Teacher's Pet - A Standalone Novel (A Teacher Student Romance)

by Claire Adams

  “Hey, sis,” I said as I answered the call. “What's going on?”

  “I've bought a plane ticket,” she said. “I'll be coming out on Friday and staying until Wednesday.”

  “Oh my God, that's wonderful news! I can't wait to see you! And, I know Mom will be super excited, too!”

  “That makes three of us then! I can't wait to see you guys. And I'll be able to watch your game this weekend in person! It is a home game, right?”

  “Yeah, it's here! Oh, man, I'm so excited! Seriously! It's gonna be great having you here,” I repeated.

  “I can't wait, either. All right, I'll chat with you on Thursday to finalize all the arrangements and stuff.”

  “Yeah. I'll get the spare room at Mom's ready for you.”

  “Awesome. Well, I should get back to work. Just wanted to let you know. I’ll chat with ya soon, though. Love you.”

  “Love you, too, Annie. Bye!”

  I put my phone back in my bag with a smile on my face. It had only been a few months since I'd last seen my sister, but honestly, it felt longer than that. It was going to be great to have her here in person to support me in the game against Rollins.

  I walked out to the parking lot on cloud nine. For once, everything seemed to be going right.

  Part of me couldn't help but wonder if that meant something was about to go horribly wrong. I tried to push such thoughts out of my head. That was no way to be thinking.

  I caught sight of Wade walking out of the building and heading toward his car. My first impulse was to rush over to him and throw my arms around him, but just as our eyes met, a group of girls from the team walked out of the building. Disappointed, I just waved at him; he waved back, and we got into our separate cars and drove off.

  I got a text message just a few seconds after I pulled out of the parking lot.

  Hey, missing you already. Can't wait until we have some alone time together.

  I typed out a quick response as I waited at a red light.

  I can't wait to see you either. Miss you, too.

  As the light turned green, I realized I was going to have to be extra careful while Anne was around. She had told me in no uncertain terms that I was to have nothing to do with Wade beyond a professional relationship – but here I was, going against everything she'd advised.

  I pulled up to my building and parked my car, then recorded a voice note and sent it to Wade explaining how we were going to have to be very cautious about keeping things between ourselves, especially while Anne was visiting. As much as I didn’t like it, we'd probably have to refrain from contact during her visit.

  He replied immediately. Of course, he was understanding about the whole thing, he was practically perfect. I kept expecting him to turn into a complete ass. No guy was ever as considerate and kind as Wade.

  Sure as hell not Tim. I still didn’t know how or why I’d put up with him for so long. The thought of him being with Tammy made my skin crawl, but not out of jealousy, out of dread for anyone who had to be around them. They were a perfect pair, those two – they really deserved each other.

  I couldn't help worrying when I thought about them, though. The little stunt with Peter acting as a cop seemed to have silenced the pair for now, but I was sure Tammy wouldn't take being kicked off the volleyball squad lightly.

  She was vengeful, and I had no doubt she was probably plotting something in retaliation. I mean, she'd resorted to physical violence just to get the evidence out of Wade's hands – she was capable of almost anything, and that was a pretty scary thought.

  Still, there wasn't much I could do about it. I knew she'd have her eyes on me, looking for some opportunity to get me somehow. I just had to watch my back.

  *****

  I was breathing hard, and every muscle and every joint in my body was on fire. I was reaching into my last reserves of strength. This had been one of the hardest games of volleyball I'd ever played, and I'd had to pull out every ounce of strength and endurance I possessed.

  We'd won two, lost two. And to tell the truth, Rollins was outplaying us. The games we'd won had been too close. They'd gotten 22 points and 23, respectively, in those games; and in the two they'd won, we'd only managed 17 and 20 points.

  Being a home game, a big crowd had shown up – bigger than the crowd we’d seen at our season opener. The roar of their cheers echoed in my ears and spurred fresh energy into me, but the biggest boost came from two pairs of eyes watching me intently: Wade's and Anne's. And, of course, two very different kinds of strength came from each of them.

  This game could go either way now; it was a dead draw at 22 points each. The tension was almost unbearable.

  They had serve, and the serve they sent over the net was almost an ace, but Leena managed to save it with a spectacular dive.

  I got a great setup and used the same trick I often had against Tammy – setting up for a major slam, and then feathering the ball instead so that it just dropped over the net.

  It worked, and we got the point. The crowd roared; 23 points. Only two more needed, but if they scored, we'd be in real trouble.

  Leena served the ball, and it was a great serve. It wasn't good enough for an ace, though, and Rollins returned it with a vengeance, attacking hard. We blocked, and sent it right back over the net just as hard. There was a series of volleys, and they tried a spike, which Leena dived for and saved, setting up an attack. I spiked it and managed to score.

  The crowd roared again. We were at match point, and we had service. Leena called us into a huddle. I could see something was wrong from the expression on her face.

  “Guys,” she said, breathing hard, “that last save hurt my wrist bad. I can't serve.”

  “Damn,” Kerry swore. “What do we do? Leena's our best server, and this is match point!”

