Page 56 of Oh, Hell No

Winslet

It seemed they hadn’t been exaggerating about everyone having heard the lie. Toby had all but run in the other direction when I was walking out to the parking lot. That was a first. It didn’t bother me. If anything, it was a relief I didn’t have to deal with him.

Meg’s door was closed when I walked by, and I considered knocking and seeing if she knew who had started this, but didn’t. There was no need to bring anyone into this. And even if I did know who had done it, what good would that do? The powers that be knew who it was. That wasn’t what had been in question.

When I opened the door to my apartment, I dropped the box of my things I’d taken from the classroom onto the floor. I’d left behind over a thousand dollars’ worth of things I had paid for. It was for the kids. They shouldn’t suffer because of this.

My eyes stung when I thought about not being able to tell themgoodbye. Jeremy and his missing two front teeth wouldn’t rush in and tell me all about what he had read with his dad that night before bed. Lana, who always seemed to need a hug, wouldn’t have me there ready when she came to me. Would whoever they replaced me with be sensitive to her little spirit?

Crap! I hadn’t explained the spelling test song for Friday. If they memorized it, they got a free Popsicle at snack time. I paid for it. Pulling out my phone, I went to the teachers group chat, then decided against it and found Meg’s name instead.

Hey, I don’t know what you heard, but I won’t be there this week. Could I Venmo you and you buy Popsicles at snack time for the kids who memorized the spelling bee song for Friday? Please.

I sent it and waited, but there was no response right away. She could be driving home. I set the phone down and slipped off my heels with a long, weary sigh. The tightness in my chest and lump in my throat with the need to break down only filled my eyes more. Walking dejectedly over to the sofa, I curled up and wrapped my arms around my knees and let it all go. The tears, the unfairness, the embarrassment, and the humiliation—every emotion I had gone through this afternoon seemed to unfurl into deep, heavy sobs.

Maybe I had hit my breaking point. The events starting with being taken in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby until now just came tumbling out. Perry’s face when he had been led out of the courtroom after his sentence with handcuffs on his wrists—I hadn’t fallen apart then, but my heart had hurt for not being able to save him. Mostly because he had done this to himself. He’dcommitted a crime. I’d been angry with him too.

I didn’t wipe at my face but just continued until there were no more tears. It hadn’t made me feel better, but my soul had needed it. I stared at the ceiling, thinking through every person I had come in contact with today. I now knew their odd behavior was because they’d all heard the lie.

Who did my getting fired benefit? Heck, I had done all the extra jobs that none of the teachers wanted. With me gone, who would do it all?

I wasn’t gone yet though. I hadn’t made my decision. Was I going to cave and let them bully me or stand my ground and be unemployed? If this weren’t the Bible Belt, I could take it to the news. Get those that supported me. Fight back. But down here? Yeah, nope. I’d be even more ridiculed.

A knock on my door jerked me out of my thoughts, and I sat up, wiping at my face. Who was that? I rarely had company, and when I did, I knew they were coming. I dried my face while walking over to look in the peephole. Could it be another teacher? Someone who knew the truth?

I lifted the little metal flap and peered out. The man standing out there had me sucking in a breath. What was Oz doing here? I stepped back and stared at the door like it was a snake. So many thoughts right now. The first being that I didn’t want him to see me like this. I wasn’t scared of him. If he had been going to do something to me, he would have by now. And then there was the fact that I had no idea what I had told him on Saturday night, but I had said something about my vibrator.

He knocked again. My car was out front, and he knew what it looked like. He was aware I was here. There was a large part of me that wanted to open that door. Another part reminded me that although he was the wealthy heir to some famous stables, that black flag was still waving.

“Winslet, don’t make me break in the door.” His voice startledme.

Would he do that? Yes. Yes, he would. What did it matter that my eyes were red and puffy? He’d seen me in much worse shape. The knob wiggled, and I had a feeling his patience was running thin.

I moved and unlocked it, then opened it before I could talk myself into hiding in a closet instead. I wasn’t over my embarrassment from whatever I had said to him on Saturday night. The whole him bringing me the sloth was also screwing with me. A stuffed animal did not take down a black flag as bold as his.

The scowl on his face was not what I needed right now. I had my quota of people being mean to me today. If he was here because Perry had done something else and he was angry, then he should go to the prison. They had visiting hours.

He took two long strides, moving me back as he forced his way inside, pushing the door closed behind him. His eyes scanned my face as if he was searching for answers to something.

“What happened?” he asked gruffly.

I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Or I might cry again.

Oz grabbed my chin and tilted my head back, making me look at him when I had tried to duck my head. “Tell me.” The demand came out as just that, but as if he was trying to soften his voice and failing.

There was something in his eyes that had me wanting to tell him. A concern, along with a protectiveness that felt so unfamiliar to me, but I found my chest ached for it. I wanted someone else to care or want to listen. Not just someone. Marley would listen, and I knew she cared. I wanted this man to care. Wow. I probably shouldn’t have admitted that to myself. Was it all the fantasy sex I’d had with him? The sloth? The way he had almost flirted in the parking lot on Sunday?

“Darlin’, I’m about to go to that school you work at and demand answers. Folks might not walk out of their unharmed. Now, I need you to start talking.”

He looked serious, and I…believed him. He would do it. In case I did decide I wanted to keep my job, I didn’t need that.

“I was accused of being pregnant. It’s a Christian school, and an unwed pregnant woman violates their rules and morals,” I blurted.

His brows drew together. “But you’re not pregnant.”

“I know,” I replied.

Although why was he so sure? Did he find it hard to believe a man would sleep with me? Because the hard-on I’d felt the last time we were this close told me he would have no problem with it.

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