Page 14 of Savage Daddies

“Expensive doesn’t mean more valuable.”

When you’re a high schooler, clothes equal personality, but Zoe never saw it like that. Sia once famously sang, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile,” and Zoe brought that line to life.

She always wore a bright smile, and that’s what intrigued me about her so much. With a casino-owner father, her family would’ve had all the money in the world, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from her personality.

So I did some digging in the system. Curiosity got the better of me, so I searched the school’s online system for background information one evening. Her mother wasn’t in the picture. Suffered from drug addiction when Zoe was an infant, so they gave her father full custody. No other concerns were recorded about Zoe—she was always a top-performing student, never short of peer attention, but her younger sister Fiona had a bad case of depression.

Now, standing in front of me, I suspect that Zoe’s turning the same way.

Her cheeks don’t round into apples anymore when she smiles. The smile she gives me now is forced, and her eyes strain. It’s like she’s forcing happiness into them.

She never answered my question about how she’s doing. But the Chanel outfit tells all.

Wrangler caresses her shoulder. “Can we take you back home?”

“Um.” Another gulp. “No.”

Bullwhip closes in. “Why are you out here, sweetheart? It’s dangerous, and I’m not talking about the spiders. Let’s get you back. Come on.”

Zoe stares up at him for a moment, eyes lingering.

“And the answer to the question you’re about to ask is no,” chuckles Wrangler. “He’s not a giant. Just an unusually large man.”

She laughs, but it’s forced. When Zoe’s truly laughing, she squints her eyes.

And now I find myself staring into them.

She stares back. Lingers even longer than she did with Bullwhip.

Something feels off, like I’m looking at the most beautiful girl in the world but it isn’t allowed. It’s in Zoe’s nature to stand out from the crowd. At school, she was adored, not just by students, but staff too. I would never have done anything, ever, but if she had been older and not my student, I would’ve asked her out on a date after Trudy. Taken her abroad somewhere, since she was always banging on about travel plans for after high school.

Looks like she hasn’t gotten very far.

My chest sinks for her. But also, I feel warm. Perhaps a bit too much.

Her green eyes cut through my soul. They’re sharp and familiar.

And I hate to admit how fucking good it feels to see my best student again.

3

BULLWHIP

Poet looksready to pass out.

That makes two of us.

Women like this never grace our lives, and I fear this will be like riding a roller coaster—as soon as the ride starts, all control is lost.

Wrangler points to Poet. “He used to teach you?”

“Yeah, Mr. Reeves.” Another forced smile. She likes to do a lot of them. “What are you doing out here?”

“We’ve been trying to ask you the same question, sweetheart.” Wrangler hitches an eyebrow. “Are you gonna tell us?” He deepens his concerned eyes. “Are you in trouble?”

“I don’t wanna go back yet.”

“What can we do for you, then?” I fold my arms over my chest to close myself off. I can’t get too close. She’s too beautiful, and I’m no good for her. The beige Chanel pantsuit suggests she has more money than she needs, so I have no idea what she’s doing out here.

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