Page 63 of The Billionaire's Teacher

I wasn’t ready for that.

I probably never would be.

I just needed time and space to stuff my feelings for Wes into a box where I could forget they existed.

Or at least pretend that I had.

17

WES

“Nice tan.” Scott grinned as I opened the door of my townhouse. He held out a bag of chips. “I brought provisions. I wasn’t sure if you were really up for hosting.”

“I volunteered.” I stepped out of the way and gestured for him to come in. “I set up the table in the back den.”

“Kinda figured you volunteered before you got voluntold.” Scott walked down the skinny hall that led from the front living room, through the dining and kitchen area and into the smaller room that had probably been an enclosed porch originally.

Sometimes I thought about taking it back to porch status, but the place was small enough that having more room on the main floor was always better. “Maybe. Doesn’t mean I don’t know how to get groceries delivered.”

Scott set his chips next to the food I’d laid out on the buffet that ran along the far wall under the windows. “So I see. You even got subs?”

“I’m hungry. Figured we might as well have options.” I paused, listening. “I think that was the door. Be right back.”

I didn’t wait for Scott to respond. It wasn’t as if he was likely to have something important to say. He’d make a joke about the food—probably to do with my sub topping choices—I’d respond. I shrugged as I strode back to the front door. It was the kind of banter I enjoyed with my friends. And had missed, somewhat, while I was away.

I tugged open the door and laughed. “Did you all carpool or something?”

“Basically.” Cody stepped into the house. “It was Tristan’s idea. We’re in the back?”

“Yeah.” I stepped out of the way as the rest of the guys filed in and followed Cody. When they were all in, I closed the door and flipped the lock, then headed back myself.

Tristan already had a plate in his hand and was in the process of piling food onto it when I joined them.

“Nice spread. You should host more often.” Tristan scooped a handful of chips onto his plate. “I’m starving.”

“Been busy?” Austin took a plate off the top of the stack and began to fill it with food.

“I’m always busy.” Tristan shrugged. “Seems like more now than usual though.”

“You work for yourself. Can’t you just tell people no?” Cody dug through the bucket of ice and drinks until he found a bottle of root beer. “Seems like that’s one of the major perks of being your own boss.”

Tristan sighed. “It’s not always that easy.”

Cody frowned. “It’s one word, man. How is that hard?”

I chuckled. Tristan had a big heart. It didn’t always seem to mesh well with his decision to be a lawyer, but once you got to know him it made perfect sense. “For someone like Tristan? It’s pretty hard. You know that.”

“I guess.” Cody shook his head and took a seat at the round table covered with green felt. He reached for the cards and began to shuffle.

Austin brought his plate over and sat beside Cody. “Do we need to start sending food to you at dinner time, Tristan?”

Noah snickered. “That’s a great idea. I can get the ladies at church on it.”

“Don’t you dare.” Tristan scowled as he took a seat. “I eat. Just ends up being later than I’d like most days. Anyway, I think I’m finally at the end of this nasty divorce case that I got coerced into taking on. That’ll make life a lot nicer.”

“I thought you weren’t doing divorces.” Scott sat on the other side of Cody. “You hate them.”

“I know. It was a whole thing. I can’t get into it.” Tristan scowled. “But I also couldn’t get out of it. And the guy I’m representing is a real piece of work. He leaves a thick coating of slime all over everything anytime I have to talk to him.”

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