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

But how? And more importantly, what would he tell Darian?


Lost in thought, Stacy let the jigsaw slip. The blade hit the work table beneath the plywood, jarring his arm. “Pay attention,” Jennifer growled. “You want me to do it?”


“I want you to shut up,” Stacy muttered. The design he’d been carving was ruined—the jigsaw had snapped through a thin piece of the wood, almost breaking it off. It hung on by only a few scant splinters, nothing more. Turning off the jigsaw, Stacy cursed, “Shit. Look what you made me do.”


“Me?” Jennifer asked, incredulous. “I’m just standing here. You messed it up.”


Before Stacy could reply, a strong hand touched the small of his back, and then Darian’s voice rumbled above him. “What’s going on?”


With a guilty start, Stacy replied, “Nothing.”


Jennifer pointed out the broken plywood. “His mind’s a million miles away.”


“A million miles away from you,” Stacy grumbled under his breath.


Chapter 108