I take my time pronouncing her name because I want to do it right. It rolls nicely off my tongue, like something I could get used to saying a lot.
“Doesn’t mean jack shit.”
“You like filthy words, don’t you?” I muse. “I could teach you a few more.”
Her lips part, but no sound comes out.
“Speechless?” I muse.
“Oh, please … stop acting like you’re all that.”
“Likewise,” I say.
“Yeah, well, I just used you to get rid of my virgin status,” she boasts.
Completely catching me by surprise.
My jaw drops, and I’m inclined to shout, but then I realize we’re in a public place, and I really don’t want to make a scene. Especially not considering she’s one of my students.
I shake my head and close my eyes, sighing. “You were a virgin?”
She shushes me. “Not so loud.”
“Right …Well, fuck me.”
If that’s the truth, then Jesus.
I really fucked up.
I not only banged a student, she was a virgin too.
Well, it’s too late to change that now. Guess knowing is just an added bonus. Hurray.
With half-mast eyes, I think about my situation. “I should’ve seen this coming.”
“Duh.”
My brow rises. “Do you always act like this to your teachers?”
“You’re not just a teacher … Professor.”
“Not Professor, please. It makes me feel old. Teacher is fine,” I correct. “And you’re not just a student … not anymore.” I lower my head. “Are you even old enough to be here?”
“I am if I want to be.”
The left corner of my lip quirks up into a smile. “Attitude. We’ll need to fix that.”
The ladies’ room door opens, and I quickly step away from Hailey.
“Oh … hey, aren’t you … Mr. Hard.” It’s that girl who sat next to Hailey during class. They must’ve come here together.
“Hi, Lesley.”
“Oh, you know my name? I’m flattered.”
“Of course, I do.” I smirk.
Hailey signals Lesley to cut it out, but she doesn’t see it … I do, and it makes me smile.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Lesley says.
“Neither did I when I saw the two of you.”
“Yeah, well, this place is the bomb, you know. How could we not go here?” She giggles.
I frown. “Right.”
“Okay, time to go.” Hailey tries to jerk Lesley’s arm, but she isn’t having it.
“Oh, it’s fine. I’ll excuse myself,” I say, winking at Hailey as I step back. “I didn’t know this place was a regular for students. Guess I need to find a new spot.” I turn around and give them a short wave. “See you in class, girls.”
Hailey
That bastard.
How dare he shove me against the wall? How dare he get up in my face like that? And more importantly, how dare he get me fucking riled up over seeing his fine ass?
Fuck.
Out of all the people I could run into, it had to be him.
He probably comes here often. I should’ve thought of it. But still … he could’ve known I’d be here too. I mean we fucking met here, for crying out loud. One of us should’ve been the smart one. Guess it was neither.
“Did you see his ass?” Lesley says.
“Oh, shut up,” I say.
She sneers, “Geez, what’s gotten into you?”
“Him. Under my skin.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you hear what he said? That he was gonna find another place to chill because of us?” I say.
“So? What teacher would want to hang out at the same place as his students?”
“He made it sound like we were scum!”
She grabs my arm. “Hailey, I think you’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
“No, let me go.” I jerk away from her hold.
“Hailey … c’mon, can’t we just forget about him and go have some fun?”
I frown, looking at the dance floor, but knowing he was here too, lecturing me about what I should and shouldn’t do makes me mad, and I don’t like being mad. Or maybe I’m just pissed off because he suddenly appeared back in my life when I thought I’d never see him again … and it turns out that thought was a blissful lie.
I make a face. “I don’t know.”
She pouts. “Aw … but we haven’t even checked out the guys yet. Maybe there’s a cute one on the dance floor just right for you. Nothing like getting out of a funk by banging another dude.”
“I think I’d rather just go home. Do you mind?”
She looks at me and sighs. “Something’s wrong.”
“Nah, I’m fine.” I give her a fake smile.
“Don’t believe it.”
“Okay, it’s the tequila. Happy now?” I say. “I just wanna go home and read a book or something. Can we do that?”
“A book or something? You? Reading a book?” She snorts.
I bring my fingers to her face and press her lips together. “Zip it!”
“Hmm,” she murmurs, and I release her. “Fine. Okay. We’ll go.”
“Great.”
“But you sure as hell won’t be reading a book.” She grabs my hand. “If we’re going home, we’re gonna look up Mr. Sexy on Facebook.”
“Oh, god …” I slap myself in the face because I just know this is going to be so cringe-worthy.
“And then we’re gonna watch Sex & the City, for old time’s sake.”
“Seriously?” I say as we walk out of the club.
“Honey, I need sex. I don’t care where, but if I’m not getting any, at least let me watch someone else get it. Okay?”
“We could watch porn,” I say.
She opens her mouth but then closes it again, her brow lifting curiously. Then she nods slowly and smiles brightly. “Good idea, let’s do that. I call dibs on James Deen!”
Chapter 5
Hailey
Later that night
I open the door to my mom’s house and find her lying on the floor near the couch. A puddle of blood pools around her head, and her eyes are wide open. I run to her as fast as I can. “Mom!” I shout, but she doesn’t respond.
Her body is lifeless as I pick her up and hold her close to me. Tears run down my cheeks, and when I look at my hands, they’re soaked in blood. My breathing stops the moment I see the gaping hole in her heart.
A door to the left slams open and in comes a man carrying a rifle. “What are you doing here?”
He holds it up and points it at me.
A scream as loud as the gunshot that follows erupts from my lungs.
I sit up straight in bed. Heart pounding, I have sweat dripping down my forehead.
I touch my skin, but there’s no hole. I look at my hands and see no blood.
Then I touch my face … tears all over.
“What’s wrong?” Lesley asks, as she gets up from her bed and sits down beside me. “Are you okay?” She puts her hand on my forehead. “You’re burning up.”