Page 34 of Apparently, I’m Torture

And once again, she threw me. “Jacob?”

“Yes.” She bobbed her head. “He said something about you tutoring him in high school?”

As I sat and explained Jacob, the reasons behind why I wanted to teach, my plans and my hopes, Stacey absorbed all of it, and I cocked my head, trying to figure this girl out.

Who was Stacey Atkins? Beautiful, vapid sorority president? Or just a genuine person with a passion for helping people?

Whoever she was, I wasn’t going to figure it out in an afternoon.

As I said my goodbyes to Stacey, Lilly took care of her payment. Slipping away, I ignored Tristan’s damn judgey face while Stacey bent to Lilly’s ear and whispered something only she could hear.

Now

Chapter 13

Lilly

Tuesday Afternoon

Verra Convention Center

I bought the biggest slice of pizza I could find, and moaned as I chewed. So damn good.

My phone was on silent, strapped to my armband, playing my music list. Between the saucy carbs and the crooning blasting through my brain, I finally felt like a normal, solid person again.

Another day wasted. But I wasn’t going to give up. Shawn had to come into the office sometime, and when he did, I’d find a way to have him fix my tech issues. And then I’d crush my to-do list, even if it meant ordering dinner straight to the office. I’d sleep there overnight if I had to. I wasn’t going to let Trevor beat me.

Huh. Maybe he was the villain in my story after all. Maybe he and Shawn were in cahoots to ruin my life. Maybe I had two bad guys to face instead of one.

It was times like this I wished I had some kind of fairy godmother looking out for me. I’d look up at the sky and mutter, “Please, just tell me what to do?” And the answer would come to me, like magic.

But for now, the only thing coming to me was heatstroke. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and walked back to the center, grateful for the blast of cold air, then shivering because of it.

Making my way by the maze of cubicles, the first thing I noticed was the quiet. Then there was the empty. Keyboards and desktops were abandoned, scrutinized under the florescent lighting. I looked this way and that, but couldn’t see anyone.

Where was everybody?

I strode down the short hallway that housed the meeting room, and before I could peer into the frosted glass, the door swung open and sound burst free. Teachers were laughing and chatting, excited and motivated, while I stood there, a picture of confusion as they squeezed by.

Mia detached herself from the group and waved her bingo card at me. “There you are. Check this out. I’m going to drink until I can’t feel my toes.”

The boxes she crossed had things like, ‘Drink every time Shawn gives a speech’ and ‘Drink when Shawn says appropriate’. I would’ve laughed if I wasn’t so stunned.

I pointed to the room she just came from. “What was that about?”

“Oh, nothing too crazy, just a progress update meeting. He set these up so we’d have the chance to talk over our tasks.” Mia crossed her arms. “I have to admit, the fit asshole has a knack for leadership.” She cocked her head at me. “I sent you a few texts about it. Where were you?”

I shook my head as a hot, slimy feeling uncoiled in the pit of my stomach. “I didn’t get a meeting invite. My phone was on silent; I didn’t see your messages.”

Mia must’ve sensed something in my tone. She gripped my arms and gave me a slight shake. “He’s here, and I’ve told him all about the dickwad of a computer that you have. Get in there and sort this out with him.”

I nodded, taking a breath and fortifying myself. This was what I’d psyched myself up to do. I was going to handle this. I had to handle this.

Mia gave me a final squeeze and left me alone in the short hallway. Around the corner, I could hear teachers sliding into their desks, loading their computers, chatting and laughing with one another. Happy, productive, efficient sounds. The sound of people who were content with being led by the great Shawn Jackson.

Maybe that was why the sudden whine coming from the meeting room snagged my focus like a rusty hook.

“She accused me of drowning her back at Pace, Shawn.”