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 undid his own apron. “Can I take a quick break? Just like five minutes or so, get some fresh air. I’ll be back when she leaves.”


“Sure.” At the swinging doors, Darian looked back to give Stacy a salacious wink. “When you get back, we can pick up where we left off.”


Stacy laughed. “Sounds like a plan.”


He waited until Darian pushed through the doors into the main room, then headed out the back door, shutting it carefully behind him so it wouldn’t slam. Only once the latch caught did he remember the wooden block inside the shop, but he’d just come back in through the front. Quickly he headed for the far end of the building, stepping around half-empty garbage cans and discarded pallets as he dug through his pockets for change.


Chapter 103