Page 120 of Sex Positive

“I think it’s time people are given proper sex education so they have everything they need to decide what’s right for their bodies.” Charlie smiles. “That’s all anyone wants. The freedom to choose.”

Two and a Half Years Later

Wes

If you askhim outright, he’ll deny it to his grave, but Wesley Quinn is a romantic. Hopelessly, undoubtedly. Despite his denial, he suspects Charlie knows this, and he loves watching her figure things out, how he can see her thought process play across her beautiful face. The crinkling of her brow, the slight wrinkle of her nose, the twist of her lips when an answer comes to her a moment before a quick retort leaves her clever mouth.

But he’s certain she’s not expecting what he has planned this weekend.

The mid-September sun warms the Chicago sidewalk, glinting off the buildings. A perpetual breeze drifts through his hair, and he loosens his tie after a long day of teaching. So satisfying in a way he never thought possible.

His phone buzzes, and he pulls it out before stepping through the familiar revolving glass doors.

Emmy

Everything all set for tomorrow?

Wes

Yup. She has no idea

“Mr. Quinn!” John, the middle-aged security guard, greets him with a good-natured smile. “How you doing, my man?”

“Excellent, John. How’re the kids?” Leaning against the desk, he briefly sets down the white box he carried all the way across town.

“Sophie’s talking about trying out for basketball this year, and Will can’t get enough of the book you gave him.”

“What can I say?” Wes grins. “Percy Jackson is the best series for a kid obsessed with Greek gods.”

John fist-bumps him before nodding toward the elevator. “Head on up. It’s almost closing time.”

“You know I’m going to have to bribe her to leave.” He points at the box.

John laughs, waving him off.

Wes takes the stairs instead, climbing two at a time until he reaches the third floor and enters the office. Waving to Matilda, the receptionist, he follows the familiar path down the hallway and past the open-concept work area where most of the staff does its brainstorming and program planning. Only a few people linger, including some he recognizes from the parties and work functions he attends as Charlie’s arm candy—a moniker she hates but he loves because it makes her blush.

Hearing a muffled voice behind the closed door, he knocks softly before pushing it open.

“I mean, you know my stance on this.” Charlie lifts her big brown eyes the moment he enters the room. She smiles, waving without pausing her conversation with the person she’s speaking to on the video call. “They can complain and throw accusations around all they want, but there’s nothing in the curriculum that proves I’m ‘peddling smut’.”

Wes snorts, and she shoots him an amused look. Her office window overlooks a small park. A bookshelf lines the wall, overflowing with binders labeled with the names of different podcasts and video series as well as books on women’s health, sexual health, transgender health, wellness, and education. There are two overstuffed navy armchairs for guests in front of her simple oak desk, where her planner and a coffee mug of pens sit next to the photo of him and Emilia dressed as Woody and Buzz Lightyear that he stole from his dad’s office.

Rounding her desk, he lowers himself so he’s in view of the camera, wraps his arms around her shoulders, and presses his mouth to her neck.

“Hold on, Charlotte.” On the screen, Theo raises a hand. “Something’s wrong with your connection. Some ugly blob just appeared behind you.”

Wes grins, resting his chin on Charlie’s shoulder. “Nice to see you, too, Theo.”

“Clearly I’m not paying John enough if he’s allowing riffraff like you into the building.”

Wes laughs. “Riffraff? Okay, Grandpa.”

Charlie covers his mouth with her hand. “Anyway, I’ll take another look at the material over the weekend, but I’m not budging on this. You know that, Theo.”

Theo nods, smiling fondly. “I do. That’s why you’re the best.”

Charlie preens.