Page 42 of Breaker

Shelly clears her throat, and I look at her, trying to control the urge to cry the more she speaks.

"He's down most days, darling, working a lot. The most he's managed to do is half smile, and that's only because of Noah." My tears burn my eyes. "I spoke to Kennedy; she's concerned, too. She's been calling him every day because she's worried. She's even looking at flights despite not wanting to be near the club." My heart pounds. "Now, I don't know what has happened to make you scared of love and why you shy away from it, but you moving away won't fix your issues."

I shake my head and deny, "I'm not moving away because of that, Shell."

Crow cuts in this time. "Maybe not, but it's allowing you to run." I look at him, wiping away the tears that have fallen. "You're in love with my son." I smile at that, making him smile back and continue, "You may not have wanted to fall as hard as you have but you have, darling, and moving won't make those feelings disappear. If anything, they are going to make you struggle more. Your job here is safe, we all ensured it, including Lola who is banned from the clubhouse until further notice. We've done everything, so the path is clear for you two…only you're holding back."

Shelly sighs, walking over to me before cupping my cheeks and whispering, "Don't destroy what you two could have out of fear. He was set up and fell apart when you ended things. It doesn't make what he did with that bitch right, but he needed you."

Some more tears fall as she kisses my forehead before going to Crow. She takes Noah, who goes to her reluctantly, before she walks out.

Crow walks to me and kisses my head, then states, "If you leave, you will regret it, I promise you. What you feel for him is consuming, and it frightens you. Don't let your fear take away from your potential happiness." My tears fall as he turns and heads toward the door. As he goes through it, he states loudly, "We won't allow you to take that job, Quinn. Alex needs you too much, and just like you, we need him, too," before he disappears.

I slump down on my chair, trying to control my tears. I know he's right, but what I went through, what I had to live through, I can't allow that to happen, not to Noah and not to any potential kids I may have in the future. I just can't.

Wiping away my tears, not willing to deal with these feelings right now, I stand, grab my bag, and walk away from my desk, completely forgetting about the slime on the floor. My heel slips out from underneath me, and I screech as I try to grab my desk before I hit the floor. Unfortunately, I end up bashing my wrist on the desk, then landing with a thump.

"Ouch," I gasp as I squeeze my eyes shut at the throbbing pain going through my wrist.

"Quinn!" I hear cried, and I look up to see Amanda, Daisy's mother and the main woman seeking to have me removed, rush in.

I stutter in pain, "Is-is Daisy okay?" She shakes her head and runs to me, but I snap, "Careful," causing her to stop and look at the floor before wincing.

"That was Daisy, wasn't it?"

I chuckle as a few tears fall. "I have to admit, as the teacher, I was stern, but as a person, that shit was funny."

She giggles before carefully stepping over the slime, and helping me up. I wince at the pain in my wrist as she gently takes it, flinching at the swelling.

She states, "You need to go to the ER. I'll take you." I go to decline, not wanting to put her out of her way, but she gives me the stern mother look and says, "You're going, and I will take you. It's the least I could do for the crap I said."

I sigh, not willing to argue because, damn, my wrist hurts. I nod and rasp, "That would be helpful, thank you."

She smiles before grabbing my bag and helping me across the slimy floor.

We're quiet as we walk out of the school. I don't really know what to say to her. She was the ringleader of the witch hunt that made me quit.

When we get to her Rover, she sighs, holding the door handle, before whispering, "I was right about my husband sleeping with a teacher, I just got the wrong one, and for that, I am so sorry."

I furrow my brows as she looks at me, her brown eyes shining with unshed tears as she rasps, "Mrs. Caller had a pregnancy scare and knew it couldn't be her husbands since he's been away for the past four months on deployment. It's the only reason why Tatum told me. Despite everyone, including me, demanding you lose your job, he kept silent until then. I kicked him out when he told me, told him I wanted a divorce despite him pleading otherwise." She wipes away a tear. "I'm so sorry."

I sigh and give her a one-armed hug, rasping, "It's okay; men are jerks."

She shakes her head and pulls back, stating, "But it's not. You're Daisy's favorite teacher, and you're leaving. I came to see you to hopefully convince you to change your mind. However, I didn't quite expect to see you on the floor because of the mess my child made." I go to speak but wince instead because of the shooting pain through my arm. She flinches and quickly opens the passenger door. "It's okay. I've got the next ten minutes to try and convince you to stay."

I snort as I climb into her car, knowing that no matter how much she tries, I won't change my mind about leaving. California Prep seems like a nice school to work at, and a fresh start may be good for everyone.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm sitting in an ER cubicle, waiting to be seen. Amanda had to get back to Daisy but, as promised, she spent the whole ride trying to convince me to stay. Apparently, instead of a petition to remove me from my position, there's a petition going around to keep me at the school that, according to Amanda, they plan to send to California.

Ms. Holden opened her big mouth about my soon-to-be new position. Thankfully, it won't work; if anything, it'll make the new school want me more—not that I told her that.

I sigh as I look at my bruised and very swollen wrist that's currently elevated on a few cushions, praying it's not broken. Suddenly, the curtain opens roughly, making me look up in shock only to wince at my father's extremely panicked eyes. His gaze drops straight to my wrist as he grabs his phone and messages someone, making me furrow my brows in confusion. I don't have a chance to question him because he's next to me, inspecting my injury as soon as his phone is tucked away.

I wince as he gently picks my arm up, his hand holding my hand, as he gently looks over my wrist. "Uh, Dad, don't you think we should wait for a doctor?"

Crap…that came out wrong, but come on…. I have barely said ten words to him in years. I'm a bit shocked he's here.

My dad raises a brow at me and states, "I am a doctor, pumpkin. Now, how in the hell did you manage this?" He looks over my injury again, frowning.

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