Teach Me Like That (LMLT Book 2) (29 page)

My head perks up at the rumble of a truck’s engine, but I realize it’s just someone driving by. I busy myself cleaning until I find one of his discarded shirts on the floor of my closet. I forgo straightening up my room and allow myself to fall into bed with his shirt against my nose while the fabric catches my tears.

I don’t realize I fell asleep until the ringing of my phone pulls me from slumber. My heart rate increases as I allow myself to hope that it’s Kegan calling me. He hasn’t texted since yesterday morning, and I was beginning to accept he was done trying.

I swallow down bile when the school’s phone number lights up on my screen. I must be a masochist because I answer the phone rather than letting my termination happen through voice mail.

“Hello?”

“Lexi Carter?” Not Amelia’s voice asks through the phone.

“Y-yes,” I stammer.

“This is Chantel Moreau at Edgewood Academy. I’m the new acting headmistress.”

“Yes, ma’am. How can I help you?” See how polite I can be even when I’m about to get terminated for awful morality clause violations?

“I was wondering if you could come to the school for a meeting.” She shuffles some papers around.

I’d rather not, can’t this be done over the phone? “Yes,” I reply. “When would you like me there?”

“Four would be great.”

“See you then.” I hang up the phone as dread settles in my gut.

An hour later, I’m pulling up outside of the school. I went ahead and brought a handful of boxes, hoping they at least give me the opportunity to clear out my classroom.

Leaving the boxes in my car, I hold my head high as I walk into the school. The final bell rang thirty minutes ago and the parking lot is all but clear except for a few cars I recognize as the teachers’.

I smile at the tall, middle-aged woman standing at the counter.

“Ms. Moreau?” I ask holding my hand out.

“Ms. Carter?” I nod. “Chantel, please,” she says clasping my hand in hers. I notice how warm it is and smile softly at the comforting feeling it gives me.

“Let’s chat in my office,” she says turning around and heading back to the office that Amelia DuPont has chastised me in more than once.

Mr. Reese’s head turns to take me in from head to toe as I enter. The comforting feeling I had at Chantel’s introduction are now gone. I take the seat across from the desk next to Mr. Reese, trying to be nonchalant about scooting my chair a few inches further away from him.

“You know why you’re here,” Chantel says as she lowers herself into her chair.

Sweat mists my skin as she says the exact same words Amelia said at the meeting earlier this week.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I wait rather impatiently as she begins to shuffle some papers on her desk. I take the opportunity to look around her office. She may not have been here long, but the office walls already have her diplomas, and there are several personal touches on the desk and shelves.

“I have had numerous conversations this week with parents worried about their children because you’ve been out.” I inwardly smile at her news. “That being said, we have a few issues to discuss.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I tangle my fingers in my lap as a means to release nervous energy. I have the urge to beg, plead, and fight for my job. I love it here. I love it even more now that Amelia is gone, and I have no idea how this new woman is, but it can only be an improvement over what we’ve been forced to deal with.

She places a calm hand over a folder I recognize as one of the ones Amelia prepared for the board. I cringe at the sight of it.

“Two things of concern to discuss. First, the elicit behavior in public.”

I swallow roughly as I try my best to force down the bile that’s attempting to crawl up my throat. Thankfully, she doesn’t open the folder and flash the pictures. That would be more than I could bare.

“Edgewood Academy, is a very prestigious school. Teachers all over the state look to us for a position.” She gives me a chastising look. “I will not tolerate this type of public behavior from my teachers. I don’t imagine a public school would allow this sort of thing either.”

I hold my head in shame. Kegan Cole and alcohol, although a heady mix, is still no excuse for public sex. I know that now. Hell, I knew it then too.

“If you were caught and charged, you’d be out of a job, Ms. Carter.”

My head snaps up to her gaze.

“This will be your only reprimand for this particular situation. If there is ever a next time, you’ll be terminated immediately. I understand that you’re young Ms. Carter, but you’re not some horny teenager who can’t hold off until you’re in private for such actions.” I can’t one hundred percent read the glint her eyes, amusement maybe.

“You won’t have to worry about anything like this ever happening again, Ms. Moreau.” I give her a tight smile when all I want to do is jump up and down, thankful I get to keep my job. My face falls when I think about Kegan. “The man in the picture,” I begin.

“Mr. Kegan Cole?”

“Yes, ma’am. We’re dating.” At least we were dating.

“Mr. Reese,” she says angling her head to the man I’d forgotten was sitting beside me, “has explained all about Mr. Cole. He’s not a guardian of any children at this school. The fraternization policy is very black and white in that sense. It is not a violation for you to be in a
private
relationship with him.” I want to smirk at her emphasis on the one word, but I know now is not the time nor the place.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

“Now, it goes without saying that I expect you to be entirely professional with those girls. No special attention, favors, or allowances,” Ms. Moreau stresses.

“Of course not.” I bite my lip, unsure if I should ask about Amelia, but curiosity wins. “What happened with Ms. DuPont?”

She frowns at me which tells me she thinks it’s none of my business.

“It was discovered that Ms. DuPont has been stealing money from the school,” Mr. Reese says.

I snap my head to him so fast my neck aches. “Amelia?” I mean she was a straight up bitch, but embezzlement? She’s loaded, it doesn’t make any sense.

He nods.

“That explains all of the cutbacks, lack of supplies, and the, dismal at best, refreshments at Open House were dismal at best.” I look back to Ms. Moreau. “The gym teacher has been coming in on the weekends to take care of the lawn.”

