“Oh, I see,” Nora says faintly. “I had a feeling something wasn’t right when?—“
“Alright, Norma, we’ll talk more when I come to collect the class notes. See you in a few.”
The moment I end the call, Thatcher steps up and opens his mouth.
I hold up my hand, shaking my head.
“There’s a staff shortage, so my workload just doubled.” My words are as precise and deliberate as the way I tuck my phone back into my pocket. “If you still have questions next week, Deputy Thatcher, feel free to contact methen.”
Thatcher holds up his hand too, but his face is all apologies. “All I want to know is if you were anywhere in the vicinity of this ‘Rain Dance’.”
“Seeing as it was less than half a mile from the country club, yes. I’d say I and nearly all the faculty were in close proximity.”
Thatcher purses his lips. “Were you aware that Mr. Jordan was bullying Haven?”
Ialmostask which Jordan he’s referring to. Almost.
But I don’t, and yet, Thatcher still clarifies with belated, “Ezra, of course.”
Of course.
“No.”
“I see.” He bows his head to scratch something in his book.
Thatcher isn’t just asking questions. He’s building a fucking case. And every seemingly casual inquiry is another potential nail in my coffin.
Fuck this.
“You have my number.”
I turn on my heel, pretending I’ve turned deaf when Thatcher calls out, “Actually, Professor, you never gave me your…” He trails off as I trot down the stairs, and it feels like I’m escaping by the skin of my teeth.
That creaky step groans under my weight, forcing a sour, “Piece of shit,” from me.
There’s no relief when slide into my Tesla’s red leather seat. Not with Thatcher’s penetrating stare stuck in my head.
Ezra, Kai, Haven, the dean, and now Thatcher?
How had I convinced myself I’d be able to keep head above water with all this fucking baggage? But that’s just it…I was doing fine until Haven Lee came along.
I just couldn’t resist those bright, innocent eyes, could I?
The leather steering wheel squeaks under my white-knuckled grip, pressure bleeding into a single, searing thought.
I need to decide what I want.
The fresh start I need—that Ideserve—or Haven Lee.
Logically, it shouldn’t even be a choice.
But Evelyn’smethodseradicated bullshit like logic and reason and empathy a long, long time ago.
All I’m left with is chaos…and depravity.
And a sudden, desperate need to find out where the hell Haven was off to in such a fucking hurry.
After that, I’ll find Kai and have a little chat about…boundaries.
