Page 81 of Unhinged Kallie

“Does it matter at this point? You can tell the principal that Mrs. Peterson came on to you, but this is how that will go. You’ll walk into his office and tell him the sob story about failing and possibly getting kicked off the basketball team. Then you’ll say that Mrs. Peterson accosted you in the hallway and offered tutoring sessions, but you know she meant more than that. Then he’ll ask you, ‘Did she come out and say that?’” I did a perfect imitation of our principal. “And you’ll say….”

Hicks sighed. “No.”

“Then you’re going to say, but she touched my cock.” Hicks looked down, the embarrassment etched into his features. “He will obviously be concerned and do his due diligence and call Mrs. Peterson into the office, and what do you think she’ll say?”

“She was just trying to help and doesn’t know or understand what he’s talking about. It will end up her word against mine and I’ll look like the poor guy trying to get ahead by ruining a teacher’s good name.” Hicks rubbed his eyes. “So I can either agree to do two favors for you now, or I try to avoid her and get my grades up on my own?”

“Well, you could get someone else to help you, but either way, you still owe me a favor. She looked ready to drag your ass into the janitor’s closet.” I jogged down the stairs to the next landing and looked up at him while he stood there looking demoralized. “Look, I promise that whatever I ask you to do won’t be sexual and I’m pretty confident you’ll remain on the basketball team.” I shrugged. “Your choice.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll take the help.”

My lip curved up. “Then it’s a deal.”

Dad always said favors were your friend and that knowledge was power. In this instance, I had to agree with him. Now, to dig up more dirt on Mrs. Peterson. We were past due for a date.

Chapter Thirty-One

CARTER

THANKSGIVING

I pulled into the farm driveway, and my excitement hit all new heights. I loved everything about Thanksgiving: the food, watching the football games, and relaxing, but now I had another reason to be thankful. Dinner wasn’t until tomorrow, and I knew Aspen would have us all over. She always made a great big dinner with more food than we could eat.

“Fuck, I think I’m going to be sick,” I mumbled and grabbed my stomach. Being with Kallie was one thing. Being with Kallie and Cain around was another. He would know as soon as he saw us together. She swore she didn’t say anything, but this was Cain. There was no keeping secrets from him. He had a superpower when it came to sniffing out bullshit.

As I parked, I looked up at the fully decorated house and knew Kallie was the mastermind. Flags blew in the wind while pumpkins and skulls sat on bales of straw. Little lights wrapped around the railing and pillars on the porch. Colorful leaves blanketed the ground, and it seemed so much homier than the man living inside.

I wiped my hands on my jeans, but you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as Kallie stepped outside onto the porch. Her face lit up, and the sun hitting her made her look ethereal. Fuck I was so in love with her.

She was already running down the stairs and jumped on me before I got my door closed.

“I’ve missed you so much.”

Cain stepped outside, and it took every ounce of my self-control not to shove Kallie off me.

“Your dad is watching,” I said under my breath but smiled and waved.

“You’re such a worrier.”

“It’s not you, he’ll kill.”

“Fine.” She hopped down, and I stuffed my hands in my pockets so I didn’t do something stupid like hold her hand. Yes, at some point, I would have to face the music, whatever that happened to be, but I was putting that off until it was impossible to keep under wraps.

“Carter, you look healthy,” Cain said.

It seemed like an innocent comment, but now I wondered if I should check my food and drink for poison. The only thing that comforted me was that, unlike Kallie, who didn’t care, Cain only killed people he had strapped down on his table.

“Thanks, you as well.” I held out my hand, and it felt like the first time we met all over again.

He cocked a brow at me. “Just wondered if you had any residual effects from the flu you seem to keep getting.”

I had no idea what he was talking about and looked at Kallie.

“Dad, stop giving Carter the third degree. It’s not like he doesn’t live here,” Kallie said and opened the door. “Dinner is going to burn if you keep standing there.”

Cain glanced at me and then at Kallie. He didn’t say another word, and I knew. Cain knew that Kallie had been lying and wanted us to know he knew. Fuck.

“I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you that,” she whispered.