Chapter Ten
One week later
Sneaking off had its perks. Lucia got to see Jack most nights of the week, but arriving home late and climbing the wall to get into her bedroom sucked. She also had to make sure she was quiet.
She locked her bedroom door every single night so her parents weren’t able to barge in and see her gone. She’d also blown off Marie every single evening, apart from the movie marathon, even though she’d been tempted to cancel so that she could spend more time with Jack.
Heading downstairs, she’d left her hair down today, but stayed with her usual jeans and shirt.
Standing in the kitchen, she was making herself a coffee when her dad appeared.
Things had been stressful since the whole birthday incident. She tried to avoid them as much as possible, and had the excuse of homework, and checking out colleges.
“Morning, Dad,” she said.
“Morning, honey.” His arms were folded, and he had his serious face on, which only made her nervous.
“What’s up?”
“What’s going on with you?”
“I have no idea what you mean?”
“You’re distant.”
She stirred her coffee and noticed her mother was very absent. “I’m not distant.”
“I know when my daughter is avoiding us.”
“Don’t you think it best that I do?”
“I don’t get it, Lucia. Everything was going well.”
She laughed. “On what universe was everything going well? I barely saw you. If either of you could make it to dinner it was to bring home that horrible takeout. Work is something you and Mom have in common.”
“I get it, we’re the bad guys. We’ve abandoned you, and you’re punishing us.”
“Wow, you really think that’s what this is about? Me punishing you.”
“How you’re behaving now is like a child. We raised you better than that.”
“You don’t even know me,” she said, the coffee forgotten. She turned to look at her dad. Her heart raced, and she didn’t feel in the best of moods.
She was tired, and her period had started, and having this with him didn’t work for her.
“We know you.”
“No. You know I’m a good person. You know I’m a good kid. I have good grades. I work hard. But neither of you know me. Not once did either of you ask if I wanted to come to London.”
“London? It was for a boring conference.”
“That you love. You both have these careers that are your entire world, and you get each other, but I’m always the one left outside, not allowed to catch even a glimpse of it. You can call it ‘the birthday incident’ all you want, but it won’t change anything. It won’t stop you from forgetting me when something calls at work.” She stepped away, looking around the kitchen. “I’ve got to get to school. I promised Marie I’d pick her up. Her car’s in the shop.”
She turned her back on her dad and made her way toward the front door.
“I know your mother and I make a lot of mistakes. We screw up when things should be natural. We love you, Lucia. Both me and your mother.”
She nodded her head and smiled back at her dad. “I know.”
Leaving the house, she climbed into the car, and without looking back she drove toward her friend’s.
Every single day was getting colder, and as she waited for Marie, she wondered what the hell she was going to do. She couldn’t keep arguing with her parents.
Wiping away the stupid tears, she tried to ignore the pain that twisted in her gut. This wasn’t supposed to be that hard.
“What’s wrong?” Marie asked, climbing into the car.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t tell me nothing. That’s a lie. You’re my best friend, Lucia. What’s wrong?”
I’m a shitty friend.
I’ve been blowing you off for Mr. Parker.
I’m having hot-as-fuck sex, and I can’t tell you about it.
“I just had an argument with my dad.”
“Damn, I’m so sorry. Things are still not good between you.”
“It’s not. It will work out, I’m sure of it. I just wished it would happen. I know I need to get over whatever is wrong with me.”
“You always do that,” Marie said.
“What?”
“Assume everything is wrong with you. It’s not always the case. Yes, your parents missed your birthday, and I think you should be pissed at it. In fact, I think you should have been pissed for a lot of birthdays they missed and forgot. Look at when you turned thirteen. They completely forgot that they didn’t even get you a card or a present for over a week.”
“I’m cared for though. A lot of other kids have it a lot worse.”
“So? I’m your best friend, so I’m going to take your side on everything. You’ve got to know that.”
“You are a good friend.”
“The very best and don’t you forget it.”
