J.M. Snyder

At 16, Stacy Evans dropped out of high school in the hopes of moving on with his life. But four years later, he's stuck in an abusive relationship with Lamar, a "friend with benefits," and works long hours at a dead-end job just to get by.<br><br>Then his mother enrolls him in a program to earn his GED. There he meets Darian, a woodshop teacher who is everything Stacy's friends are not -- smart, successful ... and who seems to take a personal interest in helping Stacy turn his life around. The two develop a rapport that keeps Stacy after school just to spend extra time with him. In intimate moments alone, they grow closer than just student and teacher.<br><br>On the right track for once, Stacy has a chance to choose between his troublesome past and a promising future with Darian. But his jealous friends won't let him go so easily.

Stepping Up to the Plate

“Hey!” he cried, twisting to get free. “Put me down, dammit. Put me the fuck—” His feet touched the ground and he looked up to find Darian holding him back. 


The woodshop teacher’s warm eyes were stern now, no sign of laughter in them, and Stacy searched their depths for some hint of recognition but couldn’t find one. It was like they had never met—Stacy was just a troublesome student and these hands on his waist, this bulk blocking him from the other guys, this was just another teacher breaking up a fight. Shrugging his shirt into place, Stacy smoothed the fabric down over his stomach and frowned at his hands. “Sorry,” he mumbled. He wanted to go home now.


Darian took Stacy’s elbow, his large hand completely encircling the arm. Stacy winced, expecting pain, but the touch was firm and kind, not pinching, not tight. Nodding at the tray in front of them, forgotten on the counter, Darian asked, “This yours?”


Chapter 34