Page 15 of Bad Teacher

She watched them go, and when she realized he went on the ride with them, she sighed. Her core melted, and a warm sensation sizzled her nerve endings. This is what it would have been like if her marriage had worked—she’d have someone to share a glass of wine at the end of the day, and accompany her on school events and take her kids to something as silly as a spinning teacup.

But her marriage hadn’t worked, and when she’d returned to her family and her husband, it’d been too late. Was it too late for her, also? Would she ever meet someone new, someone to share new milestones with her and her kids?

Maybe.

That future man certainly wasn’t Theo Brodeur. He’d made it clear, and now he posed as the nice guy because her daughter was in attendance.

When they returned, she had advanced two-thirds of the line, which still seemed unbearably long. Maybe she was in the wrong profession and should have a sugary cotton candy stand instead.

“How was it?” she asked.

“Loved it!” Amanda flashed her a bright smile that sent a jolt of joy to her heart.

“Good,” Marcelle said, holding Trevor.

For the following minutes, Amanda and Marcelle let Trevor walk in his drunk penguin fashion, wobbling but not falling, and followed him around. Every so often, Amanda looked behind her shoulder, but still walked forward and enjoyed the moment.

“Thanks for taking them,” she said to Theo, hoping he didn’t notice the emotion leaking into her voice. Would this be a new way to help Amanda overcome her separation anxiety? In that case, Marcelle would have to move in with them. Seriously.

“My pleasure. You know, my being here wasn’t a coincidence.” He looked square in her eyes.

She smoothed her ponytail, unsure about what to do. Her sex hummed, her body so organically recognizing his. What the hell did he mean? “No?” she managed to say, in a low voice that only he heard.

He stepped closer still, inundating her with his male energy and his virile scent. She inhaled, wondering how amazing it would be to nestle against his neck and smell his salty flesh. Her nipples hardened at the thought, straining against her bra.

“Marcelle follows you on Instagram. Every so often I check on her account to make sure it’s still private and safe. When I saw your picture and check-in, I acted on impulse. I intended on bringing Marcelle and accidentally bumping into you.”

She’d posted a picture of herself without the kids, a picture Amanda had taken of her. So he’d assumed she was by herself or with friends, perhaps. Adrenaline rushed through her blood. “Why?”

“I wanted to see you.”

She glanced around to make sure the kids were within a safe distance. “You did last night.” And could have seen today, she added to herself, when she stopped by his place to tutor his daughter. Instead, he holed up in his office while she taught Marcelle.

He leaned closer, making it painfully difficult for her to ignore his massive body next to her. “It wasn’t enough.”

“Why are you stalking me now?” As flattering as it was, she needed to get to the bottom of it. She rubbed her palms, both clammy, against each other. “You couldn’t leave my home fast enough last night.”

“I can’t offer you a relationship.” He glanced down, hands perched at his waist. “Doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”

Little shivers of female appreciation ran down her spine. She threaded her fingers together, fidgeting. He wanted her… he hadn’t slept with her only because she aroused him at the moment. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to make sense of his words. Was he proposing an arrangement? A mindless hook-up?

“I’m not ready for a relationship either,” she said. She was too busy reclaiming her new life to give much of herself to someone else other than her children. Wouldn’t be fair to them, either. But a casual affair was a different story, right? Her pulse skittered at the thought.

“Are you okay with seeing each other without any fantasies of commitment? And without letting the children know?” He lifted his gaze to her, pinning her to the spot.

Was she? She stared in his eyes, and once again, her heart fluttered. All her life, she’d followed some stupid guide of what was expected of her. She’d graduated at the top of her class at Brown. She married a surgeon and had two children. She’d stayed mum about the abuse she suffered as a child. What if, for once, she forgot all the rules and acted on impulse? Responsible impulse. “Yes,” she blurted, before she changed her mind.

* * *

“May I have a word?”Violet said, after a light knock on Principal Clark’s office.

“Sure, come in,” he said, straightening some papers out of the way. He fixed his glasses and stood as she entered and made her way to the chair in front of him. Earlier that morning, she’d seen him back in passing, but hadn’t had a chance to chat with him until now.

Sitting, she crossed her legs. “How was your trip?”

“Good, it’s always good to see family,” he said. “I was going to call you. I saw Marcelle Brodeur is still in our current student list.”

“Yes. Well, about that…” She shifted on her seat, ready to spiel what she rehearsed innumerous times in front of the mirror. “I had a meeting with the student’s father, Mr. Theo Brodeur, and after considering his circumstances, I decided to give his daughter one more chance.”

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