When they pulled up into the car park at the high school, Marie had to go. She was heading to the library to return some books. Lucia locked up her car, and was heading across the grounds toward the entrance where her locker room was when she was stopped.
Rachel and her little group of friends were standing there.
Even though it was cold, they still wore the shortest miniskirts that Lucia had ever seen.
Connor always sat in front of her table in English, and he always found a reason to be near her locker.
“What?” she asked.
“You do know he’s only using you, right? He wants to fuck you and show everyone in school what a fat waste of space you are.”
Her heart started to pound. Had she and Jack been caught? Wait, why would Jack do that?
“Connor thinks you’re a joke, and this is a way for him to get his kicks.”
Instantly, she felt relief and couldn’t believe for a split second she’d thought Rachel was talking about Jack. Connor, on the other hand, didn’t surprise her. She’d figured there was an ulterior motive. At least now she knew.
“I don’t have to listen to this.”
She made to go around them, but Rachel caught her arm, holding her tightly to the point of pain.
“I’m not done with your skank ass yet. That guy is mine. That fortune is mine. If Connor likes to play around, I really don’t care. You, however, are a sham. You’re not fit for his interest.”
“Let go of me.”
“You’re a fucking pig. So you will stay away from Connor.”
“I don’t want him. I have no idea what your crazy ideas are, but I don’t. Let go of me. I mean it, otherwise you’ll get to see what it’s like to be punched by a fat girl, and believe me, we leave marks.”
She hated confrontation, and this thing with Rachel was getting worse. She had some kind of design on Connor.
The gossip was they were going to marry and unite their two families, which meant more money, more everything.
Lucia didn’t give a damn about Connor.
His attention left her uncomfortable, and she knew without a doubt that the only reason he showed any interest in her was because of their self-defense class, which she’d hated.
“You better watch your step,” Rachel said.
The threat was there, but Lucia wasn’t interested.
She went straight to her locker.
Her hands shock as she opened it up, and she stepped back as tissues spilled out; lots of wet, soaked tissues.
Gritting her teeth, she ignored the laughter.
It had been some time since she had the good old locker joke, but whatever.
“What the hell is this?” Jack asked.
No, it’s Mr. Parker.
She didn’t look up at him as she grabbed the trash can and pulled it closer to her. Whoever had done this would just love to watch her humiliation.
Rachel and her group of friends had followed her inside, and they stood, laughing into their hands.
Mr. Parker crouched down and started to help her.
“Don’t,” she said. “Don’t help. You have to be the teacher.” She kept her voice low so only he could hear.
She didn’t dare look at him.
Between her confrontation with her dad, and now this, seeing Jack, Mr. Parker, she’d break down.
It was her time of the month, and her nerves were already on edge.
“Rachel, you find this funny? Come and clean it up.”
“No, I don’t clean shit up. Isn’t that for the poor?”
“It’s for everyone. Clean it up. You find it funny, and now as your teacher, you’ll help a fellow student clean up the mess.”
She didn’t want Rachel helping her. This would just cause more problems, but she didn’t argue with him. Instead, she kept on cleaning, and then Rachel was there, helping put the soaked toilet paper in the trash.
“What’s the matter, Deen, piss your pants?”
“Congratulations, Rachel, you’ve just earned yourself a detention for the entire week.”
“What the fuck?” Rachel asked.
“You want to keep starting with me, I’ll make sure your ass doesn’t even see prom, and I don’t forget.”
“My dad is going to hear about this.”
“It sounds delightful. Why don’t you invite him along when Connor’s dad’s due to see me? I’d like to have a nice, friendly chat with the two of them.”
Lucia had not heard about Connor’s dad coming to school.
She glanced up and saw Mr. Parker glaring at Rachel.
“He will!”
The toilet paper was cleaned up, and she looked inside her locker. Several of her books were soaking wet. They would be useless.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She glanced up and down the corridor, but the fun seemed to be over.
“It’s not the worst thing they’ve ever put in my locker.”
“What’s the worst?” he asked.
