Page 53 of Fraud
“YOUR BOYFRIEND DOESN’T LOOK TOOhappy,” Brian said as he twirled me around, making me slightly dizzy.
His hand returned firmly to my waist as I tried not to trip over my own toes. Dancing and I had never been very good friends. More like distant acquaintances that hung out only on certain occasions.
Like frat parties and those awkward Christmas parties at work.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I replied, sneaking a peek up at my former teacher.
Brian Chapman.
He’d been more than a teacher to me.
He’d been an inspiration.
A life-changer.
Brian had given me a glimpse at another life. A different life.
And I’d snatched up that idea and made it a reality.
Of course, he didn’t know that. No one did.
To Brian, I was still just Kate.
Plain old Kate.
The girl who’d taken a single writing class at the local community college and never returned. But I knew different. And I guessed that was all that mattered.
“Are you sure he knows that?” he asked, peering over at the table where Killian was keeping tabs on us.
“We’re dating, I guess. So, maybe this is a little awkward for him.”
His mouth turned up into a dark grin. “Good,” he replied. “Only dating. That means, I still have a chance.”
My mouth fell open. “You’re married,” I said, taking a step back.
The music still went on, but I’d lost the desire to dance.
“Recently separated,” he clarified.
Still dumbfounded, I didn’t quite know what to do. I’d taken him up on this offer of a friendly dance, believing I was catching up with an old friend.
Not adding to my little black book.
Did women have black books?
Did anyone have black books anymore?
None of this felt right.
“I didn’t know,” I said.
“How could you have known?” he asked, holding out his hand.
His expression had morphed into something less seductive. He looked more like the old Brian I was used to.
The Brian who had inspired me to write.
I took his hand. “What happened?” I asked. “You don’t have to tell me. I mean, if it’s personal or too painful.”
