Page 37 of Teaching His Babygirl

Coop’s lips tilt up in something like a smile but looks a little feral and a lot angry. “No worries, he’s going to get his comeuppance.”

We chit chat about nothing in particular the rest of the way to the lounge. He tells me to stay safe and that he’ll be watching—which sounds way creepier than it is. I walk into the room and everyone falls silent. Apparently, I’ve been the topic of conversation. I try to brush it off, but some of the judgmental looks I’m getting make it hard. This was the exact reason I wanted to keep my relationship with Colt quiet.

Too late now.

I grab a bag of chips from the vending machine, having forgotten to pack a lunch this morning with everything else going on. I sit at the only empty table and try to focus on the chips. A few minutes later, Mel comes bustling into the room, an apologetic look on her face as if she knows what I walked into, and she’s sorry that she wasn’t here to brave the silent glares with me. She pops her lunch into the microwave then sits with me, glaring at Karen at the other table.

I’m guessing she’s the ringleader of the people who are displeased that I’m dating Colt. I try to find discomfort at the thought of her judgment, but there is none. With what is happening with Levi, I can’t be worried about someone so trivial as a jealous woman who probably wanted Colt for herself.

Mine. I think with an internal growl—all mine.

Mel and I chat about school and her newest romance book that she promises to let me read when she’s done. Apparently, it’s written by an amazing independent romance author who can spin a story that’s both intriguing and hot as hell. Plus, all of the heroes are sexy bikers, and the heroines are damaged, but with a steely will to carve out their own happiness despite everything they’ve been forced to survive.

I readily agree to read the book after her. Who doesn’t need a growly hero in their life? Speaking of growly heroes, I can’t help but wonder where my own hero is at. I thought for sure Colt would be in the lounge waiting for me, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I’m tempted to text him. I keep my phone in my bag by sheer force of will, not wanting to be clingy.

I finish my chips and decide to head back to my classroom to work on grading projects. Mel walks with me, and we part ways at my classroom. I tuck my things away in my bottom drawer then notice an envelope on my desktop. I turn it over in confusion, wondering what it is. If it’s from the school, it goes into our mailboxes inside the office. Maybe a student?

I open the envelope and gasp at what I see. A deep well of sickness opens up in my stomach, and anxiety courses through my body. It’s an envelope of pictures. All of them have Colt in them, all of them are destroyed in some way. The ones that are the most disturbing have burn marks on them. A note falls out of the envelope, and I pick it up with shaking hands.

I don’t like obstacles. Don’t make me hurt him.

I read the words over and over, knowing exactly who this is from and what it means. How did he get this in here? A cold breeze flutters my hair, and I realize one of the windows to the classroom is open. Would Levi have crawled in through a window? Shivers wrack my body, and I quickly close the window and throw the lock. I double-check all of the locks on the windows and close the blinds.

My room is now thrown into shadow without the bright light of the sun shining in. It does nothing to dispel my anxiety. I grab my phone and lock myself in the small bathroom off my classroom. I pull up Charity’s phone number and dial. I know she’s probably got a class, but I need to talk to her now.

“Dar?” she asks breathlessly. “What’s wrong?”

I let out a sob. “S-sorry to bother you. I just… I don’t know who else to call.”

“It’s okay,” she says to me, then yells, “Pick up your feet, girls! Fast foot forward.”

“Lazy assed kids. Now, take a deep breath and tell me what’s wrong.”

“My stalker. H-he left an envelope with pictures on my desk. A th-threat to hurt Colt. He said he doesn’t like obstacles. Charity, I think he’s going to hurt Colt if I don’t break up with him.”

Charity sighs. “Hon, calm down. Colt is a big boy. He can take care of himself.”

“I couldn’t live with myself if he got hurt because of me.”

“Doesn’t he deserve the chance to know what’s happening? He could have a solution that would keep you both safe,” she says, logically.

But right now, logic isn’t making any sense. All I can think about are those mutilated images of Colt. I don’t know what Levi Troy is capable of, but I think he might just be crazy enough to hurt Colt if I don’t break up with him.

“What if he can’t?” I ask quietly. “What if I just get us both hurt?”

“You’re about to do something insane like break up with him, aren’t you?”

“What other choice do I have?” My tears are falling in rivers down my cheeks now at just the thought of breaking things off. How will I ever break up with him? He’ll know the second I do that something is up unless I come up with a good excuse. Colt isn’t the kind of man to just give up on someone.

“Uh. Talking to Colt and letting him decide if he wants to take the risk or not, for starters.”

“Why must you always make sense?”

She laughs. “Seriously, Darlene, just talk to Colt. Don’t do anything rash.”

“Thanks, Cha-cha.”

“Anytime. I better get back to these girls before they think it’s naptime. Call me later. Love you, girl.”

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