Chapter 18
Huxley
Igrab us two glasses of water, then we get comfy on the couch. Oliver throws his arm over my shoulder, coaxing me to settle against his chest.
But very little coaxing is needed.
I put on Friends because everyone loves it and we don’t need to concentrate. Not that I could concentrate even if my life depended on it. Curled up against Oliver’s bulky, warm, solid frame feels both dependable and…safe.
Somewhere between episode two and three, we end up lying down.
Oliver pulls me on top of him and my mind starts to wander, amazed that it was Oliver’s first time naked with a man.
I can’t speak for him, but it seemed like he thoroughly enjoyed himself.
And his cock—damn! I’m not a size queen by a long shot, but I’ll take it. If it fits!
Oliver presses a kiss to my forehead, and a sigh slips from my lips. Thank God I’m lying down so I don’t swoon and faint like some renaissance lady in a corset. How is this man real?
Unless you’re in a relationship, most men are out the door five minutes after they come. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but, yep, I’m getting my hopes up.
Oliver’s fingers caress up and down my back, my eyelids growing heavier by the minute. Truly, this is better than a bottle of melatonin or a sleeping tablet.
When I open my eyes, I’m confused at first. Then, “Oh shit, did I fall asleep?”
“You did.” Oliver’s hand is in my hair, fingers twirling through my curls. I lift my head to look at him, praying I don’t have dried drool on my face. “Sorry. That was rude.”
Oliver smiles, eyes sparkling. “I liked it. But it is getting late. I should probably get going.”
“You could stay. If you want.” And I’m the one who asked him if we could take it slow!
Oliver seems to consider it for a moment, then his smile turns apologetic. “I wish I could, but Cazaly is home alone, and he tends to chew on the furniture if I leave him overnight.”
“You could bring him next time. Or I could bring Louis to your place.”
I’m jumping way ahead and assuming things I have no right to assume. Sitting up to give Oliver some space, I figure I should clarify rather than spend all Sunday stressed out. “That’s if there’s going to be a next time.”
Oliver chuckles, taking my hand. “There’s definitely going to be a next time. But hopefully we don’t have to wait another week. Maybe we could have a mid-week date?”
Fuck yes! “How about Wednesday?” I suggest, trying to sound casual. “We could maybe go on a double date with Maddie and Lara. That is, if you’d still like to meet them.”
“I’d love to. Set it up.”
Oliver stands and grabs his jacket, putting it on as we head to the front door.
Louis follows, his feet making pitter patter sounds on the floor.
Oliver squats down and pats the pup. “No, I haven’t forgotten you, Louis.
And Cazaly wants to see you. Maybe next weekend you and Cazaly can have a date too? ”
Louis gives a little bark, then spins around at the sound of Cazaly’s name. I want to tell him to stop embarrassing himself, but these Turner boys seem to know how to charm the pants off us.
“Yeah, he does that when he hears Cazaly’s name,” I confess. “He’s got a bad case of puppy love.”
Oliver straightens up with a smirk, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Yeah? And what about you, Hux? Have you got a bad case of puppy love?”
“Shut up.” I try to push Oliver away, but he grabs my arm and pulls me in close. The kiss is tender yet firm and fills me with hope.
We hug for a long time, my hands clinging to his broad back. When Oliver pulls away, my chest tightens; the thought of him leaving is more disappointing than I want to admit.
“Thanks for a great night. I’ll text you. Sleep well, Hux.”
I open the door and Oliver steps out. Then he pauses and turns back to face me. I’m almost certain he doesn’t want to leave either.
“Sweet dreams, Oliver.”
“Sweet dreams, Hux.”
I watch him until he’s out of sight, then finally close the door. Did tonight really happen?
I head into the bathroom to shower. Every moment replays in my mind—not just the sex stuff, but also our conversations at the restaurant and the cuddling on the couch. It was the perfect first date.
Now whose stupid idea was it to go slow? I’m not sure I’m on board with that anymore, because waiting to feel Oliver inside of me is going to be pure torture.
Climbing into bed, I try to squash my quickly-rising hope, but it’s hard to when Oliver seems like he ticks all the boxes.
Before I turn the bedside lamp off, my phone vibrates.
Oliver: Thank you for tonight. Will you think I’m crazy if I say I miss you already?
“Oh,” I sigh. He misses me. I must already be asleep and dreaming.
Even though it scares me, I reply honestly.
Me: Then we both must be crazy. Tonight was perfect x
Oliver: It was xx And hot too!
I can only imagine the foolish smile on my face. Oliver makes me feel like I’m fifteen again, but this time I’m getting it right. Swallowing hard, a tinge of melancholy seeps in at what was taken from me. I push the feeling aside, because I don’t want the past to poison the present.
Me: See you Monday x
Opening my photo gallery, I scroll through the photos I took earlier in the evening and stop on the one of us kissing. We both look so happy.
“Maybe Oliver’s the one,” I whisper. I huff, annoyed at myself. Too many romance books, too much fanfic.
Oliver’s reply appears.
Oliver: Can’t wait xx
Monday morning classes pass in a blur since my ability to concentrate seems to have grown legs and wandered away somewhere.
Well, not somewhere. It’s with Oliver in fantasy land.