“It’s unfortunate,” Ms. Moreau adds. “Her family is paying the school back immediately, so those things will no longer be an issue. Supplies will be stocked and Edgewood Academy will be returned to its previous glory.”

“What’s going to happen to her?” They both remain silent. “Nothing is going to happen to her.”

“These types of things are out of our hands,” Mr. Reese says apologetically.

I’m fuming mad as my fingers begin to ache from twisting them in my lap.

“Listen, Ms. Carter. It’s clear from the way this situation was brought to light that Amelia DuPont had some sort of personal vendetta with you. I want you to know that it’s over, and you no longer have anything to worry about so long as these types of behaviors cease. No one from the school is following you, you are not in any harm, and we hope to see you bright and early on Monday morning.” Ms. Moreau stands from her desk, holding out her hand. “We do have a staff meeting at seven in the auditorium Monday, right before school.”

“Thank you,” I say standing from my chair and turning my body so my backend isn’t right in Mr. Reese’s face, although I’m certain he wouldn’t mind. “I’ll be there,” I reply softly.

I walk out of the school before either of them can change their minds.

I know I was just complaining about everything hitting me at once. I know I should be leery of any good news I get considering the events of last week, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping that I can have my job and Kegan too. My luck has probably run out with Kegan, but I was honestly ready to turn down the job at Edgewood if Ms. Moreau had said there would be an issue with me having a relationship with him.

You may not realize this, but that is huge for me. Epic even!

It’s almost like a blind person walking into traffic without a seeing eye dog or walking stick. The amount of faith this kind of leap takes is immeasurable. I’ve never been this person. Since college, I’ve never put more than one egg in a basket. I’ve never had the courage to take a chance on an outcome I wasn’t one hundred percent sure would go my way.

Finding myself at Kegan’s door an hour later, after my texts to him have gone unanswered, makes every atom in my being stand on edge. Terrified he’ll be gone or worse yet finding out he’s here with someone else keeps me in the hallway without my knuckle making contact with his door for over ten minutes.

I pace back and forth, arguing with myself about being a coward. I call myself every name that Jillian called me during her three-day tough love session. None of it helps, not one personal chastisement gives me the courage I felt all the way over here to take that final step.

It isn’t until a neighbor opens their door and insist I either knock or leave that I make my decision. The fact that she threatened to call the cops because some random stalker-woman is wearing a hole in the carpet outside of her condo, also helped in my decision-making process.

My first knock is weak, and I know can’t be heard through the condo. I’d wager that even with him standing a few feet away, the thickness of the door masks my attempt. Knowing this, I lower my hand and walk back toward the elevator.

You have to fight for him.

My brain would pick this very moment to remind me of my best friend’s words from this morning.

Would you think any different of her if you knew that it was followed by:
Quit being a fucking pussy?

Believe it or not, it’s the second part of her urging that makes me turn back from the elevator and bang loudly on his door. I do this three times with no answer. My bravado falls as more heartache and disappointment settles in my soul. I drop my head and begin to turn around, defeat covering my body when the door is pulled open.

I turn back to find Kegan standing in his doorway with a look of disbelief on his gorgeous face. Even though he needs to trim his beard and his hair is a complete mess, he’s still the most gorgeous man I’ve ever set my eyes on. My heart begins to pound uncontrollably in my chest.

Kegan

“You’re not Chinese food.” I’m standing in my doorway seeing this perfect woman for the first time in days, and that comes out of my mouth. At least the ‘I’d still like to eat you’ stays in my head rather than cresting my lips.

Silence crackles between us and my eyes drift to her flexing fingertips. She wants to touch me as much as I want my hands on her. Looking at her, I’m rendered breathless. I didn’t know how much my heart needed her until just now.

“I love you,” I blurt. Fire burns in her eyes at my words. “I didn’t truly realize it until just now.”

She grins at me. “I know that if you knew before now, you would’ve divulged that information sooner.” She takes a step closer. “You have a tendency to speak before you think.”

I shrug. “Character flaw.”

“It’s working for you right now.” She walks past me into the living room. “I’m here to apologize.” I have the urge to wipe the tear that is silently rolling down her cheek. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”

I swallow roughly. The words I’ve wanted to hear all week have a greater effect on me than I had anticipated.

“It’s over,” she whispers.

My heart stops. This can’t be the end. She’s not the type of person to rub salt into an open wound by showing up here just to verbalize something she’s already said.

“The issues at school are over,” she explains.

The amount of relief that washes over me nearly brings me to my knees. “I know,” is all I can manage to say.

Her eyes flash to mine. “You know?” Anger marks her tone. “You knew I didn’t lose my job, and you’re here ordering Chinese food? You should have come to me.”

I shake my head. How do I explain that it has taken every ounce of power I have not to go to her? I can’t formulate words powerful enough to explain the loss I’ve felt this week.

“I’ve been coming to you for weeks, Lexi. I needed you to come back to me this time.” I take a step toward her, and she takes a step back.

The hurt in her eyes is palpable, and I feel like an asshole all over again for being the cause of that pain.

“A test? This was some sort of test?” Her voice has grown shaky, and the amount of tears on her face has tripled.

“No, baby. Not a test. But if I went to you, I’d spend my life wondering if you were in this because you felt obligated, or if you were with me because you honestly wanted to be. Staying away has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” When I step forward, this time, she doesn’t shrink away.

“If I knew how you felt, I would’ve been here a lot sooner. For a man who can’t control his mouth, you sure kept your feelings under lock and key.” She sighs into my chest when I pull her close. “I would have told Amelia to shove that job if I’d known…”

With gentle hands wrapped around her forearms, I pull her from my chest. “What are you saying, Lexi?”