Page 116 of The Headmaster’s Rule

“Don’t.”

Hurt colors her features. I catch myself, stepping forward again.

“Don’t apologize, Nora. It wasn’t your fault.”

She gnaws on her lip, gazing at me as the sound of music and muted conversation drifts from the tent. I rake a hand unsteadily through my hair, exhaling long and slow.

Fuck, I don’t know what to do. How can I go back in there and face everyone? I’m sure they won’t know, not yet at least, but I know. Our bubble has burst, and it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. If Jake tells the board, it’s over. As a Wetherly alum a few years younger than me, Jake and I have been acquaintances for years. There’s a chance he might not tell them, but even if he doesn’t…

I still need to do the right thing.

The realization sinks into my stomach like a rock. It’s what I should have done weeks ago.

I look down at Eleanor, shivering in the cold night air.

Or maybe it’s not from the cold at all.

“We need to be smart about what happens next,” I say carefully.

Her brows dart together. “Smart how?”

I sigh, giving in to the urge to brush her cheek. “Let me speak to the board first. I want to get ahead of it before the gossip starts. I won’t lie, and I won’t hide how I feel about you, but we need to be careful. Just for a little while.”

She goes still, her eyes searching mine. “So, what does that mean? Are we… pressing pause?”

“No.” I can’t help myself, I kiss her again, softly. “I just don’t want them twisting it into something it’s not. I don’t want to put you in a position where you get hurt.”

But the way she curls into herself suggests she’s already hurt, and I don’t know how to soothe it.

“I need a little time, sweetheart. Let me handle it, then we can decide what’s next.” I reach for her hand, squeezing, wanting to reassure her.

But I’m not sure it’s enough.

I pour a large glass of whiskey as I loosen my bow tie, tossing it onto the counter. The rest of the fundraiser went off without a hitch, people continuing to congratulate Eleanor, to enthuse about Safe Harbor. There was no sign of Jake Ashby when we returned to the tent, no murmuring among the crowd, but it wasn’t the same. Every time Eleanor’s eye caught mine across the room, guilt punched me in the chest.

I shouldn’t have kissed her on school grounds tonight. That was a stupid fucking thing to do.

But I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to show her how proud I am, how much I love her. Needed to show her that she matters more than anything.

And now, as I sink onto my leather sofa and open my laptop, I know I’m doing the same. I want a future with Eleanor, a real future, where I can hold her hand and kiss her in public. Where I can give her a ring to wear. Where I don’t have to hide how I feel. If this is what I have to do to get it, that’s a small price to pay.

I pull up the email I drafted last weekend and read through it.

To the Board of Wetherly Cove Preparatory School,

After deep consideration, I am submitting my resignation as Headmaster of Wetherly Prep, effective immediately. This decision has not been made lightly.

In recent months, I have let the lines blur between my personal and professional lives. While planning for this year’s fall fundraiser, I developed a personal relationship with Ms. Eleanor Hart, a member of the faculty. The relationship began after she was hired, and was never leveraged for personal gain, but I acknowledge the inherent imbalance in our positions.

I take full responsibility for this situation. It was never my intent to compromise the integrity of the school, nor to create discomfort among staff or students.

I pause. I’m going to own this. I won’t lie, but I won’t let them drag her into it unless she chooses to speak for herself. I want them to focus on what really matters here: her contributions to the school.

With that in mind, I add another few lines:

This disclosure pertains solely to my actions and choices. I am not speaking on behalf of the other party, and I respectfully ask that no assumptions be made regarding her conduct.

She has approached her role here with dedication, creativity, and care. Her professional contributions, particularly in establishing the Safe Harbor initiative, speak for themselves.