Chapter 6

ELIAS

I was out of the restaurant before I even realised I’d left my chair.

The door swung shut behind me with a dull thud, and the cool night air hit my face hard enough to sting. It should’ve helped.

It didn’t.

My jaw ached from how tightly I was clenching it. My hands opened, closed, then curled into fists again as I crossed the parking lot. I walked too fast, as though putting enough distance between myself and the restaurant might somehow erase what had happened inside.

It didn’t work.

The moment I climbed into my car and shut the door, the silence closed in around me.

And so did the memories.

Her voice.

The way she’d looked at me.

That tiny hesitation before she’d answered, like

I ran a hand over my face and stared through the windshield. Behind me, the restaurant glowed with warm lights and soft laughter.

I let out a humourless breath before twisting the key in the ignition.

The engine rumbled to life.

I backed out harder than I meant to, tyres scraping against the pavement before I pulled onto the road.

The city slipped past in streaks of red taillights and glowing storefronts. Traffic lights changed from green to amber to red.

My body drove on instinct while my mind replayed everything. She’d looked nervous enough.

Awkward.

Almost guilty.

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel until the leather groaned beneath my grip.

“No…”

The word slipped out before I could stop it.

I shook my head once, sharp and impatient, as if I could physically throw the thought out of my mind.

Candace wasn’t just another girl I’d met by chance.

She wasn’t just the person who’d caught my attention at a party.

She was Jake’s girlfriend.

My son’s girlfriend.

And I’d spent the entire evening sitting across from her.

God.

Heat rushed to my face despite the cool air pouring through the vents.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I squeezed my eyes shut for half a second.

Idiot.

By the time I pulled into my driveway, I barely remembered the drive home.

I parked harder than necessary, threw the car into park, and killed the engine.

Silence.

My hands stayed on the steering wheel.

I didn’t move.

The porch light cast a pale glow across the front yard. Every other window was dark.

I leaned back against the seat and stared at the top for a long moment.

My pulse still refused to slow down.

I could feel it in my throat.

My temples.

Even the tips of my fingers.

Everything inside me felt scraped raw.

I shut my eyes.

What now?

My first instinct was simple.

Transfer her.

Request a schedule change.

Different classes.

Different lecturer.

Problem solved.

Except…

My stomach twisted almost immediately.

No.

That wasn’t fair.

She hadn’t done anything wrong.

One conversation from me and she’d disappear from my classroom as though she’d never been there. It would be easy.

Too easy.

And I hated myself for even considering it.

I let out another slow breath and rubbed the heel of my palm against my forehead.

Maybe I should go to the dean.

The thought lasted all of three seconds.

What exactly was I supposed to say?

That I’d accidentally met one of my students outside school?

That she’d turned out to be dating my son?

That the whole situation made me uncomfortable?

It sounded ridiculous.

The dean would ask questions.

Questions I didn’t have answers for.

Questions I didn’t want to answer.

And sooner or later…Jake would hear about it.

My stomach dropped.

I could picture that conversation far too clearly. Jake staring at me across the room.

Confused at first.

Then angry.

Wondering why any of this had become an issue in the first place.

Wondering what his father wasn’t saying.

No.

Absolutely not.

Which left me with one choice.

Pretend that night never happened.

Walk into class.

Teach.

Leave.

Keep things polite.

Professional.

Distant and Simple.

At least, it sounded simple.

Until I imagined seeing her again, watching her walk into the classroom.

Meeting those eyes across the room.

Knowing she’d remember every second of that just as vividly as I would.

Knowing I’d have to stand there and act as if none of it had happened.

I laughed once under my breath.

It wasn’t even close to funny.

“What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?”

The question hung unanswered inside the car.

I already knew.

A lonely man.

One who’d let himself enjoy someone’s company without stopping to ask the questions that should’ve come first.

I rested my forehead against the steering wheel.

For a long moment, I simply sat there listening to the ticking engine as it cooled.

Distance.

That had to be the answer.

Not because it was easy.

Because it was the only thing left.

I’d keep conversations short.

Keep my attention where it belonged.

Look anywhere but at her.

If she asked questions, I’d answer politely.

Nothing more.

I could do that.

I had to.

Even if every instinct in me wanted to rewind the night and pretend we’d never met.

I finally lifted my head and looked at the dark house waiting for me.

Then I gave one small nod.

Distance.

It was the only choice I had.