would have been fun to pretend a little longer. Another glance at Justin showed that same upset expression. Hell, he’d have thought Justin would be delighted to see Toby’s boyfriend so clearly into someone else, dragging Toby’s chances at the full-time job down the drain. Could Justin be secretly gay? Maybe he wanted Mr. Gray-at-the-Temples for himself.
Without another word, Toby walked away from both horrible Justin and the sight of Ernest so obviously enjoying himself with another man. He wanted to be the bigger person and be happy for Ernest, but he just wasn’t. With no clear destination in mind, he headed for the dining room. God knew, he wasn’t hungry, but walking around the buffet table gave him an excuse not to be talking to anyone, which he just couldn’t manage at that moment.
Grabbing a plate, he stared at the piles of fresh veggies with bowls of dip, slices of cold meat, all kinds of cheeses, and a few bowls of various salads. He tonged a few carrots and a piece of cheese and nibbled on it as he pretended to consider the salad ingredients.
“Toby?”
Toby looked up into Ernest’s beautiful face, but then registered the person standing beside him. The man with the silver hair.
Ernest said, “Toby, this is Arthur Marsden.”
The name sounded familiar, but it wasn’t until Toby was shaking the guy’s hand and wondering if there were ways to kill via skin-to-skin contact that he remembered where he’d heard it. Tiffany had said to be sure to talk to Arthur Marsden because he was the head of the freaking supervisory committee! Toby’s tepid handshake became more and more enthusiastic until he was pumping Marsden’s hand like he could strike oil.
Ernest laughed. “I was going to tell you that Arthur was very anxious to meet you, Toby, but obviously that goes both ways.”
Toby smiled sheepishly and released the man’s hand. “Sorry.” He couldn’t explain that his enthusiasm came from the relief of thinking that maybe, just maybe Ernest had been thinking of Toby when he’d been pouring charm on Marsden with a soup ladle.
Marsden chuckled. “No apologies. I like your enthusiasm. I’ve heard so much about you and your dynamic teaching style.”
“You have? I mean, I’m so glad. I love the opportunity to work with these young people. They’re receptive and creative.”
“How refreshing to hear that. So many teachers feel the current generation is difficult and entitled.”
Toby shrugged. “They face pressures and challenges that no previous generation has had. One could argue that their problems are no worse than those of past decades, but they’re certainly unique. Coming at them with an attitude that says ‘this is the way it’s always been and it’s good enough for you’ is bound to meet with resistance.”
Marsden nodded as Toby felt heat rise in his cheeks. He never had known quite when to shut up.
Marsden said, “I think that realization is very productive.” He looked at Ernest. “Your praise of your friend is more than justified.”
Ernest just smiled and Toby would happily have grabbed him and kissed him. Of course, he pretty much felt that way all the time.
“Thank you for your time, Toby. And you for your recommendation, Ernest. Glad to see such a dynamic young couple.” He walked toward a group including Emily and Ron, aka Toby’s boss and boss’s boss.
Toby whispered, “Wow. Thank you.”
“I’m pretty sure Marsden is gay, so I figured we might have an ally. So when that asshole rival of yours gave up talking to him for a second, I figured I better grab him while I could.”
“He gave up talking to Marsden to come over and rake me over the coals.”
“Really? What about?”
“Take your pick. How the fact that Ron laughed didn’t mean he liked what I said.” He took a breath. “How you weren’t really my boyfriend. You were way too good for the likes of me so I must have just hired you.”
“He said that?”
Toby nodded, and as they watched, Justin weaseled his way into the group where Marsden, Emily, and Ron were all standing. He separated Emily from the group like a calf from a herd and started talking to her intensely. He flashed a look at Toby, realized Toby was looking back, and turned his body so Toby could no longer see his face.
Toby murmured, “I’ll bet that’s exactly what Justin’s telling Emily right now.” He huffed, somewhere between anger and resignation.
Ernest leaned in a little. “Keep an eye on them and tell me when Emily is looking this way.”
“Okay,