Page 54 of The Headmaster’s Rule

I cast my gaze around the place, taking in the kitschy decor: carved totems, fake parrots, plastic palms, and low, pink lighting. It clashes with the Halloween-themed pumpkins and plastic skeletons, making my head hurt. It seems unlikely that a place like this would be Juliana’s scene, but given it’s the only bar on Main Street, we didn’t have much of a choice.

“Spill what?” I ask, glancing at a fake tombstone. It sits beside a hula girl statue that lights up and spins in time with the music pumping from the jukebox.

Theo would hate this place.

I surreptitiously pull my phone out for the hundredth time to check if there’s a message from him, but nothing. I guess it’s only been an hour, but still. I haven’t been able to focus since I stepped out of that supply closet. All I can think about is getting his lips back on mine, his hands back on my skin.

See what you do to me, sweetheart?

The memory of his words sends a delicious shiver through me, but I try to focus on my friends.

“That.” Paige motions to the expression on my face, a curious smile on her mouth. “Something’s going on with you.”

“Agreed,” Juliana says around a cocktail straw. “You were being weird in your classroom earlier.”

I inspect my drink, taking a slice of pineapple from the rim and chewing it slowly. I was hoping Tony’s Tiki Bar might serve hot apple cider, but it seems their seasonal efforts don’t extend beyond the garish decor.

“I was being completely normal,” I say at last, and Paige and Juliana share a look, but seem to agree to drop it.

“Well, I needed this.” Paige lifts her drink, clinking the rim against mine, then Juliana’s. “It has been a week.”

Juliana snorts a laugh. “And it’s only Wednesday.”

Paige nods. “It’s dragging on forever. I’ve had one student after another coming into my office. As if that wasn’t enough, Headmaster Wright—sorry, your dad”—she laughs lightly, cheeks coloring—“nearly bit my head off about a student sitting in the hallway with me instead of going to class.”

My stomach pinches at the mention of his name, and I fight the urge to check my phone. Again.

Juliana lifts a carefully sculpted brow. “Speaking of my father…” Her gaze flicks to me, and her grin sharpens as she teases, “Nora has a crush on him.”

Panic flickers in my chest. I don’t want rumors starting about us, especially since it’s no longer as innocent as a little crush.

“Really?” Paige’s brows rise with interest. “I can see that. He’s an attractive man.”

I breathe an awkward laugh. This makes me feel slightly better.

“He’s a grumpy bastard,” Juliana mutters. “He’s been intolerable lately.” Her gaze strays back to me, lingering, and I focus on wiping a spill from the table with a cocktail napkin for far longer than necessary.

Finally, she sighs, sinking back into her seat. “I wish Ayla was here.”

“Ayla?” I ask, grateful for the subject change. “Does she live in Wetherly?”

“No, she’s in the city now. We did senior year together. She’s an artist these days, with galleries fighting over her work. It’s so cool. And”—Juliana leans in, lowering her voice—“she had such a thing for Rowan.”

“Rowan Winslow?” I blink. “The head of art?”

Juliana nods.

“He’s definitely got a vibe,” Paige says.

Juliana raises an eyebrow. “First my dad, and now Rowan?”

“Oh, God—” Paige’s smile vanishes, her cheeks flushing scarlet. She pushes her cocktail away like it’s to blame. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant… you know, artsy guys.”

Juliana laughs and pats her arm. “Relax, I’m teasing. Older men are way better than guys our age.”

Paige doesn’t respond, her expression unreadable as she smooths a hand over her brunette hair, as if trying to regain her composure.

Juliana swirls her straw in her drink, still smiling. “Anyway, Rowan was Ayla’s senior art advisor, and they spent a lot of time together that year. She says nothing ever happened, but…” She shrugs. “I don’t know. I’ve asked him about it, and he swears it was nothing. Still, every time I talk to her, she brings him up. Always casually, like she doesn’t want me to realize she’s doing it.”