Page 10 of Stay Toxic

He nodded, his eyes still wide, and said, “Sorry.”

“You better be,” I grumbled and kept stomping toward the office.

The year had started with a bang—a water main breaking bang.

It’d flooded the entire front office, forcing the upper house to move into the parking lot in a rented trailer.

I, of course, expected to find Rupert in the trailer.

What I hadn’t expected to find was the superintendent standing over him, watching him pack his desk.

The superintendent, Dr. Musgraves, a board-certified child psychologist turned teacher, turned superintendent, was a great guy.

But today he had a terrible look on his face as he watched Rupert finish packing his bags.

“You are asked not to come back onto school property,” Dr. Musgraves rattled on, seeing me and not caring.

I crossed my arms over my chest and watched the scene.

The door behind me opened, and I moved to the side to see multiple police officers enter the office, one of whom had a cuffed Jolessa with him.

My gaze took them all in, and I nearly laughed when Jolessa saw me standing there and flinched.

“Rupert Tomlinson, you’re under arrest for…”

I didn’t listen to the rest. I walked outside, didn’t spare Jolessa a glance, and headed for my car in the parking lot.

I’d seen enough, of course.

“Ms. Sweat!”

I stopped short of entering the teacher parking lot and found Dr. Musgraves standing there, breathing hard.

“Yes?”

“I don’t know what to say,” he admitted.

I rubbed at my eyes with the tips of my fingers and said, “You and me both, Dr. Musgraves.”

“Both have been terminated,” he said. “I would highly suggest you find a different place to live, though. It’s best not to be associated with him right now. It might give the school board the wrong impression.”

I was already nodding my head. “I’m actually headed to U-Haul right now. I’m going to call my brothers, and we’re going to get my stuff packed up tonight. I’ll be out of his house by nightfall.”

“Good.” He cupped my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Ms. Sweat.”

I laughed humorlessly. “Not as sorry as I will be when I have to tell my brothers what happened.”

His smile was soft when he said, “Let me know if you need anything.”

I looked at my feet. “Thank you, Dr. Musgraves.”

“Be safe.”

Then he was heading back to the offices, where I could now see my asshole ex being led out in handcuffs.

“…said that it was indecency with a minor,” I heard someone say from behind me.

I felt decidedly empty as I watched them go.

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