Free Can’t Hide My Love by Sara York Page A

actually trusted me. I didn’t come here to molest you, but closing the blinds and acting like there is a problem is only going to lead to people asking questions.”
    Preston frowned and rubbed his eyes with his hand. “Sorry. I just—fuck, I’ve had a stressful morning. That’s no excuse to take it out on you. I messed up.”
    “You can tell me later what’s got you wound so tight. Right now, I’m going to leave and let you cool off. I don’t think getting in an argument here would benefit either of us.”
    Preston’s lips were pressed together and his brows bunched. “I’m really sorry.”
    Alec nodded curtly, “I’ll be by later, if you want me to, that is.” He tapped the piece of paper on Preston’s desk. “Your player who is having issues with his grades will benefit from this. I’ll give him five points to his total grade if he works the day. It’s only six hours and you don’t have a game that day, I checked.”
    “Alec, I’m—”
    He shook his head, his anger increasing each second he was in Preston’s office. “Not right now.” Alec walked out of Preston’s office and right into Danny.
    “Professor H, what are you doing here?”
    “Mr. Wilcox, my name is Professor Harper and it’s none of your business why I am here. Maybe you should spend more time studying instead sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” Alec felt the eyes of the other players on him as he left the fieldhouse. He hated that Preston was right. Coming all this way over here had been a mistake. Hell, even he wasn’t really out, not at school.
    Some of the other professors knew he was gay, but he didn’t make a big deal of it. He felt guilty because he wasn’t even involved in the gay-straight alliance as faculty support. He could do more on campus. Maybe showing his support would erase some of the stigma and make life easier for students. But Preston would freak out and that was the last thing they needed for their relationship.
    After walking across campus, Alec was more disappointed in his own actions instead of angry at Preston. He’d made a mistake going to the field house without calling Preston first. It was the one place Preston had to remain safe. If any of the players thought Preston was interested in them or even looking at them, he’d lose his job.
    Preston still had a couple more hours before he was finished with practice, and Alec needed to spend some time grading papers. He’d submitted a paper and a project to a review board for a grant that would allow him to spend some money on research. The more he published, the higher the chance he had of getting tenure. The council making the decision was supposed to be getting back to him any day now. His nerves were shot and opening his email was a frightening experience.
    He still didn’t have a key to Preston’s place, but he didn’t want to stick around campus. After grabbing his brief bag and cleaning up his office, he drove to Preston’s apartment and walked around the corner to a coffee shop near Preston’s place. The coffee shop was new to him, nice, but not his usual spot. He grabbed a cup of coffee and a biscotti, then sat outside, enjoying what may be one of the last warm days of the year. He felt someone standing over him and he glanced up, surprised to see an old friend that he hadn’t run into in well over a year.
    “Brad, what the heck are you doing in town?”
    “Hey, Alec, it’s great to see you.”
    Alec stood and wrapped his arms around Brad, hugging him close. Brad stepped closer, his arms growing tighter. Brad turned his head and his lips slid over Alec’s cheek. An uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach. He stepped back but Brad got in a quick kiss on Alec’s lips. The man looked smug about the kiss.
    “Hey, Brad, I um...I’m kind of in a relationship with a guy who isn’t going to share.”
    “Oh, well, maybe he could be talked into it. You know, the last time we met up we had fun.”
    Alec tried to pull away