Page 103 of Apparently, I’m Torture

“You’re not?” she asked, looking at Mia with surprise.

But there wasn’t a similar expression on her best friend’s face. She smiled wickedly at Lilly, hands behind her back, looking like the satisfied troublemaker she was.

Brianna was the one who spoke next.

“Principal Rutton and I had a chat over the holidays, and we talked about who the next head teacher should be. Trevor had so many wonderful qualities as a teacher, but it was clear, as Principal Rutton said, that he wasn’t entirely focused on our school.

“So, the next logical choice was Mr Jackson.” She gestured to me and offered me a motherly smile. “But, while Shawn had both experience, passion and ingenuity, he also couldn’t give this department the attention it needed.”

“With my initiative rolling out across lower Manhattan,” I added, “I don’t have the time to lead a department.”

“So, that left Mia and you.” Brianna shared a glance with Mia and laughed, then turned back to Lilly. “As much as I adore our firecracker here, we both agreed you’d be a better choice.”

Lilly’s mouth dropped open, eyes widened, and her hand floated to her stomach. Panic was filling her.

“But, I can’t, I’m not. Bri, no. I mean, I was almost fired–”

“We all know what happened,” Mia said softly, interrupting her. “None of it was your fault.”

She grimaced and turned to Principal Rutton, who was giving off copious amounts of can I leave now?

“But you and Trevor agreed. My test scores and my deviation from the curriculum. You weren’t happy with me. This was supposed to be my second chance, right? I can’t just be promoted. It… it doesn’t make sense.”

The principal cleared her throat for the third time.

“Your class examination results were tampered with. After the investigation into Trevor’s…” She trailed off and peeked warily at Brianna, the only teacher who wasn’t involved in our holiday season shit-show. “After the issues with the recent fundraiser, we looked into the test papers for your classes, which showed that the results were altered.”

She did this thing where she sucked on her teeth, making a sound that made me wince. I glanced at Lilly. She was on edge. Her breath was held, shoulders bunched. She was so wound up. It made me want to unwrap her and loosen every one of those muscles.

“The exam procedure in our school is not perfect. However, your students showed, if anything, better critical thinking scores on the essay sections than other students.” She sighed heavily. “Whatever your method is, Miss Fares, it works. This department should improve because of it.”

As Lilly’s shoulders slumped, a slight smile played on her lips, and she shot me a look of gratitude.

The principal toyed with her teeth again, then said, “I’ve already sent letters to our parents apologizing for the computer system ‘malfunction’ that incorrectly gave their children the wrong grades, and the students involved in this have been moved to their correct classes.”

She took a step toward Lilly and held out her hand. Shakily, Lilly set hers in the principal’s palm. As they shook, Lilly asked, “So, I’m… a good teacher?”

Rutton let out an amused huff. “Yes, Miss Fares, you are. I’m confident you’ll do the faculty proud as head teacher.”

“Too right she bloody will,” Mia shouted, taking two sudden strides to leap onto Lilly, almost tackling the principal in the process.

“I have to go. I’ve a meeting in five minutes.” Rutton turned to me. “You’ll be alright from here?”

I gave her a smile, thrust my hands into my pockets and said, “I’ll be fine.”

“Uh,” Lilly piped up. “Thank you, Principal Rutton, for the opportunity. I’ll do my best.”

She waved her hand, dismissing Lilly’s thanks. “After what you’ve been put through, it was the least I could do.”

Biting back a smile, Lilly and I exchanged glances as Principal Rutton nodded her goodbyes and left.

Then Lilly surprised me. She hurtled into my arms and kissed me, her lips soft against mine, instantly sending a buzz of want rocketing through me.

For a split second, as Mia and Brianna shouted that they’d give us a minute alone, I wondered if this was the smartest choice. Working with Lilly again. My Lilly.

In the scheme of my career, of what I still wanted to achieve, was this smart?

I pulled Lilly into my arms, pushing her onto the closest desk. Her legs opened around me, and her dress rode up. A quick glance at the closed door told me we were alone, and I trailed my fingers along her legs, nipped her lip, and kissed her again.