“Did he tell you that it was a member who told on him?” he asked, tapping his fingers across the wood table. “Because I think that’s important to note. It wasn’t one of us. Plus, I’m pretty sure that the two of you knew each other long before you visited the Manor.”
I gestured to the classroom. “We did. So?”
“So,” he said, snapping his fingers in front of my face. “He seems to think the two of you had something. It was taken away from the two of you, and now, he’s there drinking every day and being way more promiscuous than I’ve ever seen him. And you’re here—well, you’re—” His eyes glanced over me, looking me up and down, searching for something to say. “There’s good stains on your shirt. So, I’m guessing you’re not doing well either.”
My process of getting over Asher was complicated, but at least it was somewhat semi-working, and by that, it definitely wasn’t doing a thing. Everywhere reminded me of him, even this desk. I couldn’t even see a stray cat without thinking of how Asher crawled around the kitchen and lapped up milk with his little tongue.
Santiago stood. “So, get up, I’m taking you to the Manor to come and get him.”
“He doesn’t want me,” I whispered, closing my eyes. I felt bonded to Asher, so putting those words out into the world were odd, like inflicting a punch to my stomach. “He wants to keep his job.”
Santiago grabbed my hand. “If you want him to keep his job then, you’ll come and put his head back on straight.”
“But I already told you, we can’t work.”
“You can,” he said. “You two knew each other before the Manor. It’s not like the two of you are together because of that place. They’re only actually bothered because they like to keep everything in house. It’s a safety thing, mostly.”
I wasn’t even sure if I wanted him to take me there, especially not since I didn’t want to see Asher drunk, and I didn’t want him to see me looking like I was in a weird stepping in and out of depression phase.
“Come on,” he snapped at me. “If not because you like him, then because he’s your student.”
He might’ve had me by the balls with that one. But only because he was right on both, I did like him, and he was my student. I sort of owed it to him to protect him from himself. But also because I could shed more light on the situation. I knew who had told them about us, and that sucked since it had been my friend. I took a deep breath, hoping it would clear my mind and allow me to make a decision.
“Fine,” I said. “Let’s go.”
My nerves were shot, but I had to do this.
Santiago continued to tell me about what Asher had done as he drove me to the Manor. He hadn’t been having sex with anyone, but he had been more demanding and pushy with the members. They liked it to an extent, having a kitten who knew what they wanted was a different flavor to the type the Manor usually had.
“A little bratty, isn’t he?” I said, quietly.
“More now,” he replied. “We’re going in through the back. And hopefully he’s still in the dressing room.”
My stomach wasn’t agreeing with the idea of seeing him. I’d prepared myself to see him walk into class, but I hadn’t prepared to ambush him instead. And since Santiago pointed out the mess on my shirt, I was even more stressed.
There was a separate parking bay for staff. It was odd, seeing the Manor from this point of view. There was nobody around, except for a man on guard at the rear entrance. He welcomed us both inside after first giving me a glance over.
Through doors, we went and down long hallways. Music grew louder as we got closer to the dressing rooms.
“Where’s Asher?” he asked the first kitten we saw, dusting their face with a glittery highlight brush.
He pointed to a closed door. “He’s asleep.”
I stopped and stood, pushing back against the door we’d just walked through. “I can’t do this.”