“Garbage. It stank, and they all laughed as I cleaned it out.” She shrugged. “It took them some time. I’ll have to change my locker code.” She pushed some hair out of her face. “At least they only doused it with water. Anything else would have been really gross.” She licked her lips. “You never mentioned anything about seeing Connor’s dad.”
“It’s a recent development.” He held a card up. “Wants to meet to talk.”
“Jack, I mean, Mr. Parker—”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“How can I not?”
“Because it’s not something for you to concern yourself with. I can handle them. It’s my problem. Not yours.”
“You’ll tell me what happens?” she asked.
“You’re coming around tonight?”
She couldn’t resist looking around the corridor. There was a small distance between them, and she really wanted to close it.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Then come.”
“I’ve got to drop Marie off first.”
“I’ll be late as I’m dealing with this dad situation. I’ll be there.”
She nodded.
“Don’t let them get to you, Lucia.”
He went to touch her and she closed her locker, stepping back.
They couldn’t do that, not here, not in front of people.
“Thank you, Mr. Parker.”
“Miss Deen,” he said.
She spun on her heel and made her way to class. Taking a seat in the back near the window, she rested her head in her hands, and hated the secrecy. She knew exactly why it had to happen, but that didn’t make it any easier.
In fact, it made it harder.
Connor’s dad was an asshole of the highest order.
He’d gotten teachers fired for making Connor look stupid. She didn’t want anything to happen to Jack.
Her relationship with him meant a lot to her.
Tapping her pencil on the table, she zoned out in class, thinking about how good it felt to be in Jack’s arms.
He made all the bad go away and stopped her from feeling like she didn’t matter. He was the complete opposite and made her feel like she was seen and heard.
“Miss Deen?”
Her name being called brought her out of her thoughts.
Glancing to the front of the class, she saw the teacher looking at her.
“Are you done daydreaming and can you please answer the question?”
Several smirks echoed round the class, but she ignored them. Staring at the equation on the board, it reminded her of her mother’s office, and she quickly worked it out. The teacher looked surprised, but he didn’t say anything, instead moving onto the next question.
Stay focused, Lucia.
****
To Jack, Principal Dowed had seemed like a straight and narrow kind of guy. Getting the call this morning that he was wanting to be seen by a parent, he’d not thought anything of it. When Dowed then went on and on about how important this man was for the investment and donations, things had started to click together, and he knew instantly that Connor had run to Daddy.
He wasn’t even a little bit surprised by this.
“Now, Mr. Mills, you know how the school likes to accommodate you, and we make every effort to ensure that Connor is well taken care of,” Principal Dowed said.
Sitting back in his office chair, Jack watched the principal fawn all over him as if he was some spiritual creature.
The same went for Rachel James’s mother.
Jack just sat there, waiting, expecting something better. They were both dressed up in their expensive designer suits. Their kids were spitting images of the two of them.
“And I pay for that privilege, Dowed, which is why I’m here today.” Mr. Mills turned toward him. “You’re Jack Parker?”
“The very one.”
“I had heard good things about you, but Connor takes exception to a teacher that mocks him.”
“Jack is very sorry about that—”
“How about I answer for myself because if you were going to speak for me, what was the point of me being here?” Jack said, interrupting Dowed. “I didn’t mock Connor. He wasn’t paying attention in my classroom. I got his attention. He was cocky, answered a question wrong. I told him so and moved on. I have no room in my class to stroke the ego of students who don’t answer correctly. The same goes for girls who bully. Rachel deserved to help, and if she didn’t like it, well, if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.”
“It was some sodden toilet tissue. My girl is way too good for that. Tell him, Dowed.”
“Mr. Parker, we have a certain agreement.”
“I don’t do agreements. I’m a teacher. You want them to throw money at you to kiss their students’ ass, be my guest. I signed on to be a teacher, not to make a mockery of what I do. Connor and Rachel don’t meet the grade, then as far as I’m concerned, they will not be fit for my class, and I will not be intimidated by money.”
