Page 111 of Cougar

“Cole feels pretty bad about what happened. You need to reassure him that this isn’t his fault.”

Max sighs into the phone. “I’ll handle it.”

* * *

Stepping through the office doors of Heritage Bay Academy, I look over to the seating area and pause when I see three girls looking a mess—a mixture of wild hair, black eyes, swollen cheeks, and bloody noses. I shake my head as I make my way up to the counter.

Ms. Patty smiles and stands from her seat. “Hi, Emerson. Come on in. David is expecting you.”

I move around the counter as Patty knocks on the closed door behind her desk with “Principal David Avery” printed in black on the frosted glass. “Come in,” David calls from inside.

Patty pushes the door open, and I step inside before she closes it behind me. There are two men sitting opposite Principal Avery.

“Emerson,” Ryan Davis, Lexi’s father, says, extending his hand. “Good to see you.”

“Mr. Davis, I didn’t know Lexi was involved. I didn’t see her out there.”

“I sent her back to class,” David tells me. “She got herself involved, but I believe it was because she didn’t have a choice. Either way, she was still involved and will serve one-day detention.”

Ryan nods. “Fair enough. I don’t condone fighting.”

I narrow my eyes at the man seated next to Ryan. “Too bad Harold doesn’t share the same feelings.”

Harold bristles. “Come on, Emerson. That was a long time ago. We were kids.”

“You were a bully, Harold, and an asshole. Seems your kid is one, too. And it’s going to cost you. Your daughter broke my daughter’s finger and fractured her hand.”

“I’ll pay for her medical expenses.” He waves me off.The prick.

“Oh, you’ll do more than that. You see, Harold, Jayla has a recording contract with King Records. She needs her fingers and hands to fulfill that obligation, so you have two choices. I can sue you—and God, I would love to bury your ass in a lawsuit—or you can write a check to the Mayhem Foundation for $10,000. What will it be?”

“You can’t be serious, Emerson.”

“I am dead fucking serious, Harold,” I seethe.

Harold’s eyes flick to Principal Avery, who shrugs as if to say ‘what are you gonna do?’ before flicking them back to me.

“Fine,” he grits out before standing from his seat and buttoning his suit jacket.

Reaching in my purse, I pull out a card and hold it out. “You can have the check sent to this address. Don’t wait too long or you’ll be hearing from my lawyers.” He reaches for the door. “Keep your daughter away from mine, or this shit’s going to get real expensive.”

Harold rolls his eyes and walks out the door.Still an asshole.

Ryan chuckles as he stands from his seat. “I take it you have history with that guy.”

“That guy was always a prick,” David interjects. “I can’t believe there’s actually a woman out there who thought it was a good idea to procreate with that man.”

“David, I want you to give Jayla one-day detention.”

“Emerson, are you sure about that?”

Ryan raises his brows at me in question, and I shrug. “I don’t condone fighting, either.”

Ryan nods. “Good to see, Emerson. Take care.” He nods to David, then walks out the door.

“Emerson, come sit for a minute.” David gestures to the empty chairs in front of his desk.

I move to sit down, propping my purse in my lap and sucking in a deep breath.

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