Page 82 of The Rest is History
I brush my fingers along the back of my desk chair and nod slowly. ‘Yes. The man is most definitely a keeper.’
CHARLIE
I breeze into the school office. Rita, Phil’s gatekeeper and personal pit-bull, is already at her desk.
She’s one of the scariest women I know.
She adores me.
I give her a wink. ‘Morning, Rita. The big man around?’
‘Charlie.’ She fluffs up her hair. ‘Go straight through.’
‘Thanks.’
I give the door a cursory knock and walk straight through. ‘Mate.’
Phil looks up before standing to shake my hand. ‘Morning, Vaughan.’
I’ve known him for half a lifetime. We were at uni together. He was a couple of years older than me, but we played cricket together and still do. He’s a seriously good guy. Like me, he wasin the City before turning his hand to education. He’s focused and fair: as straight as they come and possibly too soft for his own good. Never been married, which is a shame, though he had a steady stream of women in and out of his rooms at uni.
He sinks back into his seat and picks up his pen, gesturing to the chair across from him. ‘Have a seat, mate. Come to take me up on my standing offer?’
I laugh. ‘Nah. Thanks, though.’
Phil’s been after me for months to consider the deputy head role. There are two deputy head positions at Hampton Park. One is responsible for pastoral care and one for academia. I don’t think it’ll come as a surprise if I clarify that it’s the academic role he has me in mind for. Pastoral care isnotmy strength.
Still, it doesn’t appeal. I like history far more than I like teaching it, which is to say far more than I like the pupils themselves. The idea of taking a role that takes me away from my adored subject matter leaves me cold.
‘It was worth a try. What’s up, then?’
‘This won’t take long.’ I straighten up. I feel so fucking proud to say these words. ‘I wanted to let you know I’ve entered into a relationship with Elodie Peach.’
A huge grin spreads across his face. He eyes me and taps his pen on the desk. ‘Well, well, well. Have you now?’
I nod, trying to keep the pleasure off my mug. ‘Yep.’
‘As of…’
I consider. ‘Officially, as of this weekend. That’s all you need to know, anyway.’
‘What took you so long? I’ve had to listen to your pathetic, lovesick whines for over two full terms now.’
I roll my eyes. He may have a point. There’s something about Phil that invites confidence, and I may have bored him with my hopeless crush over a pint or two this academic year.
‘You know what took me so long.’
He purses his lips sympathetically. ‘Yeah, I do. Well, I’m glad you’ve finally pulled your finger out of your arse and made your move. Assume you haven’t bullied her into it?’
I smirk, recalling Elodie’s extraordinary and totally fucking unexpected appetite for me. ‘I wouldn’t say that, no.’
‘Nah. Course you wouldn’t. Too bloody good-looking for your own good.’
‘Right back at ya, pal.’
‘Well, I’m thrilled for you. Just try to keep it in your trousers in front of the kids, all right?’
‘I’m confident I can do that.’ No way does he need to know about the stationery cupboard.
