Page 40 of Teaching His Babygirl

Three days.

It has been three days since Darlene broke things off with me and I’m going crazy. She refuses to have a conversation with me. She ignores all of my calls and my texts. Here at school, she’s constantly with Melinda or one of the other teachers in the Fine Arts department. She’s literally never alone. That is until she’s walking either to the school or home from the school.

I’ve put every ounce of my willpower into not showing up at her apartment. Jasper and Ransom both told me that being apart is the best thing for catching Levi, only he hasn’t shown his face yet. I hate that they are right. Knowing that Darlene is single—at least she thinks we are—gives him more opportunities to make his next move, whatever that may be.

I refuse to give up on her. She’s my babygirl no matter what she thinks. Once this is all over with, I will be claiming what’s mine.

Chapter Nineteen

Darlene

I didn’t expectColt to give up on us so easily. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, if I’m being honest. After those first three days, he stopped trying to corner me in the halls. All the phone calls and sweet texts about how much he misses me stopped too. It’s as if we never were.

Even though it’s what I asked for, it’s not at all what I wanted. There haven’t been any other threats from Levi, so I’m assuming he’s somehow figured out that we aren’t together anymore. I hate him a little more for keeping me from the man I now know I love desperately. It’s just one more thing Levi Troy has taken from me. First, my sense of security and then my heart.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go out?” Mel asks. “It might be good to get out of the house and stop moping about.”

She’s not wrong. I have been moping. I didn’t tell her any details on why Colt and I broke up, but she’s been fully supportive of me and has stood beside me while I cried. She’s a good friend, and I’m lucky to have her.

I sigh. “I’m sorry I’m such a sad sack. You’re right, I could use a night out. What should we do?”

“I could go for some of that pizza we had last time.”

I smile the first genuine smile I’ve had for days. “Sounds like a plan. I could go for some of that greasy goodness. Maybe one of the triple chocolate chip cookie brownies too.”

“What is this heaven you speak of?”

I laugh an all-out belly laugh at the look of wonder on her face. I lace my arm through hers and pull her along. “Come on. Let’s go stuff our faces with pizza and brownies.”

We opt to walk to the restaurant since it’s not that far away. Mel keeps looking over her shoulder as we walk, and I wonder if she’s picked up that I’m being followed. I debate on telling her but worry about how she will react.

“I feel like we are being followed,” she leans in close and whispers.

I chew my lip and decide it’s better to tell her than let her think someone is stalking us… Well, someone is stalking me, but I have a feeling the one she’s talking about is either Ransom or Jasper, my two main protectors these days.

“We are… I mean… someone is following me. I’m sorry, I should’ve told you before. I actually… um… well, I sort of have a stalker. So I have someone that basically follows me everywhere, keeping an eye on me in case the person tries to attack me… or something.” I cringe, waiting for her reaction.

“A stalker?! Oh, God. Why didn’t you tell me? How long has this been going on? Do you know who it is?”

I let out a sigh, hating that I’m now involving my friend but also feeling glad to be talking to someone about it. “Mr. Troy…”

“Levi Troy?” she asks, shocked. “You know? I’m not that surprised. He was completely infatuated with you. More so than any of the other women he’s bothered over the years.”

“Well, it seems like he finally found someone to fixate on. Yay me.” I try to put a little humor in my tone, but it’s no use. Nothing about the situation is funny.

Mel shakes her head. “This is insane. And you have a bodyguard?”

I snort. “Try three… though I sort of suspect it’s four.”

Her eyes go wide. “Who?”

“Well, Jasper, the school patrol officer… when he’s off the clock, he relieves Ransom. Do you know him? He’s a good friend to Coach Cooper, Colt, and Jasper.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t think so. Who are the other two?”

I give her a wry smile wondering how she’s going to feel about one of them, specifically Coach Cooper. “I think Colt has been watching over me despite our break up. I could be wrong, but I sometimes just feel like his eyes are on me. There’s a weighted feel to how he looks at me. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking.

“The other one is Coach Cooper. He watches out for me during the school day.”

---