Her pissy attitude remains intact, but she answers, “Mr. Dunn. Counselor. His office is down the hallway to the left.”
I head that way, and once I reach the guidance counselor’s office, I knock and wait a few seconds before I hear a muffled, “Just a minute.”
Moments later, the door swings open as a student walks out and a voice calls out, “Come on in. How can I help you?”
“Ivy Walker. I need to know why my schedule change was declined.”
“Ah, welcome to Belgrave, Ivy.” He shuffles some papers around his desk as he explains, “Unfortunately, I couldn’t approve the schedule swap.”
“Why not?”
“I know about the accident. And I think I’d be doing you a disservice if I moved you out of the class. Just give it a little time. If you still want to drop the class, we can talk about it next semester.”
“I will still want to drop it.”
“It’s just a class. You don’t have to compete. But maybe you’ll decide to if you give it a chance.” He speaks with an optimism I don’t share.
“What’s in it for you?” Coach has more to gain than anyone, so why is he the only one who’s actually backed off?
“Just looking out for the best interests of my students.” Dunn stands from his desk and steps past me. “I have to meet with Principal Guidry. Stop by if you need anything, Ivy.”
“Yeah, because that worked out so well this time,” I mutter to the empty office.
When I turn to leave, I collide with a solid force that blocks me from leaving the room. As the door closes, with me still inside along with Luca, I see he is the brick wall blocking my way.
So much for him staying away today. “Move. Now.”
He props against the door as he watches me.
I reach around him and grab the doorknob, attempting to pull it open, but the door doesn’t move with him leaning his thick head on it. “What the fuck is your problem?”
He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a phone. “I always pay my debts.”
“Oh, how freaking kind of you.” I make another effort to leave. “I don’t want anything from you.”
He shifts, removing my hand from the doorknob. Rotating me until my back is against the door, his arms cage me, trapping me in place. “Your eyes are telling a different story.” His lips move way too close to mine, but all I can focus on is his hand that slowly moves up my thigh and under my skirt.
“You’re delusional.” I grab his wrist, pulling his hand off of my skin. He looks down to where my hand has his in a firm grip and I tell him, “The only thing I want is for you to go away.”
He slowly pulls out of my hold. I turn, ready to open the door. He’s behind me, though, his chest to my back as he whispers, “Then why is your ass pushing against me? Why is your breathing shallow, your heart racing? I can feel all of you.”
“Because you’re blocking me from leaving.”
He chuckles. “That’s not it.”
“I don’t know what you smoked or what substance you’re on, but this is not okay. I don’t want you. I don’t even like you.”
“You can do better than that.” He says it almost like it’s a challenge. Like he wants me to get angrier.
And it pisses me off. I don’t know what I did to deserve a psycho neighbor who can’t take a hint—or even a blunt statement—but I’m so over it. “You’re right. I can do much better than you. I’ve already met the superior version after all. And Micah is so much more appealing.” I see the tightness in his jaw, the muscle flexing which tells me I hit a sore spot, so I keep going. “Much better choice if you ask me. I’d bet he’s better at everything. Even fucking.”
“Enough.” His hand comes up, slamming against the door next to my head.
I don’t flinch; I don’t make a move to escape him. “You don’t scare me. There’s no pain you can inflict that’s worse than what I’ve already felt. After experiencing pain so bad you’d give up your soul to undo it, some guy with anger issues and a superiority complex who’s hell-bent on making my life miserable is nothing but an annoyance. Better luck next time.”
A different air covers his face. Shock or maybe pain. I’m not sure. I’m just thankful when he leans away from me. But before I open the door, he tucks the phone in the pocket of my blazer.
I remove it and drop it at his feet. “I don’t want it. Consider us even. Do me a favor and stay the fuck away from me.”
