Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Like Ryan?
My heart rate speeds up when I hit the stairwell that’s now empty. I’ve just made it to the landing when heavy footfalls thud behind me. I let out a shriek when Cal grabs my hand, stopping me.
“Wait,” he growls.
I nearly stumble as I back myself against the wall. My eyes dart down and then up as I calculate the quickest escape. Panic seizes me and I slam my eyes shut. A low whimper crawls out of my throat.
“Please don’t hurt me,” I whisper.
Strong fingers grip my jaw in a gentle way. He tilts my head up and I’m forced to inhale his woodsy scent. Pine and fresh mountain air.
“Look at me, little girl.”
I open my eyes, blinking back tears.
“I’m not Cuntingham,” he murmurs, bringing his face close enough to mine that I see slivers of blue hidden in his green orbs. “I don’t hurt little girls.”
“But you said—”
“That I’d make your life a living hell?” His grin is wolfish. He’s a predator and this little mouse—as Jordy calls me—is trapped under the cat’s paw, his claws sharp and threatening but don’t pierce. Yet.
“Cal—”
“Mr. Hutton,” he snaps. “That’s how you’ll refer to me from now on.” He releases me and takes a step back, hate making his green eyes seem to glow. “Collect yourself and then get in that classroom. Right up front so I can make sure you don’t flunk out again, loser.”
He turns and takes the stairs up two at a time.
How did two and a half months of working on myself just crumble in one encounter?
With shaky hands, I pull my phone out of my jeans pocket and send a text to Lo.
Me: I accept your marriage proposal. Hurry. Come pick me up and let’s ride off into the sunset before the assholes catch up.
Lo: Who do I need to kill? Everyone?
Me: One stupidly hot dickhead teacher.
Lo: Can I fuck him first?
Me: I can’t do this.
Lo: You can and you will. Go, baby. Seize the motherfucking day.
With tears in my eyes, I march up the steps, ready to face the dragon I’m going to have to slay one way or another. Because that’s who I am now. Not meek, broken Charlotte. No, I’m a phoenix. I’ve risen from the ashes. I have battle wounds and claws.
Cal thinks I’ll be some little pet mouse he can toy with?
He’s wrong.
I am strong. I am brave. I am worthy.
I am woman, hear me roar.
Cal
The class goes from laughing and cutting up to utter silence when I saunter into the room. Most of these kids were at Campfire Chaos. Little wannabe Hoodlums. I stop at the front of the class, skimming my gaze over each and every one of them. Several girls blush when my eyes pass over them with disinterest.
“Be ready to work your ass off or fail. Your choice.” A few kids snigger as I set my bag down on top of my desk. “Open your Chromebooks and start the pretest I’ve loaded. You have the class period to work on it, but I want it submitted when the bell rings.”
“What about the syllabus?” someone asks. “Usually the teachers go over it the first day.”
“You can go over it for homework. We’re not taking class time to do it,” I bark out.
A guy named Otis raises his hand like an idiot.
“What?” I demand, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Do we call you Cal?”
Charlotte chooses this moment to enter the classroom. Her chin is lifted, an impassive expression on her face. If I didn’t see tears in her eyes moments before, I would’ve never known she was trembling like a leaf.
“What do they call me, Miss English?” I ask, my eyebrow arched.
Her nostrils flare, but she meets my stare without faltering. “Mr. Hutton.”
The sarcastic, bitchy way she says it has my blood boiling. I’d almost felt sorry for her in the stairwell when she thought I was a piece of shit like Cuntingham. Not now. I point to the empty seat up front and then take my seat behind my desk. Yesterday, I came up to the classroom and got it ready. When Karen said she needed a teacher, I felt like it’d kill a few birds with one stone. I needed a job for one. Being able to keep an eye on Tierra is a major plus. Finally, I can keep tabs on the mega bitch who nearly killed my best friend.
I don’t give Charlotte the lesson instruction, but she’s smart. She’ll figure it out. With a quick glance at the girl next to her, she figures out what she’s supposed to be doing and pulls out her Chromebook. Where most of the kids are still cutting up or staring my way, Charlotte has already gotten to work. While she works, I study her features one by one.
Intelligent, intense blue eyes.