Page 41 of Color of You
Soon enough, people were going to suspect me and Felix. I was fine with that. And Felix didn’t seem to take issue with being out. As a public-school teacher, I imagined I could complicate matters, but we both knew how to be discreet and professional.
The problem was Alan.
Felix still hadn’t told the kid.
Sooner or later, someonenothis parent was going to bring up the fact that his dad was locking lips with the band director. And that could potentially put a real damper on anything official between me and Felix.
I considered going home once my afternoon classes at the elementary schools ended, but nonetheless, found myself back at the high school just after the first wave of students left for the day. Since my office finally had a lock I could open, I figured it was time to spruce it up a bit. But cleaning and organizing was dreadfully boring, and if I wanted to dust and arrange during my free time, I could have gone home and finished unpacking my own house. Eventually I ended up at the piano, playing a few of my favorite pieces from memory, and noting that the instrument needed a minor tuning.
“Bo.”
My fingers tripped on the keys. I stopped and looked up over the piano. “Felix?”
He stood in the doorway of my classroom, bundled in his coat and scarf, smiling that devastatinglyperfectsmile. “Hi.”
“Hey.” I stood from the bench. “What are you doing here?”
“Picking up Alan. He has a dentist appointment.”
“He’s not in here.”
Felix let the door fall shut as he walked inside. “I know. He’s finishing a meeting with his math teacher.”
“So… you thought you’d come by and meet his music teacher while you wait?” I teased.
“Something like that.”
I left the piano and met Felix halfway. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hansen. I’m Mr. Merlin, your son’s band director.”
Felix offered a gloved hand. “And composition teacher, I hear.”
“Ah, it was approved, then?” I asked, not letting go of Felix’s hand and instead pulling him a bit closer.
“That’s what they’re discussing,” Felix answered. “I was told Alan could join with stipulations.”
“Naturally.”
“I have to find him a tutor.”
“I hope I didn’t inadvertently complicate matters for you.”
“No, don’t worry. Alan needs someone better suited to help him, since next year he’ll have to take geometry and that’s where I draw the line with math homework.” Felix looked around the room briefly. “What are you still doing here?”
I moved my hand to rest on Felix’s hip and an instant smile lit up his face. He wasn’t yet comfortable with me touching bare skin on his right side, which I’d interpreted incorrectly at the beginning of the week astoo much contact too soon. But now I was starting to properly translate his signals. The scars were off-limits, but the rest was fair game.
And everything indicated Felix wanted and enjoyed a dominant partner.
“Hmm? Oh, I came back to clean.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Thrilling. That’s why I was playing the piano. Are we still on for tomorrow?”
“Yes. Want to come by the orchard around noon?”
“Sure. Want to call me tonight around ten?” I countered.
Felix raised an eyebrow. “All right.”
