Page 62 of Wicked Scandal

I can’t help myself. I break down in tears and the next thing I know, I’m in the safety net of Wilder’s arms.

The door to the classroom comes open and I immediately jump back. It was short-lived but that hug was the reminder I needed to break away from the chains Troy has me in.

I hastily wipe my face to greet my students, but when I see it’s Rome and Elodie, I immediately turn away. For some reason, Elodie is glaring daggers at me. I’m not sure what she knows, but she knows something and she doesn’t seem to approve.

“We’ll talk later,” I whisper as I step past him. Other students will be arriving soon.

Moving to my desk, I listen to their hushed voices as they drill Wilder. I’m pretty sure Rome demanded the truth, whatever that means. Followed by Elodie saying, “People are talking, so you need to come up with something quick.”

“Talking about what?” I blurt out as I pivot to face them. We’re alone in here so I feel like we can have an honest conversation without this whispering that spikes my anxiety.

All eyes land on me, but it’s Wilder who speaks up. “It’s okay,” he says in a reassuring tone. “Everything is fine.”

My eyebrows shoot to my forehead. “What is fine?” I ask authoritatively. “Someone tell me what’s going on.”

Wilder looks from Rome to Elodie then to me as he scratches the back of his head. “It’s a video I posted. Students are beginning to speculate…”

Oh, dear God. I sure as hell hope they don’t think, or know, it was me. If the staff here caught wind, I could lose my job. “What are they speculating, Wilder?”

He doesn’t say anything and his lack of response speaks volumes. I saw the video. I read the comments. Wilder’s entire female following have become detectives ever since that video was posted.

“Dammit,” I spit out. “Someone tell me what is going on right now!” I lower my voice to a near whisper. “Please.”

Elodie steps forward, a look of remorse on her face. “One person made a joke about it being you in the video, and Wilder’s followers ran with it. Some even went as far as doing reverse image searches of the side of your head…err, the girl in the video's head.”

My face drops into my hands and I massage my temples. I can’t believe this is happening. Just when I thought things might settle down enough for me to have a few minutes alone with Wilder so I could tell him how much I still care about him and how badly I’ve missed him—now I have to stay away from him more than ever.

Soft hands land on my shoulders and when I look up, I see the brown eyes I always get lost in. “There’s no proof,” Wilder says confidently. “We’re good.”

I look past him at Elodie and Rome, curious of what they’re thinking. They must know something is going on with us because they aren’t fazed in the slightest right now. “Do they know?” I ask Wilder because I have to know how many mouths can speak on this.

Wilder lifts his shoulders, caging in his neck. “They just figured it out and Rome read right through my excuses.”

“We won’t tell,” Elodie says. “Your secret is safe with us. We just want you and Wilder to be safe from…” Her words trail off but I know what she was going to say. This means Wilder told her about Troy.

My expression drops, right along with my heart. “You told them?”

“I was so fucking scared, Cat. I didn’t know what to do and I had to talk to someone.”

That makes sense. The scene he walked in on with Troy and me had to be traumatizing. I just don’t want everyone to know about it. My reputation is at stake here, too.

“Who else?” I stammer.

“No one. I swear.” His eyes lock with mine.

I believe him. His eyes don’t lie to me, not that I think he would. Wilder has never given me any reason not to trust what he says.

“No one else can know.” I look from him to Elodie, who is already nodding her head in agreement. “You need to delete that video and stop this chain reaction.”

He shifts on his feet a bit and pops the tip of his thumb between his teeth, chewing on his nail as he glances at his brother.

“Oh my God,” I hiss. “Is this about your view count and your followers?”

“No!” His cheeks flush red. “Not at all. I’ll delete the video. No problem. I’m just worried about you. What happens when this gets back to your husband?”

More students begin to enter the room so I end the conversation with, “I can handle my husband.”

At least, I hope I can.

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