Page 74 of Salvatore

“Soon?” he questions.

I smirk. “Soon enough to catch whoever you plan to sneak in,” I answer.

They grumble as I lead Aedry out. Yeah, I know them a lot better than they think. I stop to kiss Aedry for real as we wait for the elevator.

“Happy Birthday,” I tell her, holding her close. I reach beneath her coat, pressing my palm on her lower back, my lips passing along her crown. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” she says, sighing softly.

“You okay?” I ask.

She starts to nod when I peg her with a look that tells her I know she’s lying. “Rough day. It’s better now that I’m here.”

I keep my arm against her as we step into the elevator. “The kids at school giving you shit?”

“No, but because of budget cuts, I maybe out of a job,” she says.

I clutch her hand and lead her out, trying to keep my voice steady. Aedry wants to save the world, one kid at a time. And some of these kids need serious saving. To hear she won’t have that opportunity seriously pisses me off. “Why you?” I ask, opening the door to my ride for her. “You’re the best counselor they have.”

She doesn’t answer until I slide into the passenger seat and lock my seatbelt in place. “No, I’m the newest full-time counselor they have. The principal is trying to see what he can do to help, but it doesn’t look good.”

I try to keep my face relaxed as I pull onto the main road, aware that I’m frowning. “All those kids you’re seeing? What’s going to happen to them?”

“They’ll be divided among the part-time staff they keep,” she answers, trying to keep her composure.

These kids count on Aedry in ways that extend past her duties. I get that they need to let people go. It’s happening everywhere. But she’s the one the staff should be fighting to hang on to.

“Have you thought about going into private practice?” Not that it’s something I want. I don’t like the idea of her being alone with someone who could hurt her.

“It’s not something I can afford to do at this time.” She slips off her coat. Now that it’s late March, it’s not as cold. But there’s something in the way she wriggles out of it that catches my eye.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I ask.

“I don’t want to talk about this now,” she says, her voice growing sad.

I shake my head. “Aedry, you can’t say something like that and expect me to let it go.”

She rubs her hands against her thighs. “Even if the principal comes up with more money, it will only be a part-time position at best. I can’t make my expenses on such a small salary. He said . . .” She gives herself a moment. “There’s a chance he might have to let me go before the school year ends.”

“The fuck?” I say. “How can they do that to you—and these kids?”

At first, I don’t think she’ll answer. “There have been some expenses they hadn’t counted on, including damage to the roof following that bad snowstorm in February and some vandalism that occurred over Winter break. He has to make some difficult choices and, in his mind, it’s easier to lose one counselor than one teacher.”

“Quit,” I say. “If this is the way they’re going to treat you, leave.”

“Salvatore . . . I can’t.”

I pull onto the road leading to the restaurant. “Move in with me or not. Either way, I’ll support you until you can get a better job and less misery.”

Her hand finds its way to my lap. “I can’t leave those kids until I’m asked,” she says.

And I’m not moving in, she doesn’t bother saying.

We don’t talk the rest of the way to the restaurant. But maybe it’s better. She’s heartbroken over the possibility of leaving a job she loves and is committed to. Me, I’m pissed they broke her heart.

She pauses when the valet opens her door. “Let’s forget about what I said, okay?” she pleads. “I just want to have a good time.”

I throw my door open when she steps out, dropping the key in the valet’s hand. I don’t say anything as we make our way into the restaurant. If she were my wife, I’d support her, take care of her, and that’s all there would be to it. But she’s not and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. Not now.

---