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CJ gathered her
    items, slipped on her jacket and followed him out the door. After
    double-checking to make sure it was locked, they walked out of the
    school in silence.
    Marvin Whittle was waiting out front when they pushed
    through the doors and stepped out into the cold fall air. “Afternoon,
    Marvin,” CJ said politely.
    “CJ,” he responded even as his eyes narrowed as he looked at
    the man beside her. “I see you are running later than usual today.”
    She sent him a shaky smile. “Well, being Friday I didn’t really
    want to take papers home with me, so I finished grading them here.
    Will I see you at the game tonight?”
    His eyes brightened a bit at that. “Of course. I will see you then.”
    He walked off with barely a nod to Osten.
    “I don’t think he liked seeing me with you,” Osten observed.
    “Marvin doesn’t like much,” CJ countered. She began walking to
    her vehicle as he fell into step beside her.
    “Except you,” Osten remarked, frowning over the possessive
    way Marvin had looked at Chantoya. He had decided she was his
    woman, and no man should be looking at her like that Physical Educa-
    tion teacher had been.

F o u r
    Osten sat inside the black Escalade as CJ drove them to the
    game. She had on a pair of blue jeans and a sweatshirt with the school’s
    mascot on it. In the back seat she had a thick coat and gloves for later on
    in the night. Her thick hair was free and fell around her shoulders.
    While he gazed at her, CJ watched the road and tried to pretend
    that she hadn’t noticed the way he looked as he walked into her apart-
    ment. He wore a pair of black jeans that should have been deemed
    illegal the way they cupped his lower body. He had a Navy sweatshirt
    on that was gray with black lettering. A black leather jacket lay in the
    back next to hers.
    Pulling into the school’s lot, CJ parked a short distance away
    from the stadium’s entrance. Parking spaces were rapidly filling up.
    They got out together and Osten waited while she grabbed her jacket
    and slid it on, hiding her full chest from his searching gaze. As she
    locked the vehicle, he put his jacket on.
    Together they walked to the gate and CJ waved at the teacher
    standing there. Then they proceeded on to the bleachers where CJ
    stopped to chit and chat with many adults and students. It was appar-
    ent she was a very well-loved teacher.
    As they climbed up to their seats, CJ stumbled. Osten’s strong
    hand was there to make sure she didn’t fall. “Are you okay?” he asked
    in her ear.
    “Yes, I’m fine. Embarrassed, but okay. I have climbed these so
    many times, I shouldn’t be tripping.” CJ loved how protected she felt
    with his hand on her elbow.
    “Just so you are okay.” Osten reluctantly released her arm and
    sat down beside her after she chose a spot.

    36
    Aliyah Burke
    “I am,” she reassured him.
    “Well, I could kiss it if you think that will help,” he teased softly
    as the crowd began cheering for the home team as it took the field.
    CJ trembled. What a wicked thought that gave her. “I’m okay,
    really.” She shoved him playfully with her shoulder. “It may hurt later,
    though.”
    The look he sent her banished each and every chill she had on
    this cold evening. It was full of promise and a primal hunger that
    should have scared her. “I’ll make sure to kiss away all your pains,” he
    vowed.
    They focused on the game, yet were constantly and most assu-
    redly aware of each other throughout the night. Osten bought her a hot
    dog and some hot chocolate at halftime. CJ was having a ball; while she
    loved football, tonight’s game was extra special and she knew it was
    because of the man with her.
    Her school’s team the Raiders won in the last two minutes of the
    game. CJ was hoarse from yelling and cheering on her boys. Osten got
    into the game right beside her and was shouting just as much as she.
    They stayed in their seats while everyone else headed out. When
    the crowd had