Page 71 of Come Here and Kiss Me

“Are you teaching his class?”

“I’m not,” he answers. “I happen to have a key and thought privacy would be better.”

He hovers over his computer for a moment, slipping on thin-rimmed glasses.“I’ve known Ronan for quite a long time, and recently, he’s been different.”

My heart sinks. “Different how?”I remember the library, how Ro pointed out how much of a bad influence I am. I know it. I’ve always been that person.Someone who brings people lower.

As the older man looks at me, his lips thin into a straight line.

“Different like he cared more about something other than work. Other than his reputation.”

I swallow the emotions that threaten to spill from my lips. Every single word is kept from coming out.

He doesn’t care about me.

I don’t say it.

I can’t bring myself to refute it because it’s so very obvious I wish it were true.

I shift my weight as the clock ticks and ticks time away.

“Has he quit?”

“No,” he answers but doesn’t elaborate.

“Has he been fired?” I ask, and I hope not.

“Why would that happen, Miss Chambers?”

It feels like a trap, and I glance toward the closed door.

“Would you tell me the truth if I asked?” he asks me, and I don’t know why I say it. Maybe I just need someone to hear it and tell me they believe me. I don’t know … but I say it anyway.

“I really loved him, and that’s the truth.”

“Loved?” he questions, then waves it off as if it doesn’t matter. “He submitted a resignation, but I have yet to present it to the board. I don’t know what to do with it.”

“He resigned?” I can’t believe that. “You’re lying,” I accuse.

“I’m not, Miss Chambers. He sent me and only me his resignation as well as a number of other interesting pieces of information.”

I wait in silence.

He’s taunting me and knows things I don’t.

For a second, I contemplate messaging Ro to ask him what the hell is going on.

“What do you think I should do with it?” Mr. Michaels asks me.

“Burn it,” I answer without thinking.

His thin lips perk up into a sad smile.“I’m not in the habit of lighting my computer on fire, young lady.”

My cheeks heat with embarrassment.

“But I could certainly hit delete… although someone else may want to read it as well.”

He looks at me once again like he’s debating something. He’s unsure of what to do, and that would make two of us.

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