Page 21 of Miguel

I mean, obviously.

Miguel was hot. Anyone could see him and know. And I knew what chismosas the other teachers could be. I was sure they hadn’t left any room for the imagination when it came to his looks. The principal probably knew all there was to know about Miguel and Zeke in great detail.

“I’m going to take this moment to remind you, Señorita Flores, that relationships between the staff and parents are strictly forbidden.”

“I know that.”

He leaned forward until he was practically sprawled across the table. I could all but taste his breath on my lips, and I wanted to lean back from it but kept myself planted firmly in the seat. “Really?” He hummed. “You don’t want to date him?”

I could feel my face heating and I hated that my skin was probably crawling with a flush of red. “That’s none of your business.”

His palm slapped down against the surface of the table, hard enough that I jolted from the surprise. “It is! You are not allowed to, do you understand?!”

His nostrils flared and his ruddy cheeks reddened in an anger I felt had nothing to do with school policies and more to do with something else. This wasn’t a concerned principal talking to an employee. This was personal, and I couldn’t decipher why.

“Sir, I understand the rules. I’m not dating him, nor do I want to date him. I’ve only just met him.”

He sat back and there was a brief press of silence. He didn’t look appeased by any means, but at least he looked calmer after taking in a few deep breaths. “Good,” he said finally. “Because I’d hate to have to fire you if you step out of line. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I tightened my grip on my skirt. “Yes, sir.” I nodded. “I understand perfectly.”

After school I waited tersely with my students filed in a little line behind me. They bounced on their feet and squealed with impatience for their parents, excited for the end of the school day. Meanwhile I was so tense, my shoulders were practically up to my ears.

My earlier conversation with the principal had set the tone for the rest of the day, and I’d spent it on edge, cranky and irritated. Both with him and myself. I knew better than to get involved with anyone. Even the smallest bit of closeness like taking Zeke home had been a risk. Now I was under his microscope, my job on the line.

Based on what? On a hunch? Because he thought I had the hots for Señor Lopez? It was true, but I’d never voiced it to anyone, and we hadn’t even known one another long enough for our chemistry to even be noticed. And yet these were the consequences of me breaking my own rules. I was putting in jeopardy everything I’d ever worked for. My top performance throughout the years was pushing me closer towards Director Ramón’s position, and I’d nearly screwed it all up.

I gritted my back teeth together and took a deep breath in through the nostrils. It was my attempt to calm down and forget, to remind myself who and what I was. Though nothing beyond a single kiss had been shared, I had to make my stance clear once Señor Lopez arrived for Zeke…

Speak of the Diablo…

The SUV parked on the curb and I watched, my throat tightening, as Señor Lopez hopped down from the vehicle and made his way in our direction. I turned, narrowly avoiding his gaze to gesture at Zeke to come to the front of the line.

When I turned back around, Señor Lopez was already standing in front of me, a cocky smirk twisting the side of his mouth as his eyes ran up and down my figure. They stopped a long time against my chest, though unlike with Director Ramón, his gaze didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. If anything, he electrified me. Every nerve ending came to life when he was close, and I hated how treacherous my body was. How it reacted just by his mere presence.

“Lorena,” he greeted. He looked down and took Zeke’s hand, gently pulling the boy away from me. “Zeke.” He looked back up at me. “I’m on time today.”

A small smile touched my lips. “Are you expecting me to congratulate you, Señor Lopez?” I jested, unable to help myself. “That is, after all, the bare minimum and your job as his father.”

“Straight for the throat.” A deep chuckle rumbled through his chest. “Brutal and unforgiving. I like it.”

My breath caught at the way he whispered those last words. Like a whispered sin in a confessional, though nothing had ever felt more holy. It bathed me in a light, had me flashing back to vivid fantasies of the night before in which he was the star.

I opened my mouth to reply when a voice interrupted us. “Señor Lopez.”

My entire body tensed at Director Ramón’s sneer. The hairs on the backs of my arms stood on end, and I took a step away from Señor Lopez. I hadn’t even realized how close we were, if he’d gravitated towards me or if I’d done so to him, but the presence of my boss was like a bucket of ice cold water dumped down my back.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of making your acquaintance,” my boss said, sticking his hand out for Señor Lopez to shake.

Señor Lopez frowned immediately upon my boss’s arrival, glaring daggers at him and his interruption before he smoothed out his features and shook his hand in a firm, single shake.

“Miguel,” he offered, his jaw ticking.

“I’m glad I caught you. I wanted a word about our school policies.”

Señor Lopez’s eyes flicked in my direction and I stared back, taking in deep breaths. I knew what was coming, and I was afraid of how he was going to react. He’d already proved to be stressed out of his mind, and it caused him to snap. Other than that, he seemed fairly level-headed. I hoped Ramón didn’t push any of his buttons.

“Okay?”

---