Chapter 30
Chapter
Thirty
MADDOX
I love you, Maddox Levine.
I love you, Maddox Levine.
I love you, Maddox Levine.
The declaration rings in my head, over and over. So much so that the words have almost lost their meaning.
Almost.
But nothing will make me forget that warm, weighted feeling that came over me when Luca uttered those words. How fucking light I felt. How my heart almost leaped out of my chest.
Luca loves me. Me.
After what I went through with Seb, and after telling Luca the entire story of my past, I never thought he’d want to be with me. I thought when he’d run out of my office, he’d wanted nothing to do with me. But he came back.
He even brought sweets.
I’m not sure if I responded the right way to his confession. I was too choked up, too stuck on the words playing a constant loop in my head. I hugged him tight to my chest, wanting him to sink into my skin.
But he seemed happy with that, happy that I want him as much as he wants me.
I kept him in my bed that night, not fucking or caressing in a sexual way. Just holding him, hoping that my touch conveyed my feelings.
I’ll give him much more than that.
Hilman will fucking die for what he did to Luca. My sweet, shy, innocent Luca.
He didn’t deserve for his first kiss to be stolen from him, the first time someone touched him in that way to be heavy, unwanted hands pawing at him. Luca deserved the heavens and Hilman showed him the fucking devil.
I’ll send him to meet him up close and personal.
I’d been stewing over how to make it happen for the rest of the day, Luca asking repeatedly if I was okay. I was too distracted to be one hundred percent present for him, but I made sure he knew that I didn’t see him any differently than I did before his confession.
Before we left today, I pressed a key into Luca’s palm, telling him to be at my place when I got home because I wanted him there. I told him I’d be a little late, since I’d be out with Crista, but when I got home, I wanted him in my bed.
The smile he gave me made my heart both stutter and break. He’s too sweet for words and Hilman almost broke him.
Now Luca has me and that’ll never happen again.
When the school day is over, Luca comes to give me a kiss and promises to have cookies waiting for me when I get home.
“My grandma gave me the recipe last night. I’ll go get groceries and I’ll see you at home,” he says, that shy smile on his face. I love how he says home, like he belongs there. He does. He belongs anywhere I am.
I hum. “Good. I’d love to eat a pan or two. They’re delicious.”
Luca stuffed me full of his favorite cookies last night before bed, telling me they’d make me feel better. He must have known I wanted to rip Hilman’s fucking head off right then.
Before he leaves, he bites his lower lip, fear clouding his eyes. “What about Al—Professor Hilman said—”
I take his face in my hands, kissing him softly. Luca sighs against my mouth, a dreamy smile tipping up his lips. “I told you, I’ll have a word with him. I promise, it’ll be okay.”
He bites his lip one more time, then nods. “Okay. If it doesn’t help, we’ll figure something out.”
“It’ll be fine, Luca. Now go. I’ll see you in a few hours.” Luca gives me one more kiss and leaves my office.
Now, I just have to wait.
I busy myself with grading papers and writing lesson plans for next semester. Mindless work that will keep me busy for a while. I have to be careful, though. Don’t want to miss my opening.
While I’m fiddling around on my computer, Crista comes in, a soft sigh leaving her lips. She saw me on Friday when I was flipping out about Luca and tried to cheer me up. I’m sure I look marginally better than I did then.
“He okay?” she asks, sitting across from me in a chair instead of on my desk.
“Yeah,” I say shortly. I want to tell her that I was right about Hilman, that he’s a fucking creep and tried to take advantage of my Luca not once, but twice.
She looks at me, expecting more, but that’s all she’s getting. She’ll find out more when this is all over.
“Okay.” She drags the word out. “You look better at least.”
“Thanks.”
Crista searches my gaze for a few beats, then nods. After trying to get more conversation out of me, she takes her leave with nothing.
I wait another few minutes then exit my office, my bag in hand, my shoulders hanging morosely.
Just as I suspected, Hilman leaves his office a few seconds before I round the corner. When he sees me, his eyes flash in triumph before he fixes his face with a placid expression.
“Levine. Why the long face?” he asks as he pulls his bag onto his shoulder.
I stare at him, but not in anger. I search his gaze and ask. “This is going to sound weird and out of left field, but… can I trust you? What with your dealings with him and all…”
His eyebrows shoot up, but he quickly says, “Dealings with who?”
“Luca.”
He sidles closer to me, dropping his voice. “What happened? Did he do something?”
