Page 56 of Bless My Heart

Yes, I started the kiss, but she didn’t stop me. If she would just talk to me, we could work through this together. But that would require her to answer the damn phone when I call.

She’s left me no choice but to show up at her apartment. Even if she doesn’t want me to. She’ll have to talk to me.

I pull up to her apartment empty-handed because I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to bring dinner like we previously discussed. I’m hoping we can just talk about what we need to do next to get through this, and then we can go back to normal. To being together.

I park my Jeep next to Hazel’s car. I walk up to her door and knock, knowing she can hear it.

Nothing.

I knock again. This time a little louder and with a little more force.

Still, nothing.

“Hazel,” I say to the door. “I know you’re in there.” I bang my fist on the door again.

Nothing.

I’m pissed. It’s one thing to be mad at me. It’s another thing to completely ghost me and not have a civilized conversation.

“Hazel, you better open this door right now. I’m not leaving until you talk to me,” I say a little louder.

One of her neighbors cracks their door open, but I don’t give a shit. They can watch this fire burn all they want.

I bang again with my fist, and finally, I hear the lock turn on her door.

She opens the door and looks right at me with a death glare. She doesn’t look sad. Her eyes aren’t red-rimmed or anything like that. She looks indifferent almost. Like she’s just over it.

“Can I come in?” She doesn’t move out of the doorway. “I’m not leaving here until we talk about this. You might as well let me in so we can get this over with.”

She rolls her eyes but finally walks inside, letting me follow.

“Hazel, I get that you’re mad,” I say as I follow her to the couch. “But it was an honest mistake. I didn’t even think about it when I kissed you. I know you’ve asked me not to do that in public, and I did it anyway. I’m an asshole, and I’m sorry.”

“Wes, I’m mad about that, but I’m also mad at myself.”

“What?” Why would she be mad at herself?

“I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you. I knew it was wrong.”

“It wasn’t wrong. Everything about us is right.”

“No, it’s not Wes. You’re my student, and you’re almost ten years younger than me.”

“I don’t give a shit about your age, Hazel. I never have, and I never will. And yeah, I’m your student, but I wasn’t when we met.”

“But I’m in a position of power over you.”

“Uh, I think if anyone holds a position of power, it’s me. Remember last night?” I try to joke, but it falls flat. I want to lighten the mood. I want to stop this conversation. I want to go back to Wes and Hazel—secret lovers.

I don’t want her to go down this path one more minute because I know it doesn’t lead anywhere good.

“Wes, we can’t do this anymore.”

“No. I’m not letting you run away from this. We have something special, Hazel. Me and you. And you know it.”

She shakes her head. “I made a mistake, and it might cost me my entire career, Wes. I might lose my job because I let my lust for you override my common sense.”

“Hazel. Stop. You’re talking crazy. We are in too deep to walk away from this.” I reach out to grab her hand, but she moves it out of the way like I have the fucking plague. This is ridiculous. “Hazel, you can’t be serious.”