Page 11 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

When my slides reached a series of memes about BookTok, I projected videos on the whiteboard and let them watch the influencers in action.

“I really don’t get how this works. I love reading, but I wouldn’t follow someone who talks about a book I haven’t read.” Amber gave the influencer on screen one of her classic up-down looks.

“Most of these people are looking for recs, right?” Diago asked. “Why wouldn’t they just go to a library?”

“I follow makeup gurus on YouTube,” Natasha admitted. “But that’s because I can use whatever makeup I have to create the same look. I can’t get the same feeling this person is telling me I’ll get from this book unless I read it.”

“Which is why people buy the book,” Miles muttered. “Because they want whatever feeling that person is telling them they’ll get.”

I pointed at Miles. “Exactly. It’s about the feeling you get from what you’re reading. And if you find someone whose taste aligns with yours, you’ll have a better chance of liking what they recommend. That’s why this type of marketing is so effective.”

“It’s a modern day version of word-of-mouth,” Theo said, then pursed his lips and grumbled, “Sorry.”

I gave him a smile. The big grump was actually getting into this. “No, no, that’s it. If you know, like and trust someone, you’re more likely to buy whatever it is they like. That’s how bestsellers like–” I held up Misplaced and slapped the cover “–this are made.”

Kira’s eyes lowered to her open book. Her cheeks were pink as she fidgeted with her pen. Something was off here. Was it because her father was sitting right behind her?

I had an instant urge to speak to her after class to make sure she was doing all right. It was never fun being the new kid. But I doubted Theo would let me.

I checked the time and gave my little wrap-up as the bell rang. My students left the classroom chatting about influencers. I overheard Natasha tell Amber that she tried a foundation, and it turned orange on her skin while she was at the mall.

Note to self: Do not try a new foundation before leaving home.

Kira packed slowly as Theo stood behind her. He watched his daughter with so much concern, like she was this fragile thing. Like she could’ve broken apart at the slightest gust of air. I felt myself soften as I watched them, and wanted to shake myself.

Theo could be a good father and a complete asshole at the same time. Two things could be true. He just tried to embarrass me in front of my boss less than an hour ago.

“You have math now, right?” I asked Kira, and she nodded. “You go ahead, love. I’ll have a chat with your dad.”

Her blue eyes widened as she shook her head. It made me laugh. “Either we talk, or he joins your next class.”

She made a noise, said, “No, that’s okay. You can talk,” and all but ran out of the room.

Theo palmed the back of his neck as he watched her go, and my knees momentarily turned to jelly.

Stupid, sexy, horrible man. I needed solid knees, thank you very much.

“That wasn’t… bad,” Theo admitted as his own blue stare came back to me.

I put my hands on my hips and drawled, “Oh, it wasn’t, was it? Who would’ve thought that ten years in the education industry would’ve made me–” I pretended to gasp “–good at my job?”

“You’re different outside of the classroom.”

I really wanted to roll my eyes, and I didn’t know what stopped me. Maybe that he seemed genuinely confused by what he saw just now?

“I’m human, Theo. I do all the things regular humans do. I drink, I swear, I have sex. Just like everyone else. Do I bring all that into the classroom with me? No. But do I pretend to be a saint who’s never done those things? Of course not.”

His lips flattened as he stared at me, and I wondered just what it’d take to smooth that brow of his. He looked so grumpy all the time. As if his whole world had caved in, and he didn’t know how to dig himself out of the rubble.

“I’m not going to traumatize your daughter. Even if you don’t respect me, you can at least trust me not to do that.”

His confusion deepened. “What makes you think I don’t respect you?”

I held in a laugh. “Well, telling my boss I shouldn’t teach this program was one clue–”

“But, I–”

“–But not respecting my time was another. Brent was a lanky, tattooed asshole, and I didn’t like dealing with his band, but at least he showed up when I asked him to.”