Page 47 of The Headmaster’s Rule

My chest aches as I continue up the steps, hovering in the doorway of the faculty lounge. No Theo. Just Marlene and Rowan in the kitchen, deep in quiet conversation over their coffee. Relief washes through me. I join them, forcing a smile as I load a pod into the machine.

Rowan always wears that casual artist’s look, so unlike the other faculty. There’s something private about him, as if he’s careful about which parts of himself he wants to share. He’s been positive about the summer camp idea as part of Safe Harbor, and even though I’m getting ahead of myself because it’s not part of the pilot program, I can’t help feeling a spark of excitement at the possibility.

He smiles as he takes his coffee and leaves the lounge, another clump of teachers entering and chatting among themselves. I catch a few words of their conversation as they wait for the coffee machine.

“Did you hear the guy who was poking around campus got picked up and charged? Apparently he broke into two stores in town, too.”

My ears perk up at this, relief flooding me. At least that’s no longer an issue, and maybe Theo will let himself forget about it. Though that seems unlikely.

I take my coffee and step aside, adding sugar as they continue.

“I heard Headmaster Wright installed cameras himself first thing the next morning.”

I pause. He did? That would have been the morning after the break-in. He was already exhausted from dealing with that all day, then we worked late into the night, then he got up early and installed cameras? God, he must have been wrecked. And here I was, prattling on about the garden, mocking him for not listening to me, when he had a thousand other things on his mind.

Guilt tugs at me, and I consider texting him to apologize again, but I know better. I’ve already crossed so many lines I shouldn’t have gone anywhere near.

“Morning, Nora.” I blink from my thoughts, glancing across the room to see Paige and Juliana at a nearby table. They wave me over, and I settle into one of the worn tweed chairs, cradling my coffee.

“You look like your mind is a million miles away,” Juliana teases.

I huff a small laugh. More like in the garden, then the parking lot, but she doesn’t need to know that.

“Sorry. Just… thinking about… stuff.”

“Everything okay?” Paige asks, her brow creasing. Reserved yet friendly, Paige wears the same pencil skirt, blouse, and cardigan combo to work every day. I’ve had a few conversations with her now, first about Andy O’Reilly, then about Safe Harbor. She’s got some great ideas to support the project, and I’m excited to work with her more.

“Yes.” I pin on a smile, but she cocks her head, gazing at me. As a guidance counselor, she’s warm, naturally intuitive, and great at reading people. I sigh. “Just… off to a rocky start this year.”

She nods. “It’s been a tough start for me too.”

Headmaster Wright stalks into the faculty lounge at that moment, grumbling, and several faculty members visibly shrink away from him. A hush falls across the room as he rummages through kitchen cabinets, slamming doors, muttering to himself about coffee. He finds what he’s looking for and spins on his heel, gaze colliding with mine. His eyes rake over me, something painful flickering under his thunderous expression. Then his face darkens further, and he strides away.

I stare after him, pulse racing. He’s in his usual three-piece suit, buttoned up tight, tie firmly in place, and today he’s shaved. Probably just as well. A memory of his stubble rasping against my cheek makes me shiver, and I quickly shake it off.

“It doesn’t help when my father storms about like a moody teenager,” Juliana adds, lifting her gaze to the ceiling.

“He does seem to be on the warpath lately,” Paige agrees, wincing.

I glance at them. I haven’t witnessed it myself, since I’ve spent all my breaks in my classroom, but that tracks. He’s back to how he was before we started working on the fundraiser, doing his best to hold everything together, to keep that wall up around him. He’s probably terrified I’m going to report him to the board, not that I would ever consider it for a second. I’m pretty sure I want him more than he wants me, so I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

“Poor Nora looks miserable too,” Paige adds, and I grimace, hoping Juliana doesn’t say anything more about her father.

But she straightens, looking between the two of us decisively. “That’s it. We need a girls’ night out. A chance to blow off some steam.”

“Sounds good,” Paige agrees, after a moment’s hesitation. “I can’t tonight, but tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow it is.” Juliana points at me. “You in?”

Despite the hollow feeling in my stomach, I smile. “Definitely.”

Tomorrow night can’t come soon enough.

CHAPTER 17

Theo

Istomp from the faculty lounge clutching the last coffee pod, trying to ignore the hot sensation in my chest.