Page 16 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

“He just likes to call me that. No proposal yet,” she admitted quietly.

“He gave me a bloody heart attack,” I told her. “I’m not ready for you to walk down that aisle yet.”

Her green eyes searched every inch of my face. “You’re not?”

“Well, no, of course not. A woman needs time to prepare. Think of all the chiffon I’ll have to try on as your maid of honor. I’ll have to cut back on my snacky-snacks first.”

Her laugh stopped abruptly as something snapped together in her lovely chaotic head. “You didn’t tell me about that parent yesterday.”

I let her hand go. “I needed time to process. Rutton told you, didn’t she?”

Lilly folded her arms and propped her hip against her desk. “Yep. Did he sit in?”

“He did. And he was pleasantly surprised by the end of it, like they always are.”

Lilly’s eyes narrowed. “Rutton made it seem like you knew him.”

“Mhm.” She could read the frustration all over me.

“Mia, who is he?”

I put my hands on my hips and paced the small room, bypassing the circular table and faded yellow armchairs as I muttered, “Theo fucking Hudson, that’s who.”

“The guitarist from the fundraiser?”

“The one and only.”

Her laugh was sharp and short, disbelieving. And I couldn’t blame her. It was some kind of karmic injustice that he was the father of my newest student.

“You’re joking.”

“I wish I was.”

“So he showed up yesterday and told our boss that he didn’t think you were fit to teach?”

“That about sums it up.”

A snort left her lips this time. “Now I’m glad you didn’t hook up with him.”

“Yeah, me too,” I grumbled. I hadn’t had sex in over a year, and I wasn’t about to break my dry spell with someone like him.

“He’s a parent, Mia.” Lilly swept her gaze along my frame, assessing me, and I knew where her chronic anxiety brain was going before the words left her mouth. “Did you do damage control?”

“No, I let him think I’m some sex-crazed chair-humper. Of course I did damage control.”

Lilly unfolded her arms and took a step toward me. “It’s just, this is kind of insane.”

“I know.” I slapped my hands against my thighs, my mood getting the better of me.

I could feel a rant coming, and sure enough, I had to let it out.

“I did my time at that damn fundraiser, and I shouldn’t have to put up with him for the next year. Parents like him are the worst. I just know he’s–”

I was interrupted by a knock at the door. Kira stood in the entryway, nervously fidgeting in her navy school uniform.

Ah… well, shit on a stick.

Lilly greeted her, cooing out a, “What can we do for you?” as I straightened my collar.