Page 74 of Private Tutoring
Matthew sat on the low wooden coffee table and stretched out his legs on one side of mine. A sliver of space separated us, but he honored my silent request to have space. “We will do anything to protect you. Both of you. We did a shit job before, and while we can’t make that up to you, we’d like to try.”
“Please, Harmony.” The pleading in Stephen’s face when I raised my head wrecked me.
I’d imagined every kind of scenario since I left, but not this. “I nearly ruined your careers.” I stood so I wouldn’t give in to Matthew’s proximity and lean on him. “No one wants us together. Then, there’s Leighona.” I shook my head. “No. As much as I want us to be together, I won’t put you at risk again.”
“You want us to be together?” Stephen had moved to the window, and he stood with his back to the glass, his broad shoulders blocking the view. “That’s reason enough to fight for what we want.”
“Not with people like Leighona sending threatening messages.” I had to make them understand. I was a poor kid from nowhere. I wasn’t worth all this. “I don’t have any proof she’s the one who did it, but if she found out, others will too. That means none of us are safe.”
Stephen held out both hands, palms facing me. “Hold on. You need to know something.” The earlier pleading turned hard in the harsh lighting. “When we say we’ll do anything to protect you and the baby, we mean that. You are worth more to us than a job.Youare worth everything.”
He stopped my instant rebuttal with a touch of his fingers on my lips.
“You, Harmony Vogel, are the single most important thing in our lives. We love you. Do you understand what that means?” He slid his fingers away, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. “I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks. Love is too important, and too rare, to pass up.”
Love. Such a strange and tiny word for the enormous feeling that turned my entire body into a living inferno.
“There’s something else.” He took my hand. “You might want to sit down for this part.” He led the way to the couch and sat beside me. “Leighona wasn’t the one sending those messages.”
“How do you know?” And who was responsible?
“Delilah came to my classroom a few days ago. She confessed that she sent the messages, and that you were pregnant.” His fingers twitched around mine.
“Is that why you came? Because I’m pregnant?” Was that the only reason they loved me? I hated the doubt that crept in. I was better than a petty question like that, and it paled in comparison to the truth of Delilah’s betrayal. “She’s the one who told me I should keep it a secret.”
“I wondered.” Stephen scooted closer, and when I didn’t object, he skated his thumb across my cheek in a soothing gesture. “We won’t let anything happen to you. If we lose our jobs, so be it.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Yes, you can.” Matthew tapped his foot against mine where they rested on the floor. “We’re not going to let your future be destroyed over something we all chose willingly.”
“And we’ll fight like hell to make sure everything works out,” Roberto added. “We want you to come back with us.”
“We want a real relationship, Harmony.” Matthew leaned forward so our faces nearly touched. “And there’s one other thing.” His smile eased the sudden tension that gripped my shoulders. “I want you to come back and play Cosette. You’re the only one who can, and the dean has already agreed to let you.”
Roberto stood behind me, one hand on the back of the couch, close enough for my cheek to brush his knuckles if I shifted just right. “And we can discuss how to fix things. And what life looks like for all five of us.” He gestured toward her belly. “We promised to stop when you said stop. But I’m amending that statement because it was made under false pretenses.”
“I made everyone agree to no strings or feelings attached, and none of us could follow it. That changed how we all reacted to situations.” Stephen’s eyes were deep wells of remorse that captivated me. “Let us make it up to you. No more secrets. Nomore pretending we don’t have feelings. I love you, Harmony. We all do.”
“I love you too.” It was imperative they understand that. “I left because I love you, and I was trying to protect you.”
“And we’re asking you to come back for the same reasons,” Matthew said.
The decision came easily. Knowing they loved me changed everything. “I’ll come back.”
Three sets of arms came around me in a rigorous hug.
I laughed and returned the embrace the best I could. “If you want to be part of the baby’s life, I wouldn’t dream of depriving him or her of their father—let alone three who will be wonderful dads.” A lump welled in my throat, but I managed to push it down with a hard swallow. “As for the musical, I would love to play Cosette.”
It had been my dream all year, and the opportunity had dropped into my lap. I’d be a fool to pass that up. Leighona had said some terrible things, but that shouldn’t deter me from taking on the role of a lifetime.
And Delilah…I almost couldn’t believe she would betray me to this level. Pettiness was to be expected in some aspects, but full-on deviousness and threats?
“Harmony, I need to make sure you understand something.” Matthew raised his head, our eyes meeting in a look that sent desire spinning out of control. “Dean Carpenter agreed to let you return to play as Cosette. But he’s holding firm on not letting you resume your classes.”
I shrugged. “That’s okay. I was only going to BAI because your theater program was my best shot at being discovered by Broadway. I can go to a different school.” If I figured out funding. “But I don’t need a degree to become a performer.” I slid a hand into his hair. “I’m anxious about our relationship though. I thought Delilah was my friend. What if things don’tblow over? I don’t want to be the reason you lose your careers. You could be banned from ever teaching again.”
They shared a look. This time, I understood it more than I expected. A mutual decision passed in silent agreement.