  As much as I knew my best position was at the net, I also knew I was the best server next to Leena. I didn’t want to leave my perch at the net, but we didn’t have a lot of choice.

  “I'll serve,” I said.

  “Are you sure?” Leena eyed me.

  I breathed in deeply and nodded. “I can do this. I can.”

  She nodded and handed me the ball. “Make it count,” she said. “This is the biggest serve of the game.”

  “Yeah, no pressure,” I joked. “Thanks.”

  She smiled and winked at me as I took the ball, and we swapped positions. I pulled in a breath slowly and deeply, doing my best to hone my focus. This was everything, right here. The roar of the crowd faded out, and my vision narrowed, coming to a crisp focus on the spot I wanted the ball to land. The sound of the referee blowing her whistle seemed to echo through a tunnel.

  I served, putting everything I had left into it.

  I closed my eyes as the ball went through the air. I didn't need to see it. I knew. I knew already.

  The whistle blew again – it was an ace. A game-winning ace. A match-winning ace.

  The crowd went wild, and my teammates grabbed me, picking me up among the cheers, but when I opened my eyes, all I could see was Wade — his striking eyes, his proud smile, and the pure joy written across his face. It was amazing.

  It was also heartbreaking. All I wanted to do was run across the court, jump into his arms and feel his lips press hungrily against mine, but I couldn't. All I could do was, like the other players, politely shake his hand.

  Still, a smoldering look of desire passed between us as we shook each other's hands. We didn't allow it to linger. Instead, I walked quickly over to Anne and jumped into her arms, hugging her tightly.

  “You were on fire out there!” she exclaimed. “Seriously, I've never seen you play like that. You've always been great, but today, you were just...just phenomenal!”

  “Thanks so much, Annie! I think having you here to support me added that extra oomph I needed for that second wind.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Wade

  I watched with bated breath as Eryn took the ball to serve the match point. While Eryn was
easily the best player on the team, serving wasn't her strongest point. It wasn’t that she couldn't do it, but it just wasn't something she focused on.

  Still, if Leena had injured her wrist, Eryn was definitely the next best choice. I held my breath as she served – and then let it out in a roar of triumph as I watched the ace bounce on the floor in the corner of the opposing court.

  All I wanted was to rush onto the court and sweep her up in my arms – but of course, I couldn't do that. We had to make do with a polite handshake, and then another polite wave in the parking lot later.

  Since her sister was in town, there would be no meeting up later to celebrate. Eryn had previously told Anne about the kiss she and I shared, and Anne had warned her in no uncertain terms to stay away from me outside of volleyball.

  It was, of course, perfectly understandable. We both knew how much trouble would come from anyone finding out about our relationship, so we had to simply keep it on the shadows.

  It was hard, though, especially seeing as we'd managed to spend a lot of time together over the last week when Eryn had been recovering from her ankle injury. Now, as desperately as we longed to be together, that wasn’t an option.

  I was pulling into my driveway when my phone rang. I took it out and answered the call just as I put the car in park. I didn't recognize the number.

  “Hello, Wade Vinson here, what can I do for you?”

  “Hello, Mr. Vinson, my name is Charlie Jefferson. I was at the volleyball game earlier.”

  “All right,” I replied, already curious as to what the call was about and how this man had my number. “And how can I help you, Mr. Jefferson?”

  “Please, call me Charlie. I'd like to speak to you about some of your players, actually. I'm a talent scout, you see.”

  “Really? Well, sure, we can do that.”

  “Are you able to meet up with me shortly for a late lunch? I have another game to get to this evening, and it's a two-hour drive away.”

  “Sure thing. We can meet up at Captain Dorego's if you like? They have great seafood,” I suggested.

  “Sounds good. See you there in say, 40 minutes?”

  “See you there. Uh, how will I recognize you?”

  “I'm wearing a brown sports coat, black pants, red T-shirt. Short brown hair, goatee,” he said.

  “Got it. I'll see you soon.”

  I cut the call off, wondering what this guy wanted to say. I knew, of course, that if he was interested in some of my players, Eryn would no doubt be top of the list – and the fact both worried and excited me.

  There was only one way to find out what he was offering, so with that in mind, I headed inside to relax for a few minutes before heading out again.

  *****

  Charlie wasn't hard to spot – he was a pretty distinctive-looking guy. Not quite handsome, but definitely different looking. He grinned broadly as I walked in, and he offered me his hand. I shook it, and he almost crushed my hand with his bear grip.

  “Sit down, Mr. Vinson, sit down!” he said with a smile.

  “Thanks. Nice to meet you, Charlie. And please, call me Wade.”

  “Sure thing, Wade. Now, as I said, I don't have much time. So, let me cut right to the chase. I know it's early in the season, but I've been sent on a mission to find the best female volleyball players in the country. I'm starting out here on the East Coast, and heading all the way across the country. I have a lot of stops to make, so I'm only looking for the very top players from every college. And so far, two of your players have caught my eye.”

  “Let me guess,” I said. “Eryn and Leena?”

  He smiled. “Those very two, yep. They really do have amazing talent.”

  “That they do.”

