Page 101 of Apparently, I’m Torture

I shrugged. “No, it doesn’t. But I’m not going to blame you for something your cousin did. He hurt both of us. And, if it weren’t for you, we never would’ve found a way out of it.”

Once I knew everything, it was easy to forgive Stacey. She was just another one of Trevor’s victims, and staying mad at her wouldn’t get me anywhere. I was happy now. My job was secure, I got the guy, and Trevor was finally out of my life. The least I could do was forgive her.

“So, we’re okay then?” she asked.

I nodded, and a look of relief broke across her face.

“Thank you, Lilly. Shawn asked me to manage his projects, so we’ll probably be working together more. I’m glad we could work it out.”

She turned and stared at the stage. “Do you think, maybe, one day, Mia will stop hating me too?”

“Maybe.”

It was the only answer I could give her. Mia was still mad. She blamed our old sorority president for the part she played, both in the past and now, and while I understood how Mia felt, I did hope that she could move on from this too.

And that was how I left things with Stacey. The fundraiser was a success, the educational board’s faith in Shawn was renewed, and my career was safe. It was better than safe, actually. I was given a new sense of purpose.

There was only one thing left to deal with. My student’s exam scores.

Cue the large, melodramatic sigh.

Chapter 37

Shawn

Monday Morning

South Bronx Classical

I was going to jump out of my skin.

“Are you ready?” Principal Rutton asked as she opened her office doors.

I swallowed and nodded, following her as she led the way through South Bronx Classical.

“I was surprised to hear of your interest, Mr Jackson. However, given your history with my teachers, I shouldn’t have been.”

She turned down another hallway, and I slowed my steps to keep pace with her.

“You were offered a position with us years ago, am I right?”

I cleared my throat to buy a second or two. In truth, I was only half-listening to the principal. My mind was on Lilly.

What would her reaction be? How would she take this?

“I was. I chose Brooklyn instead, though. At the time, I needed… distance.”

I tried not to regret my choices. Despite the fact that those stubborn decisions kept me from the woman I’d never stopped loving, they also led me to a career filled with purpose, joy, and meaning.

Lilly and I were making up for lost time, and this was one way I could make things up to her.

We turned another corner, then stopped short of a narrow doorway. Down the corridor, students laughed, chattered and passed phones around, but they weren’t loud enough to distract me from the voices floating out of the staffroom.

“I can’t believe they found another teacher so bloody quickly,” Mia drawled. “I hope he isn’t another dickbag.”

“Mia,” a voice I didn’t recognize scolded her. Probably Brianna. I’ve heard stories about the ex-head-teacher-turned-part-timer.

“The students might hear you.”