Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“Don’t put yourself down. You’re perfect the way you are, just as I am. I worked my ass off trying to make my belly flat and finally accepted it’s never going to happen.”
“Oh, Richard was always pointing out ways for me to get abs. I tried, too.” And he had. Sweated his ass off without ever seeing any results. Now, he’d just accepted this was his body. Mostly.
“You need to find someone like I did. Someone who loves you just the way you are.” She picked up today’s letter and waved it again. “But this is what I want to discuss. If it’s not Richard, is there anyone else who’s been around more lately?”
He shook his head. “No. And I’ve been paying attention. The theme one tells me it’s got to be one of my students.”
“Or someone who sneaked into the class. Did you notice anyone different?”
“Yes, but the particular day I got that note, I had extras in the class. A lot because a local high school came on a field trip. So there were extra students, parents, and teachers.” His shoulders slumped. “Hell, someone could have filmed and posted the video on TikTok or something.”
“That’s it, I’m getting you a bodyguard.” She glared when he opened his mouth to protest. “No arguments. I don’t think the cops can really do anything with this. I still think you should at least report that it’s going on, but having someone watching out for you while it’s happening makes the most sense. I won’t be able to function if I’m worrying your stalker will hurt you.”
Stalker.
She was right. That’s exactly what he had. So he didn’t argue as she called her friend and got the name of the company. He just sipped his coffee and tried not to think about the fact someone was watching his every move.
Chapter Three
Callan
Xavier had told Callan to meet his new client, Lonnie Russell, at the college, but hadn’t told him where. Luckily, all he had to do was flag down a student, who gave him the usual wide-eyed stare, and ask where Professor Russell’s room was. The girl stammered and pointed, then scurried away. He was used to that with most humans. He wore a glamour so they couldn’t see his horns and gray skin, but he couldn’t hide his height and muscles, and they always intimidated people. Not to mention his usual fierce expression, the one his brothers called his resting bitch face. He couldn’t help it. So many things pissed him off.
He strode in the direction the girl had indicated, then walked into the classroom where the client was apparently teaching. Xavier had said he was in the English department and taught creative writing.
“This first plot twist comes right before the midpoint. Then you have the consequences of the midpo—”
The teacher broke off, staring right at Callan, mouth open and eyes wide. When he continued to stay silent, every head in the classroom turned Callan’s direction. All their thoughts pounded into his head at once, and it took everything he had not to grab his head.
He’s a fucking giant.
I need to get me some of that.
What’s he doing in this class? He looks old, like forty.
Funny enough, he wasn’t getting any of the teacher’s thoughts. Feeling a little bad for interrupting their lesson, Callan moved to take an empty seat, inwardly cursing the ominous creaking sound as he folded his large frame into the plastic chair. The screech was very loud in the still-silent room.
Nothing happened. The teacher still stood slack-jawed, and all the students still stared at Callan. “Go on,” he said, waving his hand.
Professor Russell cleared his throat as he fiddled with his tie. He finally started speaking again, but Callan didn’t listen. He was too busy assessing his new charge. He was a rather short man who had the prettiest brown hair. It wasn’t just any sort of brown, but a mix of browns with streaks of near blond and even a sort of reddish copper. It probably fell to around his shoulders when loose, but he had it pulled up into a knot. A man bun. Callan snorted.
The teacher wore black-framed glasses, and as he continued to lecture the classroom, he kept reaching up to adjust them. His eyes flicked to Callan often.
Callan’s gaze stayed on him. He couldn’t help it. He liked the human’s face a lot. It was an interesting face with big eyes, wide lips, and a sharp little nose that was the cutest thing he’d ever seen.
Plus, his mind was blessedly just…quiet. It was soothing. By concentrating on the teacher, Callan was able to focus and ignore the thoughts of the students, who were as harsh as the demons in the fight club.
One of the female students looked at Callan over her shoulder, and he frowned at her. She should be paying attention to her teacher. Seeing his frown, she whipped back around, her hand fluttering near her face.