Page 90 of Isabela

It includes cheating in sports, so this morning he was expelled from school. I’m eating a snack between classes Aria made me when I get an email at noon.

To the faculty of Hoyt University,

It is my greatest sadness to have to write this email about a past student who was recently expelled for cheating. Kyle Topperson was found in his apartment by his roommate this morning dead of an overdose. It’s unknown if it was accidental or not.

Please keep his family in your thoughts,

Dean Hopkins

My lips twist in annoyance. The little shit couldn’t live with his decisions, though I can’t say I’m surprised. Anyone who takes the easy route in life is weak.

Tossing my phone on the desk, I continue my day. Since it’s Friday, I have a lighter schedule, and I’m looking forward to going home. I called Theodore after Aria caught his granddaughter lurking around, the same girl that’s been trying to get a meeting with me.

He told me the girl was a wild card and to watch out for her. I fucking hate things that I can’t control.

The next few hours fly by, and I am grateful for the end of the work week as I start walking out to my car. Isa took her own vehicle today, because she had a large enough gap in her schedule to be able to head home in between.

Home. Damn. She still has her apartment, even though she hasn’t gone back, and I’m waiting for her to give it up. I know she wants to be independent, which is important for Aria as well. They’re very similar in a lot of ways.

I want to show her this is real, but I haven’t even taken them out on a real date together yet. I think I need to fix that. I’m not keeping Isabela a secret, and I shouldn’t have a problem with the administration, since she’s no longer my student.

Driving home on autopilot, I smile when I see that both my girls are home. My lips curve at the thought, because they are mine. I just need Isabela to trust this.

It’s been fast, and we’ve had so much shit thrown our way, so it’s understandable for her to be worried.

Parking the truck in the large driveway, I turn it off and open the door as I grab my shoulder bag. I finished grading exams, the Society’s trash has been taken out, now we just need to get through Isa’s last steps of initiation. She’s the last student I’ll be bringing into the organization this year, and I’m glad for it.

She’s a quick study, so I’m not worried about her getting acclimated. Theodore and I agreed she needs to wrestle control from her board of directors before we give her any big tasks.

We will be dropping the news of the mayor and her uncle’s misdeeds right after the board meeting, which will hopefully make them realize that they won’t be able to survive this storm without Isabela’s support.

How shitty would it look if they turned their backs on her after the full force of the evidence slapped them in the face?

Closing the door behind me, once I’m out of the vehicle, I click the lock button as I’m struck with another thought. Isabela’s been working on her presentation for days in between classes, and I haven’t had a chance to ask how it’s going.

Blowing out a breath as I rub between my brows, I curse how self absorbed I’ve been. There’s just so much to do, I’m definitely falling down on the job.

My feet feel heavy as I walk to the front door, unlocking it before entering the house. I can hear my girls chatting together, and the house smells amazing. I’m pretty sure Isa has night classes she’s covering for one of the history professors tonight, so I’m glad she’ll have a chance to eat before she runs off.

“Hello,” I call out as I shut the door behind me. Locking it, I pull off my socks and shoes, sighing as I wiggle my toes. It’s such a minor thing, but there’s nothing quite like coming home.

There’s a small clothes basket specifically for socks, and I toss them in as I walk further into the house.

“Hi,” Isabela says with a smile as I walk into the kitchen. She’s wearing a black dress with a pair of checkered converse, and I can tell Aria has been doing a little shopping. It fits Isa’s style perfectly, and it looks comfortable.

Dumping my bag on the kitchen table, I make a beeline for her. “Hi yourself,” I say with a grin, hugging her as I taste her lips.

Isa melts into my embrace, and I look around the kitchen for Aria.

“I swear, I just heard you talking to Aria, right? Am I losing it?” I ask Isa, tickling her side.

“Pantry!” she squeals. “She needs breadcrumbs for the mac and cheese.”

Kissing her forehead, I release her as I walk across the kitchen. Aria is on a step stool trying to reach something that looks suspiciously like breadcrumbs. Did I really put them up that high? Shit.

I tend to forget my wife is only five-foot-two sometimes.

Coming up behind her, I wrap my arms around her waist and kiss the skin on her side from where her midriff bralette has ridden up.

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