I roll my eyes, beginning to walk away. “Yeah, just remember our deal.”
“Yeah, we’ll see,”he mutters under his breath, dropping the envelope beside him.
I stop in my tracks, turning to him. “Wait, what was that?”
Did I hear him right?
“You make it sound like you’re calling the shots here.” He leans forward, glaring at me.
I shake my head, panic coursing through my veins. “Because I am. That’s it, Derrick. End of the deal.”
He gives me a once over, starting up his car. “It’ll end when I say it ends.”
My mouth drops as I watch his car rip away into the darkness.
What the actual fuck does that even mean?
Is that the last time I’ll ever see Derrick Voss? Or, did I just sign a deal with the devil?
***
I blink repeatedly, forcing my mind back to the present. I rack my brain for an answer to her question.
“Uh…work’s been busy, I guess.” I shrug, trying to sound casual.
Mrs. Baker sighs heavily, closing her notebook back, and gives me a long, sympathetic look.
“Tobias, if you don’t want help, then you can’t receive it. My job isn’t to just sit here and look at your face, as handsome as it is.”
A smile pulls at the corner of my lips. “Are you allowed to say that to me?”
She giggles softly. “No, probably not. But I trust you won’t say anything, just like you should trust me.” She clasps her hands together on her lap and leans forward. “You and I both know that you are underno obligation to tell me anything. But, I do sense that there’s been a shift with you lately, and before whatever it is gets too big for you to hold on your own, I need you to know that you’re safe here. You’re safe to talk to me. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. You get that, right?”
I lick my lips, my mouth becoming dry all of a sudden. She’s wrong. Idohave to carry it. No one else deserves this stress. I did it to myself, and I deserve to bear it on my own.
“Yeah, I get that.” I lie.
“Good.” She nods, smiling softly again. She glances at her watch, and her eyebrows shoot up. “Oh goodness, it looks like we’re almost out of time. What do you feel like chatting about for our last few minutes?”
I shrug again.
She tilts her head.“How’s Elijah doing?”
My breath stutters as I remember that glorious man. Myfavoritefucking question.
How’s Elijah, she asks?
2
Tobias
“Fuckingamazing.” My voice is thick as my pulse quickens. My control is slipping, and I’m finding it harder to keep it together. I grip the arms of my office chair and lean back in the leather seat. “You’re so fucking sexy—”
Suddenly, three sharp knocks on my office door make me jump. They waste no time swinging open the door.
“Jesus,” I blurt. I curl closer to the desk, scrambling to try and hide my waist.
“Hey Toby-Bear.” Claire sings, stepping into the room.
