Page 55 of Lipstick Kiss

He stalked off. Freya watched as Luke narrowed his eyes on her boss as he marched down the corridor, his shoes clipping at a fast pace.

“Does he still have a stick up his arse?” Luke said, coming into the classroom.

He swung the padded lunch bag on his fingers as he came closer and sat on the corner of her desk. She thought he was so handsome with his tousled hair and gorgeous brown eyes.

“He’s been a nightmare for a while. Since you returned, I’d say. What’s his beef with you?”

“I’ve no idea. None of us would put up with Mr Morris’ bullying, so much so we never really talked about it, just ignored him. I haven’t seen him since I left school. I thought he’d retired years ago.”

“He leaves at the end of the summer term, and then we get a new head teacher. None of us has met them yet. We don’t even know a name.”

“Is he giving you hassle? Do you want me to talk to him?”

“No, please don’t. It will only make it worse. I have one more term with him, and then the grief will be over, and I can get some sleep over the summer.”

“Freya, what is he doing?”

The swinging lunch bag was now thumped onto her desk. She feared for her apple and the bruises it would have. But she knew this version of Luke. He would keep on and on until she gave in and told him. It was the same when she lost her virginity. He wrote to her every day until she wrote him back and told him a name. His letters overlapped with hers, so she had to put up with a dozen letters after she’d senthers. Then they stopped after the letter that told her he was unimpressed with her choice. He didn’t write to her for a month after that.

“He’s making me work overtime because there is a sickness bug going around and not enough spare teachers in the evening.”

“Is that why you haven’t been able to meet in the evenings?”

“Yeah, that’s not news, Luke.”

“What a dickhead. I’m going to have a chat with him,” Luke said, getting up from his perch.

He leaned down, cupped her neck, kissed her head, and squeezed her neck. That was a new move for him. He didn’t usually clutch onto her when he kissed her head. Then he was gone. Left in confusion about his mission or if he would come back, she plucked her lunch bag off the table and put it in her desk drawer. She must have left it in the buggy with Keith because she hadn’t remembered taking it to the balustrade to watch the men.

An hour later, Mr Morris came back to her classroom. She did a slow blink at the papers in front of her and plastered on a smile when she met his stare.

“Hello, Mr Morris.”

“Ms Riley. I’ve decided I don’t need you to cover the year 10 rugby match tomorrow morning.”

“That’s great to hear, seeing as I didn’t know I was supposed to cover it.”

“Yes, well, the notice was in the staff room. I guess you’ve been working in here and hadn’t seen it.”

“Nope.”

Year 10 rugby? She had no idea about rugby apart from the shape of the ball.

“You’re not required. Mrs Sloper informed me that shewill be well enough to attend school next week, so she will be covering the evening classes for the week.”

“That is good news. Dare I hope I have my evenings back?”

“Yes, Ms Riley.”

“Thank you, Mr Morris.”

The head teacher nodded his head once and left the open space of her doorway. She sagged in her chair, stretching her legs out under the desk and dropped her arms to the sides. Freya was slowly slipping. She would end up on the floor if she didn’t dig her heels into the carpet. She wouldn’t mind a nap, but she needed to get on if she was to leave on time to get home, have an actual disco nap, get showered and changed for her drink with Pete.

Freya knew Luke would turn up at some stage. It was like he was focused solely on what she was doing, who she was seeing and where she was every moment of the day. Living on Copper Island meant she couldn’t go far, and teaching at the local school meant he knew where she was between eight in the morning and four in the afternoon, then back to the evening.

They knew everything about each other but hadn’t spent time together since he left when he was twenty-two for the rigs. That was nine years ago, longer if she counted the time he studied away from Copper Island. Now that they were spending a lot of time together, she wasn’t used to the scrutiny but loved that he cared enough to come and check out Pete.

Freya was sitting on a tall stool at the bar next to Pete, with her back to the door. The hellos to Luke had a ripple effect around the busy pub, so she didn’t jump when he threw an arm around her neck and kissed her temple. Instead, she sighed and gave an apologetic face to Pete.

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