Getting Schooled (The Wright Brothers #1)(30)

Fuck all of that.

I gave those women a weak smile, and kept walking, trying not to let it affect my mood. Logically, I knew they didn’t mean any harm. Just like when my dad and brothers worried too much, and got overbearing with the checking in and the phone calls. They did that because they cared. The women reacted like that to me because it was human nature to be sympathetic to a disability, it was what “decent” people did. On the basketball court, other men would act like I was delicate, or fragile, until I fouled somebody hard enough to make them mad. Then I could get a real game.

But I couldn’t foul those spin class chicks into not feeling sorry for me, and nothing I said seemed to effect the treatment from my family. I just had to take it, and I’d be lying through my teeth if I said the shit didn’t get tiresome, as well-meaning as they were.

Not the princess though.

I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my face as I thought about Reese’s reaction the other night. It was Tuesday now, four days since that unexpected run-in at Sammy’s had led to other unexpected things, and that image was still vivid as hell.

The way her expression changed when she realized what I was showing her – fascination, instead of pity. Her words – does your dick work? Then stop making excuses and give me what I came for. And her actions. She hadn’t been skittish about my ability to perform, or pick her up, or just handle her, physically. She was all into it, no hesitations. She trusted me to give her what she said she needed, without questioning my capability, and I was… honestly?

Grateful as hell for the experience.

I’d woken up way before she did the next morning, and went for a run to burn off residual sexual energy. It had been a minute for me, and I wanted to wake Reese up to go at it again, but once she woke up and was all extra quiet and shit, I figured it was for the best that I hadn’t.

I didn’t know if I’d fucked the mean out of her or what, but in the few times I’d seen her since then, she was different. Not in a bad way, just not the same. In the bookstore Sunday afternoon, in the library Monday… she hadn’t been the woman I was slowly getting used to.

I wondered if I was going to see her today. I had a meeting with Professor B to discuss midterm grades, and the email to set those up had mentioned the possibility of her grad assistant sitting in on the meeting. We were given the chance to opt out and keep the meeting private, but of course, I hadn’t. Because I wanted to see her, even if I couldn’t explain why, not even to myself.

How did she feel about the other night?

Was she still upset about her little lame ass man doing her friend?

Was she still down about her father?

That stuff had been swirling in my mind since I dropped her off at her car Saturday morning, and still made rounds through my brain while I showered. If I saw her today… maybe I’d ask.



- & -



“Knock knock…”

The pen Reese was chewing on dropped from her hands as she looked up from her laptop. Her eyes searched the doorway for a second, then widened in recognition before she wiped her expression blank.

“Mr. Wright, the professor is running a little bit behind. There was an accident on the parkway, and she’s stuck in that traffic. She’ll be a few minutes. Several minutes. So if you want to reschedule, we can do that, or you can wait here, until she makes it in.”

I blinked several times at the blandness of her response, and then studied her for a few moments. She had half her braids pulled into a ponytail right on top of her head, while the rest of them framed her face and rested on her shoulders. The oversized sweater she wore dipped low on one side, exposing the delicate gold chain around her neck, and one bare shoulder. It made me think about the dress she’d been wearing last Friday, which made me think about her being bent over in that dress last Friday.

“That’s it? No smart remark? No insult, still?”

She shrugged. “I told you I wasn’t engaging you while I was in official capacity here at the school. So yes, that’s it.”

“Oh, okay.” I nodded. “I get that. I was thinking: Damn… maybe I really did fuck the mean out of her.”

Reese’s eyes went wide, and then she dropped her head, covering her face with her hand. I could tell she was trying her hardest not to laugh. Even when she looked up at me again with a scowl, those big browns of hers were sparkling with amusement.

“I’m not mean, I’m just not some little delicate flower. And even if I was… you didn’t “fuck” anything out of me. I saw you and remembered you were sensitive, and went tattling to my mother last time. Are you waiting, or rescheduling?”

“I’ll wait,” I said, closing the door behind me, and chuckling as I sat down. “I’m done with classes for the day, so I’m not in any hurry. And for what it’s worth, I had no idea she was your mother when I wrote that email.”

“Sure you didn’t.”

“I didn’t,” I insisted. “How would I? It’s not like y’all have the same last name, or look just alike.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t think we look alike?”

“Not enough that I noticed it with her in her glasses. I mean, I see it now, but before… nah.”

She nodded. “Interesting. You’re not very observant.”