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

Stacy rolled down his window and heard a dog bark into the night. “We’re almost there,” James said.


Stacy gave the boy a tight grin, then glanced over at Darian only to find his boss staring back.


Before long they turned into a short, gravel drive that stopped in front of dark bushes bathed in shadow. The porch light illuminated a small stoop leading to a screen door. From what Stacy could see of the house, it was small but neat, the wooden siding freshly painted some pale color like white or ecru, and dark green shutters framed the windows. A second story rose up into the darkness—no siding there, just a light stucco that loomed almost ghost-like in the night. River stones lined the driveway and edged along the bushes, almost out of sight.


Chapter 98