“You gotta talk to us,” I say to her quietly, and open my mouth to pry more when a throat is cleared to our left.
Rhea stands in the doorway—black jeans, old band tee knotted at her stomach. It’s always startling to see her in teacher mode. The tags around her neck click as she steps forward into the hallway and closes the door to her class behind her.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?” She asks, and I go to respond only to realize she’s talking to Daisy.Of course she is, you oversized chipmunk.
“I’m good, Ms. Drake,” Daisy says quietly, and I let go of her and shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans. Her eyes finally meet mine, and I can see the worry there, clawing at her better judgment to keep quiet, but she’s growing just as attached as I am.
Shit.
“Why did they call your Dad then?” She pushes Daisy, who shakes her head and sighs.
“Garth,” Daisy and Rhea groan at the same time for clearly very different reasons.
“If I weren’t your teacher, I’d give that kid a swirly,” Rhea grumbles. The smirk that forms on my lips dies just as fast as the loud clicking of Riona’s heels cuts down the hall toward us.
“Run,” I mouth. Rhea’s brows knit in confusion as she turns to see why I said it.
“Mom,” Daisy says as she comes to a slow pace, no doubt ready to bark orders at all of us, “this is Ms. Drake. My art teacher.” Riona turns to Rhea and offers her a smile I’ve never seen in my life.
“I’ve heard so much about you.” Riona extends her hand, and Rhea shakes. “Ms. Cody, Daisy’s mother.” The recognition flickers across her face, and she tries to hide it, but Riona is too quick. “Yes.ThatCody.”
“Small town,” Rhea manages to get out, but it’s very clear that she wants to ask a hundred inappropriate questions.
“Very,” Riona says, her voice tighter than before. She turns back to Daisy, looking her up and down, “Have everything?” She asks, and Daisy nods.
“It’s my week, Riona.” I try to swallow the possessive growl in my voice, but it’s silenced with one sharp, vicious look.
“I’ll bring her by the Hollow tonight. I’d like to have a conversation with her.” Riona lowers her voice to keep the conversation private, and Rhea does her best to avoid it completely.
As if this isn’t awkward enough, being read to filth by my ex with her watching. You’re pathetic, and she sees that now.
“Is this not a conversation we shouldallbe having, together?” I say.
“You lost that privilege years ago, Bright.”Death blow.
“Yeah, put the gun down, Riona. I get it,” I swallow. “I’ll see you tonight,” I say to Daisy as Riona wraps an arm around her and leads her from the school. It’s another two minutes before Rhea finds her voice again.
“What was that about?” She asks, and I run my hand through my hair as I turn too fast and end up practically chest to chest with her. I expect her to flinch or jump at my sudden movement and our closeness, but she doesn’t move; she just stares up at me, waiting for an explanation.
“Brighton,” she says.
“Sorry,” I grumble. “I don’t know. Daisy won’t talk, and her homeroom teacher’s tiptoeing around that Garth kid.” I put my arm out in the direction we came and sigh.
“Mr. Dickson,” Rhea rolls her eyes.
“Mr. Disson,” I correct with a small laugh.
“Dickson,” she emphasizes. “Garth Robertson is a shitty little fuckwit with a god complex.”
“Where have I heard that name before?” I ask her, trying to keep my cool.
“He’s a Robertson,” she says, like that should explain everything. “Hockey legend turned Mayor of Harbor.”
“He’s Ricky Robertson’s kid?” I scoff and shake my head. “I used to fucking pummel that asshole in high school,” I say, and her smile grows, “you’re being liberal calling him a legend.”
“He’s Harbor royalty,” Rhea laughs, and I realize she had been mocking him the whole time. “And so is his spoiled son. His girlfriend has decided that Daisy is her new chew toy, no clue why, they’re good at sneaking around and playing nice. But Garth and the hockey team have taken it upon themselves to start crap with Daisy’s best friend when no one is looking.”
“Lori?” I ask, and she nods with pride that I know who she's talking about. It stings, having them all think I'm standing on the outside of their circle, but I know my Daisy.
