I felt like the luckiest guy on earth.
Chapter Twenty-One
Dalton
I was in the classroom early on Monday morning, mainly because I wanted to get my head in the right space before Wrenn arrived. It was hard not to spend the entire period staring at her. The weekend had been perfect.; it could not have been any more special. Now, just like that, it was back to reality. Back to pretending she was just my student.
I knew how important it was to keep us a secret, but it was getting harder and harder for me not to show my feelings for her around others. When she spoke, I wanted to listen. I wanted to touch her face, and smile when she laughed. God, I could spend all day staring at those beautiful blood-red lips. And that dark hair, so dark it made her eyes pop.
“Mr. Reid?”
I looked up and saw Paige walking into the room.
“Paige. What can I do for you?” I asked her, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. I sat back in my chair as Paige perched herself on the edge of my desk, one leg over the other, her skirt riding dangerously high. “I’d prefer you sit in the chair if you have something you need to discuss with me.” I gestured to the seat that was safely on the other side of my desk.
She narrowed her eyes but obliged, jumping off my desk and walking around to the chair. “I was hoping I could arrange some one on one time with you?” She raised her eyebrow, her lips forming a smile as she held my gaze.
“One on one time?” I repeated.
“You know. Tutoring.” There was no other way to interpret the tone of her voice. She may as well have put tutoring in air quotes. “I hear you offer tutoring to some of your students.” Her eyes twinkled at me as she smiled.
“Ms. Warner,” I began stiffly, “if you’re suggesting what I think you are suggesting, I’ll have no choice but to report this.”
“Come on, Mr. Reid. I’m almost eighteen. You’re not that much older than me. All I’m suggesting is that we have a little fun. Nobody else needs to know.”
I wanted to laugh in her face. Did she honestly not get it? Even if I weren’t her teacher, I’d have no interest in “getting” with her. Ever.
“Ms. Warner, please take your seat. And if you bring this up again, I will report you.”
Her face went red. She stood up, narrowing her eyes at me.
At that moment, students began to file into the classroom. Paige turned abruptly and walked over to her desk. She slumped down, still glaring at me. The look in her eyes made me uneasy. I didn’t doubt that if she wanted to, that girl could stir up a shitload of trouble.
Trying to forget Paige’s proposition, trying not to pay too much attention to Wrenn, all the while trying to teach a class, was impossible. Both girls were staring at me, Paige with a scowl and Wrenn . . . well, she just looked at me with the same longing she always did.
“Paige, can you please read from the top of chapter twelve.”
He eyes narrowed, but then
she dropped her gaze to her textbook and began to read. I sighed, relieved. A few minutes without her glaring at me. A few minutes where I could sneak a glance at Wrenn, and maybe even a smile.
This was insane. I was losing control. All I could think about was Wrenn, to the point where it was interfering with the rest of my life.
This girl was getting under my skin— and I loved it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Wrenn
I walked across the grounds over to the house, feeling great. Things were going really good. I felt like everything was beginning to fall into place, and I could see the end. Paige had even stopped making my life hard.
In less than two weeks I would be free of this place forever. Less than two more weeks and I could go out in public with my boyfriend. We could do normal, couple things. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. It was Dalton.
Can I see you? I miss your pretty little face.
I giggled as I replied.
You saw my pretty little face yesterday in class.