Page 88 of Whiskey Shivers

“Hey, they want to cut off their nose to spite their face, that’s on them,” he said. “I’ll see you when you get on down here, but by no means am I rushin’ you. You just take your damn time, y’hear?”

“I’m rushing anyway,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I want to see you and be home with you already.”

He laughed a little on the other end of the line.

“Don’t be stubborn, girl,” he warned.

“Have youmetme?” I demanded and he laughed some more. It put a smirk on my face to hear it. That was one of the things I loved about being with Hex. The laughter and the fact that he fostered my growth and didn’t try to change me or put me in a box of what he thought I should be.

“Alright, alright. I’ll see you in a few,” he said and I nodded, realized he couldn’t see it, and said, “Okay.”

“Bye, now.” The line sent the tone that the call had been disconnected and I slid my phone into my back pocket. I shouldered my briefcase, left my classroom, and locked up behind me.

Mrs. Donal tried to stop me in the hall on my way out to the employee lot.

“Miss Legare, can I talk to you a moment?” she asked politely.

I turned and said, “No,” before I hit the doors and was out into the bright afternoon sunshine.

She looked taken aback and almost hurt in a way but that was too bad. I was mad, and I wasn’t about to let myself be put into a position where I was apt to say something unfortunate.

I was still working on myofficialresignation letter, which I would email tonight – but I was as good as my word; I would be finishing out the school year – but after that? That was it. I would either find another district or something else altogether.

Hex took my briefcase from me and put it behind the seat of his pickup as I climbed up into the cab. I shut the door and he reached over and massaged the back of my neck with one hand as I buckled my seatbelt.

“Get us the fuck out of here,” I said bitterly and he sighed.

“Yes ma’am,” he said and let off the brake, turning the wheel to spin us around and out the gate and through the main lot to the street.

“Don’t be upset, baby,” he said and I looked at him. “Everything happens for a reason and it’s probably for the best.”

“Oh, you have no idea what they’ve done,” I declared. “I’m so mad I could spit.”

He chuckled and said, “What you thinkin’?”

“I’m thinking I am going to go home, finish tendering my official letter of resignation. I’m going to finish out the school year as promised, and then I’m going to absolutely destroy them in court.”

He smiled a little sadly but the slow spreading of lips turned that sad little smile into a savage grin pretty quickly.

“That’s my girl,” he said, and he took his hand from the back of my neck and put it back on the wheel to pilot us in the direction of home.

I stared out the window moodily and said, “You should have brought the bike.”

He barked a laugh and said, “I’ll remember that for next time.”

“You better,” I said, then muttered, “I’m surethat’llpiss them off – but I guess they should have thought of that.”

“Hey,” He took up my hand and threaded his fingers through the spaces between mine. I looked to him and he smiled kindly. “I ain’t worried about them or even myself. I’m gonna be just fine.”

“I know,” I said. “Some of the kids? Not so much, they’re really upset.”

“Aw, shit,” he muttered.

“I’m not the only one who loves you,” I said, and he raised my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it while watching the road.

At home, he let us into the house and I went straight to the bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes. When I came out, my laptop bag and briefcase slung over my shoulder he was in the kitchen.

“I’ll be up in my book nook,” I said and he nodded.

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