Page 28 of Reluctant Chemistry

She boiled the kettle and made herself a chamomile tea with a dash of honey, just enough to enhance the flavor.

When she’d called in to see Luka on the way home, his studio was dark, and his SUV absent from the driveway. Now, sitting alone at the breakfast bar in the low light, CeCe thought it was probably just as well. She needed a clear head for the conversation theywere aboutto have.

CeCe looked up as her mother shuffled into the kitchen. Andrea pulled the cord of her robe tight and knotted it off-center, her curls falling in tousles about her face. “Hi. How was your night?”

“Good. The kettle’s hot if you want some tea.”

Her mother reached for a mug and a tea bag then flicked the kettle’s switch to bring it back to the boil. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“The dilemma you’ve been dragging behind you for the last few days.” Cup in hand, Andrea pulled a stool around to the kitchen side of the island and sat opposite her daughter. “Is this about the new chemistry teacher? Is he the guy you’ve been seeing?”

She nodded. When the swallow didn’t help shift the lump from her throat, CeCe pressed her lips together and lowered her head. Her mother reached across the island and squeezed her hand. “Hey, it’s okay.”

“Luka won’t want to keep seeing me when he finds out I’m a student.”

Her mother frowned her concern. “You haven’t told him?”

CeCe shook her head, tears threatening to spill. “I planned to tonight, but he’s been away.” She sniffed. “And it’s not the sort of thing to explain in a text, is it?”

“No, I guess not.”

“Anyway, how do you know?”

“Your mood changed as soon as your father mentioned him. I knew you’d been seeing someone, but I hadn’t imagined it was the guy who picked you up that night. I thought maybe you were back with Travis and needed some time before telling us.”

CeCe let out a sigh. “What a mess.”

“It’s only a mess if you make the wrong decision. You can’t continue this, not while he’s your teacher. And you’ve only been seeing him, what, two, three weeks? Time to step back and let him do his job, don’t you think?”

Silence stretched between them. That’s not what she thought. Not at all. All she could think of was ways to get around the fact that Luka would be her teacher until Easter.

“I’ve been thinking.” CeCe sipped her tea, letting its warmth soothe her. “What if I boarded at Immaculate Heart?”

“What? In Clifton Falls?”

“It’s only for a year. Then we could see each other when Luka goes home after Easter, and no one would have to know. Besides, Mitch is there. It’s not like I’d be going somewhere where I knew no one.”

“But you haven’t discussed this with him, have you? How do you know what he wants? The guy’s only here for a few months. Have you talked about a future together?”

“No, it’s not like that. It’s just a fling, but…”

Her mother shook her head. “CeCe. Even if Immaculate Heart had a place in their boarding hostel, your plans and his plans might not be on the same page.”

“So you’re advising me to bow out gracefully?”

“I’m advising you to think very carefully. Because if you carry on seeing Luka while he’s in a position of authority at your school, there might well be consequences. Not only for you but also for him. He could lose his job.”

“But he doesn’t even enjoy teaching. He told me that.”

“Okay, so talk to him and see where he stands. You might find he’s unwilling to compromise on this.”

CeCe leaned back on the stool, her hands on the counter in front of her. She drummed a finger impatiently, keeping time with the beat of her heart.Tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap.

Her mother stood and placed her mug in the sink. “Come on. You’d better get to bed. Things will look clearer in the morning.”

CeCe knew that wasn’t true. She’d expected clearer mornings since finding out about Luka, but each had been just as misty as the last. “Please don’t tell Dad. Not yet.”

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