  “And, I imagine you probably don't want to let 'em go. Without 'em, your team is likely to drop a few places in the league, and this winning streak you're on is likely to end.”

  “That's true. So, what are you offering in exchange for these players?”

  “I'm from Stanford, and we want to put together the best female team in the country. For the players, we're offering full scholarships. I'm talking no fees, accommodations taken care of, everything, the works. Those girls won't pay a cent as long as they play at the level they're currently operating at. We'll take care of transferring academic credits from Florida State, too. Everything will be sorted out.

  “In return, we'll compensate FSU to the tune of...well, I can't say yet, as we'll have to negotiate the amount, but let's just say a handsome sum. And you, as coach, will get some of it as commission.”

  I nodded. I wasn’t really sure about the logistics of it, but if it was on the up and up, it was great news for Leena and Eryn – fantastic news, in fact.

  But for me, not so much. In fact, it was terrible news. Not only would I lose my two star players, but I'd lose the girl of my dreams. And she'd not only be moving across the country, she'd be going right to the state I'd just done everything to escape from.

  Still, it was selfish of me to be thinking about myself. This was a golden opportunity for both of them, and it wasn't up to me to decide whether or not they should take it.

  “That sounds like a very generous offer, Charlie,” I said, my words careful and measured as I tried to disguise the disappointment and concern in my voice. “Is this just a courtesy meeting, then? Can’t say I’ve ever been in this situation before.”

  “Well, as their coach, I'd like you to talk to the girls about this offer first. If they're interested, you can put them in touch with me, and I'll make sure everything happens as it should.”

  I nodded. “All right, I can do that.”

  He smiled and handed me his card. “Here you go – you can call me on this number anytime, day or night, or just email me if you want. But please, don't delay too long, all right? My boss has made this a priority, and if they don't show interest in the offer soon, I'm sure I'll find plenty of other girls who will; you get what I'm saying?”

  “I understand. I'll let them know as soon as possible,” I assured him.

  “I hope you do. They really are immensely talented players. And you know, they could really go all the way, if you know what I mean. The next Summer Olympics are less than two years away, and Team USA could really use some fresh talent. I know your reputation, Wade, so I know you won Olympic gold a few years ago. I'm sure you'd want the same honor for your players, wouldn't you?”

  I nodded. “I sure as hell would.”

  “Good. I know you have their best interests at heart. Just please tell them about this offer as soon as you can.”

  “I will.”

  *****

  Once our lunch was over, I made a few phone calls to check on the legitimacy of Charlie’s offer. Once I was satisfied, I drove home still in a daze.

  Of course, I wanted the best for Eryn. I wanted, more than anything, for her to realize her full potential and for her dreams to come true. She had what it took to make it to the very top, and this was the opportunity of a lifetime.

  But it would take her across the country, which meant away from me. And as much as I cared for her, I’d try to make it work. She’d probably do the same and we’d imagine that the distance thing wouldn't be a factor.

  Except...it would.

  It wasn't just a matter of money – I had more than enough of that. But flying across the country every week or two would be tough. It wasn't just a matter of getting on the plane; it was going through airports, security, waiting for planes, taking taxis, and that was when we could fit it into our busy schedules. It all added up, and neither of us could afford to be chronically exhausted from excessive traveling.

  I pulled into my driveway and parked, sitting there for a moment deep in thought. When I got out, I walked slowly into my house. I had a lot to think about, even though I knew what I would do –the only honest and decent thing to do.

  Not telling Eryn about the offer certainly meant she'd stay here, our secret relationship would continue, and I could take this tea
m to the top of the division. I'd win praise and admiration, as would Eryn. After another year, she'd graduate, and then we could finally go public with our relationship and no longer have to meet in secret.

  But she'd miss out on the chance to go to one of the top universities in the country, fully funded, and play with the very best, hand-picked players from across the country.

  Right now, she'd told me about some situation with her scholarship here at FSU. While she hadn't given me all of the details, it seemed that there were a few problems and that if things didn't go perfectly, they'd withdraw the scholarship.

  I didn't know the full details of her financial situation, but it was obvious enough. With her mom's medical troubles, if Eryn lost that scholarship, I knew that she'd have to drop out of college.

  I knew the right thing was for her to take this opportunity. There was no way around it. If she and I could somehow make things work with being on different coasts, well...I guessed I could only dream of that.

  But that concern was secondary. Eryn's future was at stake, and I needed to tell her about this soon.

  With a heavy heart, I picked up my phone and dialed her number. “Hi, Coach Vinson,” she said as she answered.

  I guessed from her tone of voice and the fact that she was calling me Coach Vinson that she was with her sister. But that didn't matter; I was, after all, talking about “official business” here.

  “Look, Eryn, I've got some real big news. About volleyball. And, I think that your mom and sister will want to hear it, too. Is it all right if I come over to your place?”

  “Um, all right. Do you know how to get here?”

  I chuckled as she said that; I knew she was only saying that to get her sister off her case.

  “I think I remember,” I replied. “When can I come over?”

  “Well, my mom and sister are here now, so whenever is good,” she stated.

  “Perfect. I'll see you in a few minutes.”