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“Oh, umm, you can just call me Maverick.”

“Maverick.” I pointedly ignore the way my stomach warms when I hear my name come from his lips. “It’s nice to officially meet you. I’m Thane. But you know that already.”

Jesus Christ. I need to get my head on straight, sooner rather than later. It was one thing to want to flirt with the guy when I thought he was a teacher. It’s a completely other thing to still feel like that now that I know he’s a student. A student who’s nearly twenty years younger than me.

I look around the bonfire, scanning the area. I’m not looking for a way out of this conversation, I’m simply making sure nobody is in need of me. If I keep standing here silently, things are going to be awkward and I’m not sure Thane would be able to handle that. Already, I can see him chewing on the side of his fingers nervously, glancing in my direction from time to time like he’s not sure what he should say or do.

Against my permission, something rises up inside of me. Fucking hell, I want to take care of the guy. Sure, I’ve known him for all of five seconds but there’s something about him that just ticks my boxes. I want to make sure he’s okay. I want to help him find his confidence. I want to see if I can help him truly bloom.

“So,” I say softly, “what are you studying?”

Thane looks over at me, giving me a look that tells me he’s surprised I want to get to know him. Oh no, my heart is warming at the sight. I’m too old to be feeling like this, damnit!

“My goal is to get my Masters in Library and Information Science. I want to be a librarian someday.”

I can almost see it. Thane in a little cardigan sweater, a pair of glasses on his face, sitting down so he can read to a bunch of kids. It suits him somehow.

“That’s a really wonderful goal. You must love to read.”

Thane nods his head. “Of course. Reading is a great escape but it’s more than that.” He pulls at his braid, looking away. “I don’t have to get into it. I’m sure you have other people to check on.”

“No,” I say right away, shaking my head. “I’d really like to hear about it. You have my full attention.”

“Okay,” he says, barely above a whisper. He looks pleasantly surprised at my words. “When I was younger, my sister and I would hang out at the library a lot. We wouldn’t want to go home after school most days, and the library was free. It was warm during the winter and cool during the summer. There was this one librarian, Mr. Ongash. He would always check in on us and make sure we were okay. He introduced us to the library’s different programs and events.” Thane gives a little shrug but he’s finally smiling. He’s handsome when he smiles, my eyes locked onto the way the gold on his tusks shine against his white teeth. “When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up and be just like him. I really wanna be in a position to help my community, especially kids who might not have the best life at home.”

Damn it. He’s hot and he’s ridiculously sweet? Be still my heart!

I cannot be developing some weird crush on a student. I can’t. I refuse.

“I love that,” I tell him honestly. “The world needs people like you, Thane.”

He rubs at the back of his neck. “It’s not a big deal. My sister is in a similar boat. She’s getting a degree in education so she can be a teacher.” Thane looks for his sister in the crowd, suddenly grinning. “She’s taking to college life swimmingly. I’m not really surprised. She’s always been my opposite. I’m awkward around people, but she flourishes in places like this.”

I look in the same direction, finding his sister leaning against a tree, looking down at a harpy woman. The two of them are grinning at each other, both holding red solo cups.

“You’re not awkward.”

“That’s really sweet of you to say, but I know who I am,” he says, chuckling to himself but the sound is self-deprecating. I frown, not liking the way he’s putting himself down. That protectiveness rises up inside of me and I find myself speaking before I can think better of it.

“You’re not,” I say, a little too sternly. “I’ve enjoyed our conversation, Thane. Don’t put yourself down like that.”

“Oh umm, okay, Maverick. Thank you.”

“Thane!” Just then, the fairy from yesterday comes over, handing Thane a full cup. “There you are, buddy! I thought I lost you for a second.”

Thane laughs. “I’ve been in the same exact spot this entire time.”

“Have you really?” When Simon notices me, his body freezes in surprise. “Oh shit! Doctor Lee! I promise, this drink is for Thane. I haven’t been mixing alcohol with my meds.”

“You’re fine,” I say, giving him a small smile. “How’s your wing feeling?”

“Sore as fuck,” he says honestly. “But otherwise it’s fine as frog’s hair.”

“Frogs don’t have hair,” Thane says, looking confused.

“Which means it’s mighty fine!” Simon says excitedly. I crack a smile. Simon grabs Thane’s arm, dragging him away. “Come on, Thane. Let’s go meet more people.”

Thane looks over his shoulder at me, like he’s desperate for me to save him from his friend. All I can do is smile, watching him go.