Against the Rules by A.R. Barley Read Free Book Online Page A

programming—he arranged the open mic last semester—and still turns in all his work on time.”
    “Good work too.” A man in a natty tweed jacket joined the conversation. “He used to write science fiction. Funny stuff, very reminiscent of Douglas Adams, but still popular fiction. I told him he’d be better off working on something more literary. This year it’s been all documentary-style realism. His latest work reminds me of early Steinbeck.”
    “Makes sense,” his colleague said. “We tell them to write what they know, and it’s not like there’s been much for him to laugh about recently.”
    Kelly’s blond head had turned in their direction. He was too far away to hear what the professors had been saying, but something about the hard set to his jaw and the steely glint in his eyes told Ian that Kelly knew they’d been talking about him and he didn’t like it. The tension was back in his shoulders...and something else. Anger. Hurt. His gaze met Ian’s and their deep blue was storming like the sea in a hurricane.
    “Are we really gossiping about an undergrad?” Ian asked. He didn’t know what pissed him off more, the fact that the other professors were talking about Kelly like he wasn’t in the room or the fact that they seemed to know all the details of his situation.
    “O’Connor’s not just any student,” Tweed Jacket sniffed. “You remember Janet—”
    “Ian’s only been here two years,” Marcy interrupted. “He wasn’t here at the time.” She leaned forward slightly like she was going to let Ian in on some big secret. “You see—”
    “Don’t tell me.” Ian’s fork clattered to his plate. He knew the way Kelly tasted, the way he felt pulled tight against his body. He knew the weight of his erection against his hip. If anyone at the table should know Kelly’s story then it should be him, but he didn’t need them to tell him.
    It might be useful.
He could use the information to help Kelly. If it was accurate and if hearing it from someone else didn’t do more harm than good. His gut churned as he tried to focus on anything other than the spot where Kelly sat across the hall from him.
    Whatever Marcy was talking about, he could wait to find out until Kelly was ready to tell him.
    “Can we talk about something else?” he asked.
    “Oh yes,” Sinclair agreed heartily. “Let’s go back to talking about your sex life. That’s so much more appropriate for the table...narcissist.”
    “You’re just worried your wife likes me better,” Ian said. “I look good on a beach.”
    Sinclair gave him the finger. It was no more than he deserved, but at least they’d stopped talking about Kelly. A moment later the entire table was embroiled in a lively conversation about whether it was easier to lose weight on a low-fat or low-carbohydrate diet.
    Ian ate some more macaroni and cheese.
    Buzz
. Ian’s phone sounded in his pocket. It was probably Andrew—his brother—again.
    Buzz.
Buzz.
    Fine. He pulled the device out of his back pocket and blinked in surprise. An unknown number had texted him three times in rapid succession.
    Thanks for the Thai food last night.
    We should do it again.
    Unless the hyenas scared you off.
    Ian bit back a laugh. Calling his colleagues hyenas wasn’t exactly kind, but it also wasn’t entirely inaccurate.
    “Is that him?” Marcy asked. “The guy from the other night.”
    “You’re just jealous I have a guy texting me.” Ian’s fingers flew across the phone’s screen. Next time you should come to my place.
    Is it nice? Kelly responded.
    Nice
wasn’t exactly how Ian would put it.
Dreary
was more like it. He was pretty sure there was something evolving in the laundry room. Beige walls and pea-green carpeting wouldn’t have been his first choice for home décor, but the cramped one-bedroom was less than a thirty-minute drive from the university and the rent was almost reasonable.
    It’s private , he finally responded. No roommates. No hyenas. Solid