Page 23 of My Pucking Valentine

“Kind of?”

“They told me that for the foreseeable future, they didn’t have a place for me in the classroom any longer.” Barbara gasps, lifting her hand to cover her mouth. Instead of making her wait, I tell her about the rest of my meeting. “They told me that I could teach an online class. I accepted the position. It’s a little bit of a pay cut, but I don’t have to leave the house.”

“Online,” Barbara whispers. “But you love the classroom.”

She’s right. I do love the classroom. I love everything about the kids. They’re wild and uncontrollable, but they’re funny and sweet as well. I love them all, and I’m going to be sad that I can’t see them every day, but at the same time, I don’t have much of a choice. The district offered me this job, and right now, there is nobody else who will hire me. So, I accepted the position.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to be in the classroom again soon,” I say.

“That’s why you broke up with Luke?”

Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I tug on the flesh slightly before I release it. “I broke up with him so he wouldn’t lose his own career. His plan wasn’t going to work.”

“Clara,” Barbara hisses. “You should talk to him.”

I’m sure I should, but the reality is that he will do whatever it takes to stay together, and I know it’s just not possible. The world thinks we’re siblings. They are not going to easily forget this. It doesn’t matter what kind of scandal comes next. I am and will always be Luke’s sister to the world.

Even though I know that I’m not that. I’ve never been his sister. I’m just the daughter of the woman who married his father.

“I don’t think I will,” I say before I straighten.

My feet carry me toward my bedroom, but I stop and look over my shoulder at Barbara. She gives me a sad smile, and I match it. I know something is going on between her and Neil, and I plan on talking to her about it, but I need a few hours to feel sorry for myself first.

I slip into my room, close the door behind me, and lean against it, closing my eyes. I still feel as if there is a dark cloud hovering around me. I’m trying to do the right thing here, but everything about this feels wrong, from the moment Luke came in with his plan, from the second I was offered the teaching job, and then our breakup—or rather, me breaking up with him.

I love him, and I want to be with him.

But I can’t keep him.

TWENTY-ONE

LUKE

Walking awayfrom Clara is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. At the risk of sounding like a pussy, even to myself, I’ve never felt anything close to the way I feel about her with anyone else. She’s mine, and I can’t imagine my world without her.

But instead of pushing my way into her life, I decide to take a step back and allow the dust to settle on this whole thing. Once she realizes that the world doesn’t really give a shit, they were just shocked by the outrageous headlines, she’ll realize we can be together.

So, maybe she’s right. Maybe a break is what’s needed, but that’s all that this is. Just a break.

On my drive back home, I make a few stops. I fucked up Valentine’s Day in a big way, and I need to at least attempt to make it up to her. I mean, we had amazing sex, and that made it up for me, but Clara deserves more than just fantastic sex.

She deserves everything.

When I park in front of the flower shop, the eyes of the girl standing behind the counter widen at the sight of me. Either she isn’t expecting anyone to come in so close to Valentine’s Day, or maybe she recognizes me from the drama. I’m not sure, and I don’t give much of a shit, either.

“I’d like to order some roses for delivery,” I announce as I walk up to the counter.

“Okay,” she says softly before she asks me specifics.

I order six dozen red roses with no filler. Just the roses. After I pay for the flowers, she shows me the cards. I pick one with red hearts on it and fill it out. I’m not sure what to say, so I make it simple.

Clara,

I love you.

-Luke.

“Thanks,” I say as I slip the card across the counter.

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