Page 8 of Best Frenemies

And she’s a good teacher too. I’ve heard that more than a hundred times from just as many students. Which, considering she teaches math, is a pretty big fucking feat if you ask me.

Her students don’t mind that she’s firm or that she makes them work in class. She’s patient and she’s kind, and apparently, my guts are the only ones she hates.

“Now that we’re all here,” Dana begins and stands up from her chair, hitching one mauve-pant-covered hip on her desk. “We can get this meeting moving. It should be noted I have to leave by 12:45 for a hair appointment that I cannot miss. And seeing as it’s already 12:15, let’s keep the questions to a minimum, yeah?”

I suck my lips into my mouth on a near snort. Oh yeah, whatever this meeting is about is obviouslyveryserious. Katy doesn’t let Dana’s tone stop her from acting as though it is, however.

“If you’re leaving at 12:45, who is covering your recess shift?”

“Sounds like you’re on top of it,” Dana responds without hesitation.

“But—” Katy starts to refute, but Dana just barrels right over her words.

“As for why you’re here, I’ve decided to put the two of you in charge of Career Day.”

“But we’ve never done a Career Day before.” Katy jumps in, resigned to recess duty and on to the next problem. But that’s Katy Dayton for you.Everythingis problematic.

“I know. But my father was adamant we add one this year, and we’re running out of time.”

“You want us to plan it?” Katy’s jaw looks like it wants to unhinge itself from her face.“Together?”

Clearly, I am a demon, and Katy’s desperately searching for the number for an exorcist.

“Yes,” Principal Dana responds. “We need volunteers in the community to come in and talk about their careers to our students. So, the two of you will have to pick a day between now and the end of the year for an assembly, find our guest speakers, and get the event organized.”

“I can handle this on my own.”

I almost chortle. Katy Cat sure can cut to the point if the point is cutting me out.

“I’d actually like to be involved,” I interject, stirring the pot beautifully.

“Oh, come on,” Katy says with a groan. “You donotwant to be involved in this.”

“Sure I do, Katy. Why wouldn’t I? I happen to know several people with careers who I think would enrich the hearts and minds of the students here at Calhoun.”

“That is such bullcr—”

“Ahem.” Dana clears her throat. Angry, Katy flops back into the structure of her chair and narrows her eyes with frightening focus.

“Are we trying to highlight any specific careers?”

“Well, it’s safe to say we’re not trying to convince our students to start OnlyFans accounts when they graduate high school,” Dana says with a sigh. “But I’d say most of the world at large is your oyster.”

I have to bite my lip to fight my laughter. And I can’t stop myself from putting on my most serious face to ask, “What’s an OnlyFans?”

Dana glares at me. “You and I both know what an OnlyFans is, Mr. Houston.”

“Actually…” I feign confusion, even tapping my chin for good measure. “I don’t think I do. Can you elaborate?”

“It’s a sex subscription site. Kind of like pay-per-view for porn,” someone chimes in from behind, and all three of us look toward the door to find Alma Ross standing at the threshold.

“Mrs. Ross, is there a reason you’re interrupting this meeting?” Dana asks, and Alma just shrugs.

“Just being nosy.”

“And you don’t think you can be nosy somewhere else?”

“Not really.” Alma shrugs again and settles herself in the chair beside the door. A few seconds later, she has yarn in her hands and starts knitting what looks to be a scarf.

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