My thoughts are of warm brown eyes, bulky muscles and sweet whispered words.
I run imaginary conversations over and over in my head, completely zoning out before I catch myself smiling at the whiteboard with my marker suspended in mid-air.
It’s embarrassing, and I’m in way too deep.
When an email from Principal Williams appears late morning, I’m jolted back to reality.
I’ve been summoned for a meeting at lunchtime.
Oh shit. Have I done something wrong already?
There can’t be any good reason to be called in.
Imagine getting fired from your first job.
I trace back through the last couple of weeks, trying to figure out what I could be in trouble for. Fuck, I feel sick.
Between classes, I send Oliver a text, telling him why I can’t meet him for lunch. He messages back almost immediately.
Oliver: Can you meet me after class instead? Let me know what Williams wants.
By the time I walk into Principal Williams’ office, I’m a bundle of nerves and barely able to breathe.
“Afternoon, Huxley, please take a seat.” Williams motions to the chair in front of his desk.
“Afternoon, Mr. Williams. Has your week gotten off to a good start?” I perch on the very edge of the seat, keeping my back straight.
“Oh, you know, it’s always a mixed bag in this job. How about you? Are you settled in now?”
“Yes. The kids are great. They work hard and progress quickly.”
Williams stares at me for a moment, eyes scrutinising my face. “Good to hear. I’ve had some positive feedback on your teaching, so well done on a great start to the year.”
“Thank you, sir.” I shuffle back, letting out a breath. Maybe I was panicking for nothing.
Williams clasps his hands together and places them on the desk.
“Look Huxley, I’ve had a couple of teachers raise concerns about your little rainbow badge.
” Williams pauses and points to the pin on my jacket lapel.
“After a meeting with Jodie, and reviewing the teacher’s code of conduct, we think it’s best if you refrain from wearing it.
I want you to know that this is not in any way a judgement against you.
It’s simply a decision we have made around what is appropriate for the teaching faculty. ”
Dread turns my limbs to liquid. My first instinct is to get up and run.
I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be in this office or have this conversation.
How many times in my life will I have to defend my right to love whoever I want and not hide it? When are straight people ever going to fucking understand that they wear their heterosexuality like a Goddamn badge every day of their lives? It’s 2026 for fuck’s sake.
Taking in a deep breath, I try to steady myself before speaking. “And why is it not appropriate to wear a pride flag, Mr. Williams?”
He leans back in his chair, eyes skyward as he considers his answer. “Well, Huxley, our code of conduct stipulates that teachers should refrain from sharing any private or personal information with students, including relationships and so forth.”
Okay, now I’m fucking mad as hell, anger flushing my cheeks. “Aren’t the married teachers sharing information about their relationships with their wedding bands? How is that different from wearing a badge?”
Williams frowns, shaking his head. “But they are not giving any specific details, are they? We don’t want to encourage students to engage with teachers on a personal level, and we feel the rainbow flag does just that.
Now I understand you may be disappointed with my decision, but I trust you will respect it. ”
It’s obvious I could argue until the end of time and it would have no effect on the outcome.
Faith based private schools can set their own rules about dress standards and direct staff to uphold their religion’s ethos.
There are anti-discrimination laws, but there’s still a grey area when it comes to religious education.
I stand abruptly. “I will. Thank you, Mr. Williams. Enjoy your afternoon.”
“Excellent, Mr. Sinclair. Enjoy your afternoon, too.”
After leaving the meeting, I stare at Vice Principal Jodie Forester as I pass her office, knowing she agreed with this decision.
Walking across campus, my anger is gradually replaced with fear. Williams said there were a couple of teachers who complained. Who? Is the entire faculty talking about me? Surely Oliver would have told me if he’d heard anything.
At the thought of Oliver, I want to cry.
With my head down, I enter the sports and science building and hurry to my classroom, closing the door behind me.
When Oliver hears of this, it will probably put him off coming out.
Maybe even turn him off being in a same sex relationship.
I need to speak to Maddie but there’s only five minutes until the bell.
I tap call anyway.
Maddie answers on the fourth ring. “Hey Hux, what’s up?”
“Hey, I just needed to hear your voice. I’m having the worst fucking day.”
“What’s happened?” she asks.
“I just got called to the principal’s office. I’ve been told I’m not allowed to wear my pride pin.”
“What the fuck? They can’t do that. Can they?”
I drop down onto my desk chair. “I don’t know.
Maybe, maybe not. There are laws but I know religious schools have some leeway.
He said it’s about teachers not sharing personal information with students.
That it’s against the code of conduct I signed.
I don’t want to be here, Mads. I need to go home. But I can’t.”
My heart is almost beating out of my chest, my eyes stinging with tears. I can’t have a panic attack here. Jesus.
“Okay, breathe with me, Hux. In deeply, and out slowly. That’s it. And again.”
I zone in on Maddie’s voice, breathing with her. After a minute, I feel calmer, but still sick to my stomach. “Thanks, I feel a bit better. The bell’s about to go. I have to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Hux, come over after work if you need to. We can talk about it. I don’t think they can do this. And if it gets too bad, then tell them you’re sick and go home early. Alright? Promise me.”
“I promise.”
The bell sounds.