Page 9 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

Theo

“That woman can’t be teaching my daughter,” I ground out, running my hands through my hair. “How can you let someone like that run a program this important?”

Principal Rutton tilted her chin, and coming from her, it was just enough to let me know that she was surprised. Just then, Mia stepped through the door with my daughter behind her.

The hallway was quiet. Mia heard what I said, and I didn’t care.

Kira and I moved to New York for a fresh start. We needed this. I needed this to go well for her.

What I didn’t need was for my daughter to be taught by Mia fucking Walker.

“Miss Walker is one of my best teachers,” Principal Rutton said defensively. “She’s taught here for years.”

I shook my head. “She’s not the right person to teach this class.”

“Dad,” Kira hissed, mortified, but she had no idea what she’d been thrown into.

“You can’t have those kids in there with her. All they’ll be thinking about is–” I cut myself off as Mia raised a brow and smirked.

“What will they be thinking about, Mr Hudson?” she asked, and I couldn’t answer. Not with my daughter here.

Fuck. This couldn’t be happening.

“What exactly is your issue with Miss Walker?” the principal asked. “Do you know each other?”

Mia shook her head at first, but then wrinkled her nose and said, “Not really, but he worked with me on the fundraiser over the summer break.”

“Oh. Shawn’s fundraiser.” Principal Rutton frowned. “What’s the problem then?”

“Mr Hudson didn’t like showing up for rehearsals, which made my job difficult. We didn’t get along.”

“Is that all?”

Mia nodded as my daughter fidgeted by her side.

“I’m so screwed,” Kira muttered.

Both women turned as Kira pressed her palms to her eyes, and my brain stumbled as Mia actually put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Oh, love, no,” Mia said, her voice softening. “You’re fine; don’t worry.”

Kira’s voice was muffled, but I heard her moan, “My dad just called you a bad teacher.”

Mia lifted her shoulder. “I’ve been called worse than that. Your dad’s not the first parent to yell at me.”

Kira lifted her head, confused. “Why would anyone yell at you?”

“Not every parent likes the way I run my classroom.”

I folded my arms and ground out, “Because you’re not fit to teach.”

The look Mia shot me could’ve cut steel.

The principal hummed. “Mr Hudson, my teachers don’t let their lives outside of the school enter the classroom.”

“I’m not sure I can believe that,” I grumbled.

Her short hair bobbed across her shoulders. “Then maybe you should sit in on today’s lesson.”