“I can have your job from you,” Mr. Mills said.
“I’m Jack Parker, Mr. Mills. You can keep making your threats, but unless you wish for this special privilege to be made public, my job is secure. Cost me my job and I will take you to court.”
“You can’t afford it.”
Jack smiled. “My parents are two of the best lawyers in the country. Not only can I afford it, but they never lose. Look them up, you’ll see. You want to take this further, then I’m for it. I have never done anything wrong, and I’m happy for the world to know my teaching methods. Are you ready for them to know how you like to get teachers fired?” He looked toward Dowed. “Or that you allow yourself to be blackmailed by parents? It makes people wonder what you’re willing to do to doctor exam results. That can be quite a handful.” He stood up. “I’ll let you guys figure this out.” He patted Mr. Mills’s arm. “Don’t ever let a boy send you to do a man’s job.”
He left the classroom, and spotted Rachel and Connor. They had this evil look in their eye as if they expected him to look sad or worried.
“Connor, get in the car,” his dad said.
“Rachel, now!”
“What the hell? You said you could handle it,” Rachel said.
“Dad?”
“I don’t want to hear from you.”
Jack watched as the two kids left the building, but Mr. Mills stayed behind. They stood, staring at one another. He waited for the other man to speak.
“I’m aware of your parents’ reputations,” Mr. Mills said.
“I hold no ill will against you or your son. I grade correctly, and I do not ever believe in preferential treatment.”
“Even though you’re here because of your parents. We do what we can for our kids.”
“As you saw, Principal Dowed didn’t know who I was. Everything that I own and possess I earned on my own. Your boy, you keep cleaning up his messes there’s going to come a point when you can’t do that and he’s going to have to answer on his own.”
“That time won’t come.”
“For your sake I hope not. Don’t threaten me, Mr. Mills. I don’t take kindly to it.”
They stared at each other, both of them masters in their own kingdom. If he’d allowed his parents to interfere, he’d be the head of this school, but he didn’t want that. His grandfather had taught him that a man’s worth was based on what he could do and achieve on his own.
Everything he had belonged to him, and no one was going to take that from him. Not now, not ever.
Parents like Mr. Mills and Mrs. James were not unheard of. He’d witnessed it in a couple of schools he’d taught at.
Teachers had crumpled in the face of all that power.
It was a power that he’d grown up with and recognized. When people said the name Parker in his parents’ circle, it commanded respect. He learned to hold onto that power, and to only use it when absolutely necessary.
“Well, I think that went rather well,” Principal Dowed said, coming to stand beside him.
Staring at the man, Jack no longer held any respect for him. “You’re a disgrace to teachers, and have no right to wear the title,” he said.
“Excuse me? You cannot speak to me like that.”
“I can speak to you any way I like. You allow parents to bully you in order to look the other way. You have an entire school of students under your care, and you offer special treatment to two people that I know hurt others.” He looked at Dowed. “You don’t deserve to be principal.”
He didn’t linger.
The last thing he wanted to do was be in the company of a man that he now wanted to hit. How many teachers had been pushed aside because of this man? The very thought made him so fucking angry.
Climbing into his car, he drove out of the school. Turning up the music, he shouted to the rock song playing, not caring as he cleared his mind. This wasn’t supposed to be so fucking hard, not now.
Life was supposed to be getting easier.
He didn’t trust Dowed, and he wondered who else had a hand in Mills’s pocket.
Arriving at his driveway, he spotted Lucia’s car parked down the street. Climbing out, he watched her lock up and head his way. Opening the door, he let her inside. The moment the door was closed, he trapped her between the wall and his body, needing her strawberry scent and her taste to surround his senses.
“We keep doing this,” she said.
“I can’t help it. It’s always too fucking long between touching you.” He twirled a strand of hair around his finger, tugging a little on the length. “I missed you.”
“Are you still a teacher?”
“It would be easier for the two of us if I wasn’t.”
