I huff. “I will never be anywhere with Sawyer. What youthinkyou saw won’t ever happen again.” As I say it, my heart sinks into my stomach.
“Why not?”
“For one, Sawyer said it would never happen again . . . immediately after he jumped away from me like a celiac from a croissant.”
Her head tilts to one side. “He said that?”
“Literally used those words.”
“Why?”
I shrug like I’m totally unaffected. But I’m reallyreallyaffected.
The truth is, the Funny Bunny incident wassoinappropriate,soout of character for me, that I can’t deny my attraction to Sawyer anymore. I’ve always known Sawyer is hot, just like everyone in town knows it. But I, Brie Casey, am drawn to him like a shark to blood.
No, that’s not right. Something less predatory.
Maybe a fly to shit.
Either way, it’s pretty damning evidence, right? Despite the headless bunny costume, he wasstillthe hottest person I’ve ever seen. There’s no getting around it. It’s nonsensical. Infuriating. And, because of our past, there’s no winning with him. When his attention is on me, I want to choke him. When he’s ignoring me, I want him to choke me.
Wait. No.That’s not what I meant.
But see? I’m not myself anymore. This is why a repeat of the Funny Bunny incident can never happen.
That and . . . he’s myboss. Add that to the mile-long list of reasons why I can’t stay in Blue Ridge. I can’t keep working under him.
Before the stupid voice in my head can make a pun about wanting to work under him, I say, “It doesn’t matter because I can’t get involved with someone at school anyway. No sex with colleagues. It’s my rule, and I’m sticking to it.”
“Wait, why?”
My lips press tight. I won’t be telling anyone here in Blue Ridge—or anywhere—everything that happened at Everett Academy, but Tess has become important to me. She’s a friend, and I know she can keep a secret. I can tell hersomething.
When I lean in, she mirrors me. “There was this older teacher at my last school. Christopher.”
Her eyes narrow on the name. “He sounds like a dick.”
Thisis what friends are for.
“He was, I just didn’t know it yet.”
I tell her the abridged story, focusing on it being a short-lived, unsatisfying relationship and learning he was not divorcing his wife who—surprise!—was on the board. I leave out the gossip that spread like wildfire, turning me into a pariah, and how all the parents and staff turned on me.
She leans back in her seat. “You literally got the phone call about subbing that morning, packed up your apartment, drove all night, and then you came in to discover Sawyer is your new principal?”
“Uh-huh.” I suck down the cocktail our server brought during my monologue.
I can tell she senses there’s more to the story, but she doesn’t ask. “That must have been one hell of a breakup.”
“More than you know.”
She nods, like this confirms her suspicions.
“You know what?” Tess says. “Fuck ‘em. I’m glad you’re here.”
Her eyes are so fiercely sincere, I can’t help being grateful too. “Same.”
Tess settles into her seat like she’s ready to pounce, and dips her head forward. “Now tell me what Sawyer did to you when ya’ll were younger.”
