Page 58 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

Mia pointed at me. “I don’t think leaving this group alone would be a good idea. Because if I’m upset about this, you’d better believe he is.”

She was fucking right about that.

Miss Fares looked around the table, tightened her lips, and nodded. Her hand floated over her stomach, and something about it made Mia’s face drop. In an instant, all the fight left her as she slumped back into her chair.

“Maybe we should handle this in the classroom,” Mia said. “I don’t want to lose Amber. I think she has potential, and I want that spot for her.”

“You want that spot for her?”

Mia’s gaze snapped to Ashley’s.

“Yes. I do. Believe it or not, I care about your daughter’s future, and I care about Kira’s. But this obviously isn’t helping.”

Miss Fares, still standing, cleared her throat and said, “I agree.” She slid another paper toward Ashley, and the woman held it up like it was used toilet paper.

“What’s this?”

“An official warning,” Miss Fares said. “Miss Walker and I wouldn’t accept this behavior in any classroom, but especially not in the Advanced Placement Program. There are a lot of students competing for these positions, and we can’t allow anything to jeopardize our students’ results.”

“Oh, come on, really? It was just a joke.”

“No, Ashley, it is not acceptable.” Mia’s tone was regal. “I won’t tolerate bullying in my classroom.”

The meeting ended. Amber ran out with tears streaming down her cheeks, and I almost felt bad for the kid. It couldn’t have been an easy situation to be in, especially at her age.

Ashley gave Mia one last glare before she went after her daughter, and Kira squeezed my hand before she went back to class.

Miss Fares let out a breath like she’d been holding it in for hours. “Thank you for coming, Mr Hudson. I’m sorry that wasn’t… that there wasn’t a resolution we could come to.”

I stood and shook her hand. “I’m confident that Miss Walker can handle it from here.”

After seeing what I saw today? My daughter was safe with her.

Her glance slid toward Mia, and mine followed. Mia rose from her chair, inhaled, and stared down at her hands. They were shaking.

Miss Fares probably wanted to be left alone so they could talk, but I couldn’t leave after seeing Mia like this.

“Could I have a minute with Miss Walker?”

Her brow creased. She let go of my hand and stepped toward Mia. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s… I’ve been asked not to leave the two of you alone.”

“I won’t upset her.”

Behind her, Mia snorted. Well, that sounded familiar.

I tried again. “I just want to thank her.”

Miss Fares didn’t look convinced. Her lips thinned as she put her hands on her hips. I thought she might ask me to leave, but she surprised me with a tight nod.

“Five minutes, then.”

And with that, she brushed by me, touching Mia’s shoulder on the way out.

As the door shut behind her, I crossed the room, asking, “Are all your meetings this intense?”

Mia let out a strained laugh. “Not exactly. I don’t usually hold myself back like that.”

I smiled. “I didn’t know you could.”