“That wasn’t what I was asking, and you know it.”
“I’m still a teacher, so you’re going to have to complete your homework assignment for me.”
She chuckled. “How did you do that?”
“Quite easily, if I do say so myself. I fought fire with fire.”
“You’re the first teacher to not get burned by the wrath of Connor’s dad.”
“I’m sick and tired of hearing that boy’s name tonight.”
She pretended to lock her lips and throw away the key. “I’m more than happy to not talk about him again, like, ever.”
“How long can you stay?” he asked.
“I changed my clothes. If you want, I can stay all night.”
“I’d like that.”
“But.” She placed a finger against his lips.
“I don’t like buts.”
“We can’t do anything. It’s … erm … that time of the month. You know, being a woman and all.”
He stroked her stomach. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. I’m used to the cramps.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No. I kind of left my parents’ home. Told them I was seeing a friend.”
“You should text them. Let them know you’re staying the night. I’ll cook us up some food.”
“Not vegetarian? Please tell me it’s not.”
He laughed. “Babe, I’m a grown-ass man. I don’t do vegetables unless it’s a little salad on the side of my plate. Call your parents or text them. I’ll get started on some food.”
Putting his briefcase on the table, he made his way into the kitchen. He’d purchased some steaks yesterday at the market. Preheating his oven, he opened up a bag of precut, precooked fries. Dumping them in the oven, he looked up as Lucia entered.
“They’re not happy about it.”
“No?” He didn’t imagine they would be.
“I just need some space right now.”
“Things will work out with you and your parents.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. There’s no way it can’t.”
“Did it work with you and your parents?” she asked.
“We’re still on speaking terms, so I guess it did.” He winked at her.
They both froze, however, when his doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting someone?”
“No.” He moved away from the stove and made his way toward the front door. Closing his eyes, he wasn’t interested in the woman on the other side. “It’s Ms. Bertram.”
“I better … hide.”
“Yes.”
He waited a few minutes for her to hide, and he didn’t know where she was.
Opening the door, he forced a smile to his lips as he stared at Beth.
“Hey, Beth, what brought you here?”
“I hope you don’t mind. Derick told me that you had an appointment this afternoon with Connor’s dad, and I just wanted to make sure everything is okay. That you’re fine.”
“Yes, everything is fine,” he said.
“It is.” She bounced from one foot to another, and the last thing he wanted was for her to be in his home but the gentlemanly thing was to let her.
“Come on in.”
This was his fucking time with Lucia. Closing the door behind her, he made his way down toward the kitchen.
No sign of Lucia at all.
“I’m just about to make me something to eat.” He quickly put the steaks into the fridge so she didn’t see he had two of them.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. You were worried?”
“Well, the man does have a bit of a reputation.”
“Yes, well, I’ll be at work tomorrow, and we have an understanding. There’s no need to worry.” He faced her and didn’t know what else to say to get her out of his home. “How did you know where I lived?”
“I may have taken a trip to the principal’s office during lunch, and he was looking through your file. I wanted to tell him that I thought you were an outstanding teacher and didn’t deserve to be put on the chopping block.”
“It’s not going to happen. Men like Mr. Mills just need to learn that money can’t buy them anything.”
“It just makes life easier.”
“Is he known for bribing teachers and officials?” he asked.
“It’s not like that, Jack.”
“Look, you clearly have a way of doing things in Beyer Hill, but I don’t. I’m used to following the book, and that means no preferential treatment for any one student. I don’t give a fuck if Connor’s daddy is rich. That won’t stop me from correcting him in my class or calling on him. I think it’s best that you leave.”
“Jack?”
“No, I would like to eat alone, and that was exactly what I’m going to do.”
He saw she wanted to argue, but he really wasn’t interested. There was no way he’d lose his job, and it was time Connor’s little reign of terror ceased in the school.
Moving her toward the front door, he held it open, letting her know in no uncertain terms that she was no longer invited into his home.
“Jack, I’m really sorry.”
