Secrets and Lies 3 (The Ferro Family) by H. M. Ward Page B

places his hands on his thighs. He glances around the classroom and then back at me. “What’s your relationship with him?”
    I bristle, mainly because I don’t know. It’s not what it should have been, and it’s not what I thought it was, which means it’s a total clusterfuck. “I met you five minutes ago, so I’m going to go with it's none of your business.”
    Peter smiles, nods, and pushes off the desk. “It was worth a try. From what I know of Nathan, he’s completely alone. His mother passed when he was young, and his father raised him alone. He has no aunts or uncles. No one attended the funeral besides Nathan.”
    My stomach twists and I feel sick for a moment. “That’s horrible.”
    He nods. “I agree. When Nathan didn’t show yesterday, I was worried about him. I have an idea of what he’s going through,” Peter's voice tightens as he speaks, but he doesn’t pause, “still, some secrets are meant to be exposed. Now that he knows the truth, I'd suspect he needs a friend. If you know anyone who might be able to offer a shoulder or drive him to a bar, please call them.”
    I’m quiet. I don’t know his friends. As far as I know, he doesn’t have any. I’ve never seen him bullshitting with anyone. In fact, he only seems to talk to his students, Jax, and me. I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose as a headache threatens to rip my face open. “As far as I know, he doesn’t have friends. I’m not worthy of the title either. I don’t even know where he lives.” My eyes have gone glassy and sting.
    When I glance up at Peter, he holds out his phone. A map is glowing softly with a pin stuck in the middle of a street. “I do. And I suspect he’d rather see you than me. You better head out before he does something stupid. That news was hard to hear.”
    “What was it?” I know I shouldn’t ask, but I have no idea what we’re dealing with. I’d assume it has something to do with his father’s will or his estate. Still, I’m not sure why that would involve the Ferro family. Maybe a long-forgotten loan gives them a claim to his stuff? I doubt that warrants the reaction I just witnessed.
    Peter shakes his head. “I just met you, and it’s not my secret to tell. My job was to make sure Nathan knows. Now it’s up to you to help him through it.”
    “It’s not like that.”
    “Really? From what I saw, it is.”
    My eye scrunches up, and I look up into his face. “How long were you standing there?”
    “Long enough. True friends are rare. Despite what events might transpire due to employment or status, it won’t change your loyalty, will it?”
    I shake my head and look away. I wrap my arms around my middle and turn toward the darkened hall, wondering if I should go to Nathan’s house. Will he let me in or slam the door in my face? Everything changed in a matter of seconds. When he said he was the professor for this class, I nearly died. I can’t help but wonder why. Why am I pulled so hard toward this man? It’s like there’s a prefab connection there, and every time I see him it ignites. What causes that? Is it friendship? I sense something more between us than a good time.
    I find my voice. “Text me the address. I’ll find him.”

Chapter 3
    I can’t believe this night isn’t over yet. The entire day has been one mess after another. I ease my bus out of my coveted parking spaces and head down the street. This trip is going to use all my gas. As it is, I only have a quarter of a tank, and I probably get two miles per gallon. I shift the yellow beast into gear and stop thinking about it. The raccoon stirs in the back. As long as he stays back there, I’m okay. If he jumps on my head, well, that’s another issue.
    A few turns later, I stop the bus in front of an old brownstone in the nicer part of town. I cut the engine and pull the lever that opens the doors. I leave them open and rush up the sidewalk, my guts twisting inside my body. I feel sick. He’s going to tell