Page 43 of Atticus
Carlisle bristles, her pointed gaze darting to me. “And where did you even learn how to dance like that? I—it was—”
“It was what?” Lucy’s tone has an edge to it now as she folds her arms.
Lucy isn’t just smart; she’s cunning. Carlisle is a mature woman, set in her ways. I’ve heard Trey and even Bryant sayout of touch. I imagine she didn’t care for the trendy hip-hop dance Trey and I performed together with the squad.
“That’s not the problem,” Carlisle barrels on, knowing full well if she takes the conversation in that direction, it’s a losing battle. “You didn’t clear it with me. I had no idea it happened until it was brought to my attention this morning.”
“I figured you were there to witness it yourself.”
“I wasn’t. It was my anniversary. My husband and I were in Chicago.”
“I won’t apologize for that, either. It was meant to be a surprise for everyone,” Lucy argues. “Everybody loved it. You’re the only one who’s made a single complaint to my face. So unless the rest of the staff is all lying—”
“You’re skirting dangerously close to insubordination, Miss Warren,” Carlisle warns as her sleek office phone rings. She angrily slams her finger down on the keypad. “What is it, Renee?”
“Toby Grafton withSt. Morgan’s Dailyis on the other line,” Renee says meekly. “They saw the videos and want to do a feature on the school for their Friday night news.”
The entire room goes still. Carlisle points her hardened stare directly at Lucy. Lucy remains quiet and calm.
Then Carlisle’s eyes narrow. “I have to take this call. You’re both dismissed.”
Leaving her office and passing by the front desk, we catch Renee eavesdropping on Carlisle’s call with the local news station. Renee gives us both a hearty thumbs-up.
Good job!she mouths, waving us off.
In the hallway, Lucy lets out a long exhale and turns to me. “Did you hear that? She’s got nothing to say. She’s grasping at straws and just mad I did something this huge that she can’t tack her name on for credit.”
“I think you may be right.”
“I’m so glad we did this.” Lucy is so filled with energy she bounces in place. “I regret nothing!”
“Neither do I.” I chuckle. She’s quite adorable when she’s excited.
She throws her arms around me. “I couldn’t have done it with out you.”
It’s as natural as every system running beneath my synthetic skin to wrap my arms around her and squeeze her tightly. “I just did a little dance. You’re the mastermind behind it.”
“Yeah, but it’s more than that. I’ve been second-guessing everything since I came here. You?” She pulls away but only just, her arms reluctantly loosening around me. “You make everything worth it.”
Someone coughs. Lucy quickly moves away from me, turning to stare at Bryant.
He glances between both of us knowingly. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Cornelius.” Lucy tucks a braid behind her ear. “We were just—”
“Celebrating the videos?” Bryant says, gaze lingering on me. “So you should be. That was damn fun. Atticus, didn’t know you had it in you.”
“I didn’t, either,” I admit. “But my programming proved very adaptable. I’m glad I gave it a try.”
Bryant nods, moving past us. “Not bad. Not bad at all.” He pauses, then turns. “By the way. Atticus. I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I ask.
“Going along with things,” Bryant replies. “Calling you a bot, a tin can, all of that. It was small-minded of me, and, well, what’s the point of teaching if you refuse to learn?”
When he offers his hand, I take it.
“If Miss Warren gets too busy with this new fame of hers and you ever need a place to power down,” he says wryly. “My door is open.”
