Page 79 of The Headmaster’s Rule

My gaze slips to Eleanor again. Of course she volunteered. I force my gaze away, wondering if she’ll wear a costume. What it might be. If it’s the sort of thing I might like to peel off her.

“Unfortunately,” Danny continues, “someone’s called in sick, so we’re short one person.” He gazes at the faculty hopefully, and before I even know what’s happening, I hear myself speak.

“I’ll do it.”

All the eyes in the room swing to me. I look around the table with a frown, wondering what the big deal is. Even Danny seems to be speechless. I don’t dare let myself look at Eleanor, but when my gaze meets Juliana’s, she lifts a hand to hide her smirk, and my frown deepens.

“Theo,” Danny says, recovering. His eyes shimmer with unmasked curiosity. “Excellent. Can’t wait to see you in costume.”

There’s a nervous titter among the faculty, but I ignore it. There will be no costume.

The meeting wraps up, and I approach the coffee machine, refusing to let myself follow Eleanor out the door. A moment later my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to check furtively while my coffee brews.

It’s from Eleanor.

Instinctively, I press my phone to my chest, pulse skittering, but there’s no one behind me. To be sure, I turn and lean against the counter as I read her message.

Eleanor: You’re cute.

Again with the cute. But there’s no denying the way my chest puffs at her words. I like being cute for her.

Theo: If it means I get to see you tonight, I’ll do it.

A throat clears in front of me, and I glance up to see my daughter watching, lips twitching.

“Are you going to drink that?”

I glance at the coffee machine, wondering when it stopped.

“Sorry,” I mutter, slipping my phone away. I take my coffee and step aside as she looks over her shoulder, lowering her voice.

“You’re going to have to do better than that, Dad.”

“What?”

She motions to my face. “Lose the dopey smile. And as for volunteering?” She shakes her head in mock disbelief. “People will think you’ve had a lobotomy.”

I lift my gaze to the ceiling in exasperation. “I’m not that bad.”

She laughs, touching my arm. “Hey, I think it’s great. Just… be careful.”

I swallow, stomach tilting dangerously. I am being careful.

Aren’t I?

“Anyway,” she says brightly, slotting a pod into the machine. “It will be fun for you to dress up tonight.”

I smooth my tie. “I’m not wearing a costume, Juliana.”

“Yeah, you are.” She glances back at me. “We all are.”

“But—”

My phone buzzes again. I tell myself to leave it, but it’s burning a hole in my pocket. I tug it out to quickly check, promising myself it’s the last time.

Eleanor: I can’t wait to see your costume.

Dammit.