Page 8 of Only You
“Can you please take your plate to the kitchen first?” Phillip asks, and he gets no pushback. Raegan just nods and takes her plate into the kitchen before heading off to the hall.
“I’m sorry. I probably should have turned Cason down on his invitation.”
“Oh no. You’re more than welcome here,” Phillip says, seemingly very genuine. “Raegan is always the first to leave the table.”
“Always,” Braylen says exaggeratedly.
“Please stay,” Tatum says from next to me and hands me a fork. I take it, trying to ignore the spark soaring through me when our fingers touch just slightly. “But also... tell us what brought Cason to you in the first place today. I doubt he just sought you out to invite you to dinner.”
Cason rolls his eyes at that, unbothered as he pushes his now-empty plate back from him. “I may have shoved Blake a little.”
“Damn it, Cason,” Kellan starts, but Phillip places a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
“What happened?” Phillip’s voice is steady and calm.
“Nothing. He just won’t leave me the hell alone, so I made him.”
I grimace, the tension thick now, feeling Tatum’s large body stiffen next to me. “What did he say?” Tatum’s voice is not nearly as calm as Phillip’s—pure rage dripping from him.
“Nothing. It’s not a big deal. I handled it,” Cason says, his annoyance ratcheting up.
“Isn’t there something you can do to keep this kid away from Cason?” Tatum asks me, and I don’t hear anything accusatory in his question, just concern.
“I’ve asked my staff to keep an eye on the situation, and I assure you I have been too. I need Cason to report it to me or a teacher instead of resorting to physical violence though.”
Kellan’s jaw is set tight before he gives me a clipped nod. I want to scream that I understand. That bullies piss me off, but even outside of school, I’m the principal, and I have to keep up a certain standard.
“We’ll talk about this more later,” he says to Cason as the kid stands up.
“Fine. Whatever.” He looks over at me. “Can’t believe you showed.”
“Thanks for the invite,” I say and get a smirk from him before he leaves. Soon, Kieran and Braylen excuse themselves too. Phillip has to make a phone call as I finish the delicious food, leaving the chicken.
Kellan is watching me closely as I place my fork down on my nearly empty plate. If Kellan notices that I didn’t eat the chicken, he doesn’t mention it. “That was delicious.”
“Yeah, Phillip really knows his way around the kitchen.” He grins, but then his expression becomes fairly serious. “I know Cason can be a little...”
“He’s a little shit,” Tatum finishes for his friend, and I try to hide my smile.
“He’s been through a lot,” Kellan says fiercely, and I nod, having assumed that.
“I know, and he’s a good kid. Smart. Loves to push buttons. But I can’t say I’d have any patience for Blake either if I wasn’t the principal.”
Both men are visibly stricken with intense anger just hearing Blake’s name, and I can’t blame them. My eyes absently roam toward the hallway where all the kids disappeared after dinner. “Is Raegan okay? I tried to have our school counselor talk to her once, but she...”
“Was really hostile and told her to shove it?” Kellan guesses.
I don’t fight the smile now, a small chuckle leaving my lips. “Pretty much. I can’t blame her for that though. Trauma is reflected in many different ways.”
“She’s doing okay. She talks to Phillip when she’s having trouble, but we’re keeping an eye on it. I promise,” Kellan assures me.
“That’s good. Please know the school will help in any way we can.”
The conversation stills pretty much after that, and I know I need to get on my way. I try not to look at Tatum longingly but want a private conversation with him.
When I thank Phillip and Kellan for dinner and start toward the door, I get my opportunity though. “I’ll walk you out,” Tatum says, and I don’t fight him on it as he leads me outside to my car.
“So...” he starts, and he seems kind of nervous—which is not at all how I remember him.
