Page 13 of Tattooed By Her Silver Fox

“And what if it doesn’t. I love working with you and the other teachers, but there are other schools in the district. There aren’t other men who look like Fox, and from what I’ve seen, that man would follow you off a cliff if you asked him to. Can you say the same for your job?”

I know Claire is right, and it’s a silly thing to put a position over a relationship. After lots of encouragement, and a few more glasses of wine, Claire and I have worked out down to the letter what I’ll say the next morning before the school day begins.

Only when I wake up, I’m too sore to move. My head is throbbing, and my throat hurts. Every time I try to stand, I get dizzy and fall down again. The flu has been traveling through the classrooms, and even though I’ve had the shot, I’m afraid it’s found me at the most inopportune time.

I send Claire a quick text, and she agrees to take care of school for me. We’ll postpone dropping the bombshell until I’m feeling better. I contemplate sending Fox a text, or even calling, but if he decided to come over while my nose is running and my eyes are red, and I feel like death, he might change his mind about marriage.

Instead, I put on my warmest pajamas and curl up in bed, planning to read, but knowing I’ll be out like a light the second, my spinning head hits the pillow.

Fox

She hasn’t been answering my texts, and when I asked Bash how his day was after picking him up, he says Vi wasn’t at school.

Is she hiding from me? Is this her way of ending things without giving me a chance to fight back?

As soon as Robby picks Bash up from the shop, I cancel the rest of my afternoon and make tracks to the school. I’m the only car at the front of the building again, and the main door is locked, but as soon as I ring the bell, a voice answers and lets me in.

“Mr. Fox.” Principal Garcia greets me in the front office. She’s smug on most days, but it’s dripping from her today like ice cream from a cone on a hot summer day. I want to tear into her. Demand to know what she said to Vi to make her run from me, but I don’t. “Bash was picked up already.”

“I know.” I take the last two steps to stand on the opposite side of the counter from her. “I’m not here for my grandson. I’m here for Vi.”

She clutches at a gold chain around her neck and looks down her nose at me as if I’m some delinquent parent she’s too privileged to have to deal with. “I’m afraid Ms. Catto isn’t here. You’re welcome to leave a message and--”

“I’ve been leaving messages all damn day.” My voice hits her hard, and she steps back. Her hand moves from her neck to her chest. “Did she call in today?”

“I can’t tell you that. Now, if you will excuse me, it’s after hours, and I need to close up the front office.”

I slap my hand down on the counter. “Not until you tell me where Vi is. You’re the reason she’s hiding. You had a chat with her Friday about her’ behavior’ at school. I’m here to tell you none of what you saw was Vi’s fought. I forced her into kissing me in the hallway like I’m forcing you to tell me where the hell she is now.”

I catch Ms. Garcia glancing through the large window that looks out into the hallways, probably hoping someone will come to her rescue. It’s enough of a warning for me to dial back my temper. The last thing I need is her calling the police or, worse yet, firing Vi over this.

“Look,” I say and back away from the counter to give her space. “I understand you have your reasons for following protocol, and you’ve been kind enough to let Bash stay at this school even when he was moved out of the zone, but Vi’s a fantastic teacher and dedicated to her students. Are you willing to take that all away from her and the kids she touches, over your policy?”

Ms. Garcia takes a second before she answers. “It’s not for me to decide, Mr. Fox. Ms. Catto signed a contract with the district, not the school. I’m only doing my job and trying my best to protect my student body.”

There is no getting to this woman. She’s a by-the-book-person no matter how messed up the rules are. There’s no way around her, so there’s no way to win back my Vi.

I storm out of the office, too hot to go back to the shop or home, so I end up at Greg’s bar. Half a dozen beers later, the edge is still sharp. I may never get my Vi back. I may never be the same without her.

Fuck. What’s a guy to do?

8

Vi

It’s been a week since I’ve heard anything from Fox. Most of that week, I’ve been sick in bed, ignoring his texts and calls until they stopped altogether. Bash has been quiet in class since I returned a few days ago.

The day I came back, he wouldn’t even hug me, and when I picked him as my lunch buddy, he simply asked why I didn’t love his grandpa anymore and went back to sit alone at the end of our cafeteria table.

Every time I look at his sad eyes, I want to tell him the truth. He’s only six, and I feel I’ve ruined his view of the world in some way. Maybe this is why the rules are in place. This is why teachers and parents can’t date.

It’s near time for the kids to pack up for the day when Bash comes over to me with a card. I can tell from the writing he wrote my name on the front with some help from either his father or Fox. I run my fingers along the letters, hoping it was Fox, and I’m touching where he touched not that long ago.

It’s so silly. If something as simple as touching the same space means so much, why is it so hard for me to concede? There are other schools and other districts, for that matter. Why is it so important that I stay at this one?

“That’s the whole point,” Claire answers my question after all the kids are gone, and we’re walking to the front office together. “You shouldn’t have to choose. It’s stupid. In three weeks, Bash won’t even be your student anymore, but Fox will still be the love of your life.”

My head spins at her comment. She’s right. Three weeks is nothing compared to a lifetime with someone. Could it be as simple as waiting?

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