“Not here.” I look around, then point to the door leading up to the roof. “Ever been up there?”
“A time or two.”
“I don’t want what I say to be heard by anyone.” I run a shaky hand through my hair, then scrub it down my face. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do. Luca… he’s finally… he’ll ruin my career.”
“Hey, hey,” Hilman says, looking around to make sure we’re alone. “Let’s go on up. We might have something in common, you and me.”
It takes all my self-control not to fucking rock his shit right now, but if I do, I won’t get what I want and Luca will still be in trouble. If I keep my cool, all of this will be over in a few hours.
Guess it’s a good thing I’m a theater professor. Acting is second nature to me.
We head up the stairs to the top of the building, four stories high. I click off the alarm as I push open the emergency exit door then walk over to the very edge of the building.
Releasing a long sigh, I plant my fists on the ledge, my shoulders heaving as I pant.
“What’s going on, Levine?” Hilman asks, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. “It’s something about Luca?”
I look over at him, picking up his faux concern and fighting to keep my scoff to myself. How does no one see through this facade? How can he fool so many people when I clocked his fake bullshit years ago?
I shake his hand off, but cover it by picking up my bag and pulling out my bottle of vodka.
Hilman chuckles and says, “Man, it must be bad if you’re drinking at work.”
“I’ve had to drink at work since he’s been my TA.” I pop the top and bring it to my lips, then pass it to Hilman. He takes a greedy swallow, hissing as it burns a trail down his throat. “Come on, let’s move back before someone spots us.”
We take a seat on one of the large fans dotting the rooftop. Hilman passes me the bottle and I tip it up to my lips.
“Luca isn’t who everyone thinks he is,” I say, shaking my head sadly. “He puts on this innocent act, with those wide brown eyes, but he’s nothing but a seducer.” I scoff and look away, letting him see my throat bob as I swallow hard.
“I knew it,” Hilman says, slurring slightly. “He’s always given me that vibe. Like he knows exactly what he’s doing, teasing us the way he does. What happened? Maybe I can help.”
“He needs this position for his resume, but he didn’t want to actually earn it.
So he made up this bullshit lie that I was sleeping with him.
When I told him I’d tell the dean, he… he coerced me into being with him.
” The lie burns on my tongue and I hate talking about Luca this way, but I need to get Hilman deeper into this trap.
Only a few more minutes, then he’ll do what I want.
Hilman laughs in a hard burst. “So he’s that type, huh? Little minx didn’t want to give it up to me. Now I have him right where I want him.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, bringing the bottle to my lips before passing it over.
“Oh, I saw what happened between you two. Now that I know he made you blow him on stage where anyone could see? He’ll give me whatever I want from him or he’ll be out on his ass. No grad… grad program for him.” He hiccups before taking another swig of his drink.
“He’s done the same to you?” I ask, surprise coloring my tone perfectly.
“Not yet, but he will. I just have to play it right. Now he can’t turn me down. Now he can’t tell me he doesn’t want it when I know what type of man he is.”
I sigh and bring up the bottle. It’s nearly empty. “I just can’t believe he’d do that to me. He looks so innocent. But he’s really a snake.”
“They all are. Here’s a secret.” He leans over and incline my head as if to hear him better, holding my breath as the smell of vodka wafts over me.
“All you have to do is tell them you have something on them and they’re hooked.
They can’t squirm away when their futures are on the line.
” The scumbag fucking winks, like what he said isn’t predatory as fuck.
My blood boils as I think about all the other students he may have done this to. Luca might not have been the first, but he’ll definitely be the last.
I hand him the bottle and he sucks down the last bit, finishing the entire bottle himself. He’s so preoccupied with wanting to spill his secrets that he didn’t even realize I hadn’t drunk any of it.
Or notice the gloves I’ve had on since we got up here.
“You have it all figured out, huh?” I ask, dropping my act. “You just… make students fuck you because you’re too pathetic to get someone your own age?”
He turns drunk eyes on me, a twisted smile on his face. “Huh? No, it’s just… just easier with these students. They’re all so… so happy to have the attention of… someone… older. I’ve just… taken what I’m owed.”
“Taken from Luca?” I stand from the fan and push him with force until he flies over the other side. “You hurt him, even after he said no.”
Hilman is too drunk to break his fall, so he tumbles over and his face slaps hard against the rocks lining the roof.
“Levine… what… what…”