I roll my eyes. “I’m exempt, obviously.”
“To be honest, it just kind of fell in my lap. I had planned to stay on at Stanford and lecture there. But your math teacher announced his retirement, and since your principal is a family friend, she suggested I step up and fill the spot. So, I added a teaching credit to my long list of qualifications, and here I am. I wasn’t supposed to start until the new school year, but he decided to use up his leave early. The school board was more than happy for me to step in a few months early. Being a private school, they could hire me based on my PhD alone, so the teaching credit was just the cherry on the pie, really. Anyway, that’s completed now. And I’m officially not a student for the first time since kindergarten.”
“Oh wow. Congratulations. We should do something to celebrate,” I say, amazed by how accomplished yet unpretentious he is.
He leans his chin on his hand and smiles. “We will. Soon.”
I look around to make sure no one is paying attention to us before I press the issue further. “But that doesn’t seem fair. You’ve done all this work and should get your own celebration. How about I bring you a graduation cake? Formal classes are over now. If we’re careful we—”
“Maya. Please,” he says, voice strained. “You know what happened the last time we had dessert together.”
My body heats. “How could I forget.”
“Then you know why we need to wait. We’ll have a joint celebration that will last the entire summer.”
I press my knees together. “I like the sound of that.”
* * *
“I’ve decidedI’m going to give you one last chance,” Josh says. I find him leaning against my car when I exit the library. Brody has returned to the staff room, so I’m on my own. Alone with a spoiled boy who doesn’t understand the meaning of the word no.
“I thought I was a fat slut?” I stop a few feet away from him.
“If I recall correctly, I called you a fat cow. Still, I was out of line. My ego was bruised by your rejection, and I acted like a brat.”
“Is that your version of an apology?”
“That depends,” he says, stepping closer. “Do you forgive me enough to go to prom with me?” He reaches out and takes my hand.
“I’m not going to prom with anyone,” I say, snatching my hand back.
He smiles, but it doesn’t touch his hardened eyes. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am. I’m not interested, Josh. I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head, running a hand across his jaw. “No.”
“No?”
“I don’t accept.”
“What?” I’m taken aback.
“Youwillgo to prom with me,” he says, getting in my personal space.
“I said no.”
“So, did I,” he grinds out, pinching my chin between his fingers. “I don’t see any other guy offering to take you.”
I slap his hand away. “That doesn’t mean you get to stake a claim,” I snap.
He scoffs, then next thing I know, his hand is on the back of my neck, and he’s forcing his mouth on mine. I turn away, slapping him and yelling at him to stop. Then all of a sudden, he’s hauled off me with an almighty growl.
“Mine!”
It takes a moment for me to register what’s happening as I witness Brody dragging Josh off me, his fist connecting with Josh’s face. “She’s not yours. Keep your filthy hands off her,” he shouts, holding him by the shirt as Josh tries to fight back. He’s no match for Brody’s man strength and flails about like an angry kitten. It’s pitiful really.
“Stop,” I yell, running up to them and grabbing hold of Brody’s arm before he punches Josh again. “He’s not worth it.”
