Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
His eyes flicker with unmasked curiosity. Like he wants to know what I mean. “I understand that all too well. We gotta take it day by day. Sometimes even hour by hour.”
“Lately, it’s minute by minute.”
He winks at me. “That works too.”
I’m glad he walks away after that friendly wink because it affects me more than it should. It’s gratifying in some way. Like maybe I’m not the leper I think I am.
Until he finds out the truth about you…
Then he probably won’t ever speak to you again.
It wasn’t a fear until now, but it’s a reality. If Mr. Langford finds out about why I moved schools, he might avoid me like the plague for fear of rumors or what I might “send” to him. This sends my heart into a frantic cadence. A trickle of sweat makes its way down my spine.
A massive guy who must play football for as big as he is takes the seat right beside me on the bench. His weight makes the wood creak in protest. I don’t want to be rude, but his closeness makes me want to skitter away from him.
“Hey,” he says in greeting. “I’m Duke.”
“Addison.” I flash him a fake smile. “Nice to meet you.”
When I glance over at Mr. Langford, he’s watching us with a blank expression on his face. I have the urge to cry out to him that I don’t want to sit right next to this behemoth. But why would he care?
Class finally begins and we get swept up in the lesson. We’re planting more things today which is fine by me. Our picnic table gets super messy because Duke’s hands are the size of dinner plates. He might be able to throw a football or tackle someone, but his fingers were not made for planting in small pots. It’s almost comical how filthy he is.
Someone texts me again and my watch lights up.
Unknown Number: Heard you’re trying to fuck Coach Long.
I freeze, disgusted by the text that’s probably Nick since I blocked him. Not only is Coach Long married, and I would never with a married man, but it’s simply not true. I’m considering replying back to this coward, but then I feel it.
A warm, massive, filthy palm on my bare thigh.
I whip my head over to find Duke smirking at me. His meaty hand squeezes my entire thigh. When I grab onto his wrist to stop him, I realize he’s too strong to physically remove him from my person.
So, I do the only thing I can think of.
I grab two of my pots and dump them over his head.
At least it makes him remove his hand, even if he is whining like a terrible toddler that I messed up his hair. Luckily, the bell rings, and he bolts from me. A few classmates snigger my way but follow after him.
“Addison. Stay after, please.”
I freeze, ignoring a few perverted remarks from another couple of kids as they leave. It’s not until the greenhouse is empty that I realize I’m shaking.
“What happened just now?” Mr. Langford asks, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m sure it was warranted, but I want to know why you did what you did.”
I slide out of my seat and rise to my feet. Mr. Langford’s eyes cut down to my dirty thigh. When I glance down, I notice an obvious handprint.
“I see,” Mr. Langford clips out, voice sharp like a blade. “Are you okay?”
My eyes water and I nod, finally meeting his intense green eyes. “I will be. I handled it this time.”
Without a word, he walks over to a shelf and removes a packet of wet wipes. He plucks a few from the package and hands them over to me. That’s twice now today he’s had to take care of me.
Now I’m blushing furiously.
“I know what I want to do with that oaf,” Mr. Langford practically growls, “but I want to know what you want to do. It’s clear you’re going through some things, and I don’t have the full picture. I don’t want to make things worse for you.”
I’m grateful for his perception.
I swipe all the dirt off my thigh and then toss the used wipes in the bin. “He got the message,” I say, voice tight. “He can’t put his hands on me. Not without a fight.”
Mr. Langford grins brightly, revealing all his pretty teeth. “Good girl. Don’t let them win.”
Good girl.
Ugh.
Why does that make my stomach flutter?
Chapter 4
Theo
My biceps are on fire this morning. I’ve officially made it to Friday of my first week of school. So far, I’ve managed to fall into an easy, enjoyable rhythm with teaching, join a morning workout group with Principal Adam Renner and Coach Everett Long, and not eyeball my favorite student’s silky thighs.
Okay, so the last part’s a lie.
It all started Tuesday when that fuckface put his hands on her. I’d seen the crude, muddy smears on her upper thigh that covered so much of her flesh. She was shaking and clearly upset by the exchange. Being covered in dirt wasn’t enough punishment as far as I was concerned, but Addison didn’t want to pursue it any further.