Always You(36)

“Paige. What can I do for you?” I asked her, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. I sat back in my chair as Paige perched herself on the edge of my desk, one leg over the other, her skirt riding dangerously high. “I’d prefer you sit in the chair if you have something you need to discuss with me.” I gestured to the seat that was safely on the other side of my desk.

She narrowed her eyes but obliged, jumping off my desk and walking around to the chair. “I was hoping I could arrange some one on one time with you?” She raised her eyebrow, her lips forming a smile as she held my gaze.

“One on one time?” I repeated.

“You know. Tutoring.” There was no other way to interpret the tone of her voice. She may as well have put tutoring in air quotes. “I hear you offer tutoring to some of your students.” Her eyes twinkled at me as she smiled.

“Ms. Warner,” I began stiffly, “if you’re suggesting what I think you are suggesting, I’ll have no choice but to report this.”

“Come on, Mr. Reid. I’m almost eighteen. You’re not that much older than me. All I’m suggesting is that we have a little fun. Nobody else needs to know.”

I wanted to laugh in her face. Did she honestly not get it? Even if I weren’t her teacher, I’d have no interest in “getting” with her. Ever.

“Ms. Warner, please take your seat. And if you bring this up again, I will report you.”

Her face went red. She stood up, narrowing her eyes at me.

At that moment, students began to file into the classroom. Paige turned abruptly and walked over to her desk. She slumped down, still glaring at me. The look in her eyes made me uneasy. I didn’t doubt that if she wanted to, that girl could stir up a shitload of trouble.

Trying to forget Paige’s proposition, trying not to pay too much attention to Wrenn, all the while trying to teach a class, was impossible. Both girls were staring at me, Paige with a scowl and Wrenn . . . well, she just looked at me with the same longing she always did.

“Paige, can you please read from the top of chapter twelve.”

He eyes narrowed, but then she dropped her gaze to her textbook and began to read. I sighed, relieved. A few minutes without her glaring at me. A few minutes where I could sneak a glance at Wrenn, and maybe even a smile.

This was insane. I was losing control. All I could think about was Wrenn, to the point where it was interfering with the rest of my life.

This girl was getting under my skin— and I loved it.





Chapter Twenty-Two


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Wrenn

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I walked across the grounds over to the house, feeling great. Things were going really good. I felt like everything was beginning to fall into place, and I could see the end. Paige had even stopped making my life hard.

In less than two weeks I would be free of this place forever. Less than two more weeks and I could go out in public with my boyfriend. We could do normal, couple things. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. It was Dalton.

Can I see you? I miss your pretty little face.

I giggled as I replied.

You saw my pretty little face yesterday in class.

He replied right back.

That’s true, but there are things I want to do to you that would get me fired if I did them to you in the classroom.

“Hey, slut.”

I turned around and glared at Paige, who stood behind me, scowling, with one hand resting on her hip. So much for her leaving me alone.

“What do you want, Paige?” I sighed. I was not in the mood for this. Not today.

“I just wanted to talk. For old times’ sake.”

I snorted. What the hell was she talking about? I rolled my eyes and adjusted the bag of books over my shoulder, waiting impatiently for her to get to the point.

“Leave me alone, Paige. You know the best thing about leaving this place in two weeks’ time? Never having to see your skanky little face again.” I turned and began walking away.

She sniggered behind me. “Really? I would’ve put money on it being you being able to f*ck your boyfriend without him at risk of losing his job.”

What? I froze, positive I’d misheard.

There was no way in hell she knew. It just wasn’t possible. Paige walked slowly around me until her eyes were level with mine. “Yeah, that’s right. I figured it out. And your reaction just now? That confirmed it for me.”

“What do you want?” I said through gritted teeth.

She laughed. “Nothing you can give me, that’s for sure,” she smirked. “I’ll be in touch.”

I watched her walk away.

“Oh, and Wrenn?” she said sweetly. “Tell that boyfriend of yours he could’ve done so much better than you.”

***

After practically running home and locking myself in my bedroom, I called Dalton.

“Hey.” He sounded happy to hear from me.

“Paige knows. She knows about us.” I sank down onto my bed, covering my face with my hand. “What the hell are we going to do?”

“What did she say?” Dalton’s voice was flat.

I recounted our conversation, leaving out the last bit where she’d said he could do better.