Page 20 of Teacher's Pet

She’s pale like a ghost and that look that I saw last night. The love and wonder in her eyes is gone. She looks…lost.

“I just…I wondered where you were.” She stumbles to a stop and pushes the door, closing it on me. “I’ll leave you alone.”

I jump to my feet, still naked and half-hard just from the sight of her. “Wait! Tally, wait! What’s wrong?”

The door opens under my hands and I charge out. “Hey, baby!”

She whirls around, her hands up. “Don’t baby me!” She drags in a shaky breath and shakes her head. “I knew this was a mistake. You’re clearly still in love with her. That’s why you’ve got that crazy old phone that is practically stuck together with glue and tape. That’s why you won’t get rid of it. You still love her. You can’t forget her and I don’t think that you can move on until you do. And I’m not looking to be in a relationship with a man and his dead wife.”

With tears in her eyes, she stumbles out of the room. “I’d really appreciate it if you could just go. I…I need to be alone right now.”

And my heart sinks to my damn feet when she walks away, leaving me staring at her disappearing body. Leaving me struggling to drag in a shaky breath and figure out where the hell it all went so wrong.

TALLY

Another day, another twenty-four hours of painful breathing, crying when I’m alone in bed and forcing myself to go to work every damn day.

The only bright spots are Harley being back in school and my sister investigating Mr. McBride and them deciding that he had been unnecessarily harsh with not just me but some of the kids and the teachers so he’s been put on paid leave while they decide what to do with him.

I hope that his ass gets canned but that’s just me being a little wenchy right now since I’m upset.

I like to think I’m a forgiving person but in this instance, I think I’m gonna be a little hard-nosed.

If only I could be as hard with Foster. My heart hurts like the dickens and I miss the hell out of him. I miss his gorgeous smile, the way he laughs and his eyes light up so much that he just looks so damn happy it hurts to look at him.

I sigh and push that thought out of my head. I don’t want to think like that right now. My eyes feel like sandpaper and I just don’t think I can cry anymore.

Harley stands in front of me, fidgeting. “Miss Carter? Are you going to come out to the house tonight? We’re going to get pizza and watch my favorite movie,” she wheedles and I suck in a sharp breath.

“I’m sorry, Harley, but no. I’ve got so many papers to grade and it’s so close to the end of the school year. I have grade level reports due soon. Just so much stuff to do. You have fun though. Pizza always makes a night better.” I smile and ignore the prickle of tears behind my aching eyes.

I ache with the need to see Foster. I need it more than I even need chocolate. And I freaking love chocolate.

But I can’t do this anymore. I refuse to be second-best. And if Foster’s not over his wife, nobody else will measure up. It’s an awful dilemma and I tried telling myself that maybe if I spent more time with him, he’d grow to love me more than her.

But that way lies unhappy revelations that nobody wants.

I watch Harley walk out the door and smile at her until she shoots me one last unhappy look and steps out of the door, closing it quietly behind her.

And then the tears push out and I put my head down on the desk, crying for Foster and myself. Foster because he can’t forget his wife. Me because there’s just no way that I’ll ever find another man like him.

I sniffle and wipe my streaming eyes with a tissue, sucking in a shallow, shaky breath until I hear the hallway clear out and I know I’m finally alone.

I hear some of the other teachers hollering to each other and laughing. It’s Bingo Drinks night at the bar and normally I’d be on my way there with the rest of them but I just can’t. I don’t want a drink.

I want Foster.

I push to my feet and shuffle towards the door, surprised when I push at it that it won’t budge.

“What the hell?” I ask, my forehead creased with concern. I push again and again but nothing happens. I can tell the custodian has gone home and the night janitor hasn’t come on the clock yet.

No matter how hard I push at the door, nothing happens. I jiggle it, pushing harder, hollering, “Hey! Is anybody out there? I’m stuck in my classroom! Help!”

But there’s no answer. I sag against the wall, worn out from all the sleepless nights tossing and turning and worrying.

I close my eyes and lean my head back. I stand there for many two minutes or so.

And then I smell something that makes my heart leap into my throat. Smoke!

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