Page 16 of Her Forbidden Teacher

“Yes,” he says in exasperation. He studies me for a long beat as if deciding whether or not to tell me what he’s thinking.Finally, he sighs and blurts it out. “She claims she’s pregnant and that it might be mine.”

For some reason, this makes my chest hurt. Like this woman has an invisible tether still attached to him despite their divorce.

“Oh. Are you excited to be a father?”

“It’s not mine,” he practically growls. “She just likes playing head games. I’m not giving in and documenting everything.”

Relief floods through me. “She sounds like a real winner. Like my mom.” I wince at the last part.

He doesn’t call me out and then proceeds to explain his ideas for Greenhouse Club. A fall plant sale. Providing mums for the homecoming dance. Fixing up the dilapidated greenhouse. It all sounds fun to me.

“Everything okay at home?” he asks, sneakily circling back to my mom comment.

I chew on my lip and then decide to just tell him. “Not really. Nothing bad. I’m being punished.”

He turns to face me, eyebrows pinched in concern. “Punished how?”

I blink my lashes at him, unable to keep the smile from tugging my lips up. There’s a fierceness in his expression that endears me to him. Like he’s a safe space.

“Nothing bad,” I assure him. “I was made to leave Dad’s house to live with Mom.”

He steps a little closer to swat a gnat away from my face. This close, I have to tilt my head up to meet his stare.

“Does this have anything to do with the expulsion you casually mentioned before?” he asks, eyebrow arched in question.

A blast of shame races over my skin, making it feel hot and my flesh sticky with sweat. I can’t look him in the eyes and tell him. It’s not like he’d believe me anyway. No one but Cason did.

“Yeah. It was bad.”

His head cocks to the side as he studies me intently. “We’re friends now. You can tell me.”

Friends.

Why does that make my heart so ridiculously happy?

“I don’t want you to think less of me,” I whisper, eyes prickling with tears. “What if you hate me and think I’m a slut too?”

His face darkens and he takes hold of my hand that’s smudged with potting soil. “I could never hate you, Addison. And, honestly, I think it might be a problem.”

Chapter 6

Theo

I’ve put enough puzzle pieces together to have an idea, but I want to hear it from her. And I was telling the truth. Nothing could make me hate this girl. She’s too sweet and needs to be protected at all costs.

Why?

Because you think she’s beautiful?

It’s more than that.

The sadness that lurks in her eyes mirrors mine. I find it fascinating and worth peeling apart to see what’s hiding beneath. I ache for her friendship. It makes me a creep, sure, but I can’t change how I feel.

“I got expelled for sending Mr. Thompson a topless picture when I was underage.” She lifts her chin and snares my gaze with her watery eyes as if to challenge me.

I keep my expression impassive despite the bomb she dropped on me. “Mr. Thompson was your teacher?”

My stomach twists with nerves.