Darren’s and Thomas’s.”
“That’s very cool of you, Dad. Thank you.” Daren beamed.
“Where’s your drink, Thomas. Do you want me to wave down a waiter, hon?”
“No!” I said so loudly that every head turned to me. Maddy looked at me deeply and bit her bottom lip. “I’ve been a little… off lately.”
“Maybe the bubbles will do you good, then. Besides, we have to make a toast together.” John flagged a waiter down, who instantly put a glass in his hand. He reached out to give it to me, and I glanced over at Darren and back to the ground.
“I can’t.” I couldn’t look at them. Everything I had told them about waiting and being careful that night at dinner had been thrown out the window. We had been careful, but fate provided an accident that chose the path for us.
Fate – chose – I knew at that moment what my choice was.
“I didn’t want to tell you like this, but…” I squirmed and dropped my hand from Darren’s arm.
“Oh… Thomas. Have you been shouldering this all alone?” Maddy said gently. “You poor thing.”
