Page 88 of The Teacher of Nothing
I shouldn’t feel so relieved to have her in my arms like this after all she’s done, but I can’t help myself. You can’t turn off feelings with a snap of your fingers. She’s not pushing me away and I certainly don’t see Dempsey or Spencer here holding her. We may not be like we were, but she’s still hurting, and I can make her feel safe.
“Want me to kill him?” My words are soft, though the threat in them is heavy and laced with intent. “I’d take pleasure in it.”
She doesn’t reply, and I’d almost take it for rudeness if not for the fact her fingers have found mine, digging into my flesh like she can keep me from ever leaving her again. In this bubble—this frozen moment of time—I can nearly pretend last night didn’t happen between us. That things are still perfect. That she didn’t betray me and ruin a beautiful, blooming love story.
I let my lips find their way to her neck. Gently, I press a kiss to the warm flesh there. She feels so fucking right in my arms. It’s why it’s so gutting what she did to me. That wasn’t supposed to happen.Wewere supposed to happen.
“When you’re able to, I need to know what he did, sweetheart. I’ll need to know what I’m going to prison for murder for.”
Her fingers relax and she slides them between mine, squeezing. I grip onto her hand like I have the power to drag her back to a few days ago when she was in my bed where she belonged.
Though our mouths don’t speak the words, our hearts do it for us. She’s clearly upset with me, hence the silent treatment, but needs me.
She may have broken my heart with what she’s done to me. However, it doesn’t make my feelings for her disappear instantly. I still care about her and her well-being.
It kills me that she’s lying in bed so…broken.
All I want to do is hold her until she’s whole again.
Willa
Two Weeks Later
Idon’t recognize my life anymore.
Everything is a blur. Time passes too quickly and I feel almost groggy when I note just how much time has gone by. All I want to do is sleep.
Sleep and never wake up.
Probably because when I sleep, he’s there with me. Every single night.
My heart clenches painfully in my chest. Though we’re still not on speaking terms, Callum comes into my room each night since Levi’s attack and holds me.
It’s so messed up.
All of it.
Though Levi hurt me, and both Darren and Mom know what happened, he’s still living under the same roof as me. At school, he follows me like a dark shadow. It’s as if he’s claimed me somehow and is making sure the whole school knows it.
In Callum’s class, I keep waiting for him to notice. To swoop in and save me from the monster in my life. He probably would if I actually talked to him. So badly I want to whisper what Levi did to me whenever Callum has me wrapped in his safe arms, but I always find a reason to bite my tongue.
He hurt me.
Callum really hurt me when he blew up, assuming I did the worst with his brother and nephew, and never let me explain.
“Hey, Willa,” Levi says, flashing me a boyish grin as he passes by my desk. “You look pretty today.”
His words—his niceness—make my skin crawl. I don’t want him to look at me or speak to me. It’s bad enough sharing a class and a house with him.
“Take a seat, Mr. Paulson,” Callum calls out as he enters the classroom, voice thunderous and commanding. “This isn’t social hour, though your grade in my class begs to differ.”
The class sniggers. The chill that had settled in my bones is chased away by Callum’s warm voice. He doesn’t know the story, but he’s accurately deduced Levi did something to me. In his subtle way, he’s protecting me.
Tears sting at my eyes. This is all such a mess. If Callum cares enough to protect me from Levi, why didn’t he care enough to protect our relationship from his past trust issues?
Class goes by in a blur. I take half-ass notes but don’t pay attention to much other than Callum’s deep voice as he lectures. It’s nearly as soothing as his strong arms when he holds me at night. When the bell finally rings, I startle at the unexpected shrill tone.
“Miss Reyes,” Callum rumbles. “Can you stay after class?”
