“I hope so. We were looking forward to you joining us,” she said, her words soft and sincere. She didn’t speak loud by any means, but that didn’t stop Samantha from snorting at the table nearest the copier. Her little laugh sent ice into my veins, and before I did something stupid, I had to get out of there.
I forced a smile and went back to my classroom.Okay, what could I sell?What if it went to Christopher? God, that would eat me up. I had a dull headache and no answers, but it didn’t matter—there wasn’t time to think about a solution when lunch ended and twenty-four little pairs of feet bounced back into my room.
That was the one thing I could almost always count on. My students. They could distract me from whatever mess my life was in, and I was thankful.
The realizationthat I had a spending problem stung. Knowing the owners of Bonny’s Boutiques had its perks for many reasons. Getting notified when vintage purses and dresses arrived tended to make my day, but now, it was reversed. She told me if I ever wanted to sell part of my vinyl collection to them, she would happily take them. I rushed home to do just that. I got my Beatles albums that my dad gave me and carefully placed them in the back of my car. She squealed when I handed them to her. Before I could change my mind, I accepted the fifty dollars Bonny offered me and rushed out.
My lower back sweat more than I was comfortable with, but now I could hang with the other teachers for a few hours. I parked a little too fast, my tires over the painted lines, and hustled into the school. I didn’t have much time to drop it off before heading to the tutoring place, so I booked it toward Helen’s room. There were quite a few staff members there at the late hour, but it wasn’t uncommon during the first week or two back. I smiled at Maggie, who was on the phone, before I turned down the hall leading to the upper level classes.
I got three steps closer toward her door when Samantha appeared like a black cat, quiet and menacing. Not a good sign. Her eyes even seemed to glow when she looked me up and down. I sucked in a breath when she crossed her arms, arched a brow, and smiled like she knew all my secrets. “Excuse me, I need to drop this off and head out.”
“Oh, is this themoneyyou said was tied up for a month? Interesting.” She stepped closer to me, keeping that creepy smile on her face, and eyed my hand. “I’m hungry and want the cash. So give it to me, or I’m calling Fritz. It’s your choice, really.”
“Samantha, this is for theHops and Hoopstrip. This is beyond you and me and my brother. Please.” Panic had my heart beating so fast it hurt, and my eyes stung a bit. It would besounfair if my spot went to Christopher, who started this whole thing in the first place. Seeing him friend everyone would slowly kill me. It was the social event of the semester. Missing that would be awful. They’d bond and have inside jokes for the whole year. Last year, we went to an escape room, and we stilled talked about it. I gritted my teeth as I clenched the envelope tighter. Agreeing to this challenge was all Christopher’s fault. If he weren’t such an ass, I wouldn’t have accepted thenot-a-dimecrap.
No. It’s mine. I shouldn’t have paid her.I shook the thought out of my head when she ran her tongue over the side of her mouth and grinned.
“I don’t give a shit if it’s for neglected puppies. None of that matters. Give me the cash.” Her voice took on a dark tone, and my stomach dropped. She took her time getting her phone out of her pocket and sliding her fingers over the device. “Hey, Fritz, it’s Samantha. We have a lot to talk about. I left because your sister—”
“Fine, fine.” I shoved the money at her. “Take it.Don’ttext my brother, please.”
She grinned like a Cheshire cat, winked, and patted my hand. “I always love when we get together, don’t you? It would’ve beensofun being your sister.” Then she walked off, swaying her hips.
My spot would go to Christopher, and everyone would wonder why I couldn’t pay—that sucked, but protecting Fritz was more important right now. It would always be the most important, and this was my penance for helping him. With a brief moment to feel bad for myself, I straightened and told Helen I was out.
Now, I had to hustle to get to tutoring on time and try not to cry.
Chapter Eight
My body saggedwith exhaustion as I loaded myUpcostume into my car and was glad to slip into a pair of jeans and a green blouse that had a high neckline after the mess of a day. Whenever I went to the literacy center, I spent most of the time bending over or on the ground helping, and it got annoying to always make sure my cleavage wasn’t on display, so now I made sure I never had any.
I shoved my costume into a bag and grabbed my stuff before locking my classroom door and heading toward my car. Scanning the area for Samantha sent another wave of irritation through me, making my skin itch. That stunt she pulled, demanding the cash and threatening to text my brother…it caused a sharp pang in my chest. She had the unique ability to send a spike of anxiety crashing through me, and I hated not feeling confident and prepared. The only other person who could throw me off my game was the infuriating, handsome man who taught next door to me.
Speaking of…Christopher stood next to his beat-up car—a Honda that was at least ten years old—and was on the phone. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but his tone was sharp andloud. The fact it wasn’t directed at me gave me pause.
“Then use your brain,” he said, putting one hand on his hip and glaring at the playground. “We’re left picking up the pieces from your mess. Figure it out yourself.” He muttered a cuss word before snapping his gaze to me, and a fire brewed behind his blue eyes as he clenched his jaw so hard, it made my own teeth hurt to see it.
“I wasn’t listening,” I blurted out, fumbling with my keys in my hand and looking down.
“Stop lying. I’m getting sick of the act,” he snapped, the dark edge I hadn’t heard from him all day back in full force.
“What? I’m not…okay, I didn’t mean to listen. And it was only the last part.”
“No, you know what I’m talking about.” He clenched his teeth and shook his head at me, like I was the most disappointing person in the world. “Cut the shit, okay? I’m over it.”
I ran my teeth over my bottom lip as my stomach bottomed out with dread. “Cut…what shit?”
“Christ, I don’t have time for your crap.” He opened his car door with a loud squeak that showcased how old his car was, and how new mine was, and he slammed it when he got in.
“Okay then,” I mumbled, wishing I waited another thirty seconds before leaving so this showdown wouldn’t have to happen. Things had been uneventful, and this untimely conversation gave me a headache. Samantha and then him. The worst duo. I unlocked my door and tossed my materials in the back seat, and without a glance, I got in and drove out of the parking lot. Christopher sat there, watching me drive away, still in his stupid Gru outfit, and his expression only darkened.
He was back to hating me, so that was great. It still blew my mind that this was the man who laughed and was kind and considerate—and giving—in bed all those months ago. It was like that entire night was a figment of my imagination.
It sucked. Totally, sucked.
My phone rang over my car speakers, and I answered without looking at who it was. “Hello?”
“She’s back in town.”