“It was thoughtful of you for stopping by. I appreciate it, but I won’t be blackmailed into giving a student a break or threatened because I refuse to. Goodnight, Ms. Bertram.” He closed the door, locking it. Glancing through the peephole, he waited until she had gone before turning away from the door.
“You okay?” Lucia asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I had no idea she was coming over.”
“I gathered with the way that whole conversation went down.”
He moved up to her. “Are you okay?”
“Me, I’m fine. Starving.”
He cupped her face, dropping another kiss to her full lips. “I put the steaks away so she didn’t see them.”
“Ah, you’re not wanting to share your food with anyone else. I get it.” She winked at him, which made him laugh.
“I want to feed you, Lucia.”
Grabbing the steaks out of the fridge, he quickly checked the fries, and they were not burned. He finished them and then got started on cooking the rest of dinner.
“Who knew you could cook?” she said.
“I live on my own. It’s not something I enjoy doing all that much, but I can whip something up for my girl.”
He saw her smile, and he wanted to keep her that way. Placing the steaks on the hot grill, he started to toss a salad, and within fifteen minutes, dinner was served. They didn’t eat outside as there was a chill in the air, but they sat at his dining room table.
It was a little surreal to him to be eating with her, or to be eating with anyone.
“This is really good,” she said, pointing down at the food.
“Good.”
Watching her eat and enjoying his own food, Jack felt a peace settle over him that he’d never felt before. He’d always been busy, driven to finding the next challenge to face in life, but with Lucia, she didn’t make him want to go out looking for something else.
He loved her company.
He enjoyed being with her.
For the first time in his life, he was actually happy.
She sipped at her water, and he watched her swallow before going back for more food. He wanted to take care of her. For her to be in his life.
“You keep staring,” she said.
“That’s because I’m sitting with a very beautiful woman, enjoying some good food. I’d stare at you all day if I could.”
“Do you struggle in class?”
“Class is the hardest, but I get through it, especially knowing I’m going to get to hold you at some point.”
“I like your answer.”
After they finished food, she helped with the dishes, and then they sat down to enjoy a movie. Lucia rested her head on his knee as she looked through the homework that he’d set and been handed in. Every now and then he’d pause, watch a bit of the movie, or merely stroke her hair. He loved the feel of the strands as they glided through his fingers.
All too soon it was late and time for bed.
Taking her up to his room, he watched as she slowly undressed, placing her clothes on the chair so that they didn’t crease. She still wore a pair of panties, and he waited for her. Lifting the blanket, he was as naked as she was. He’d even put on a pair of boxers.
She climbed into bed, and he held her tightly against him, stroking her stomach.
“Does it hurt?”
“It’s okay at the moment. Some times are worse than others.” She covered her face and groaned. “I shouldn’t be talking with you about this. It’s personal.”
He laughed, kissing her shoulder. “It’s completely natural, and I don’t want to see you in pain.”
“I’m not in pain, I promise.”
She rolled to her back, and he continued the gentle strokes of her stomach. “I was so worried today,” she said.
“Why?”
“You’re the first teacher to have a meeting with Connor’s dad and make it back. I don’t want you to leave Beyer Hill.”
“I thought we discussed no more talk of that boy.”
“I know, but … I’d miss you. I want you to know that.”
“I’d miss you as well.” He leaned forward and dropped a kiss to her lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You promise?”
“I don’t need to promise. I know. Get some sleep, Lucia.” He kissed her lips, then wrapped his arms around her.
She was part of his world now, and he didn’t like that feeling that swept through him at the thought of never seeing her again. It wasn’t something he wanted to think about, and there’s no way he could let it happen.
He held her just a little tighter.
Lucia meant a great deal to him.
This wasn’t just a taste of the forbidden to him.
In fact, that held no appeal.
The only woman he wanted was Lucia.
He’d do everything he could to keep her, even though it killed him to keep her a secret.
She was worth shouting from the rooftops over, and he would. One day, he’d be able to.
Lucia was his.