Page 51 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

I nodded, trying to give my small family the impression that I was calm and in control, but the more I thought about Kira kissing that tall, broad-shouldered, hormonal teenage boy, the more my expression slipped.

“Just… go slow. Between your mom, the move, and the program, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to rush into anything. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Kira’s wary blue eyes softened, and I couldn’t have predicted what she did next. She slid out of her chair and wrapped her arms around me.

“I’ll go slow, I promise,” she mumbled into my shoulder. “I’ll be okay.”

And with everything in me, I hoped that was true.

Chapter 21

Mia

SOUTH BRONX CLASSICAL

Friday

The ache in my back downgraded to a dull twinge, and I was mindful of it as I moved. At least, I tried to be. But the idea of pretending to hurt myself just so I could wriggle my way back onto Theo’s table was a tempting one.

“What is wrong with me,” I groaned, dropping my pen on the desk.

This was not okay. If I couldn’t keep my thoughts straight, I might as well just give up on grading. But I couldn’t do that because I had so much work to do for this bloody program.

I slapped my forehead and tried to focus. The staffroom was quiet, and I had papers to mark. My next class was in twenty minutes, and from the look of things, we had some work to do.

It seemed like the only two students in my class who were capable of producing layered, contextual essays were Kira and Miles. Natasha had potential. She was definitely a solid B+ student who could reach an A on the odd occasion. But that wouldn’t be enough to secure a spot–at least not yet.

And then there were Amber and Diago.

Maybe Amber’s mother was right. Maybe the assessments were too much. The two of them came out of the gate swinging. Even Diago seemed like he wanted to prove something. But since then, their quality of work steadily dropped, and reading their essays had me ogling my boozy bingo cards.

What I wouldn’t have given for a game right now. Just a few squares to cross out, a few drinky-drinks to take the edge off. If I kept using my vibrator as my main source of relief, I was pretty sure my clit would catch fire.

Aaaaaaaand now I was thinking of Theo’s tongue on my clit. Brains were truly terrible things sometimes because that growly, grumbly beast of a man shouldn’t have been in my head again.

“This is hopeless,” I mumbled. I hoped my next class ran better than this marking session.

“Miss, this can’t be right.” Amber waved her paper in the air as I handed Kira and Miles their work.

The two of them scanned their papers and beamed up at me. It would’ve warmed my cold, dead British heart if not for the fact that I saw my reflection in Miles’s glasses. Amber was behind me with her fists on her hips.

I pulled her aside. There was no need for the rest of the class to hear this.

“It is what it is, love. All we can do is look at the work we’ve done and think of ways to improve. I’ll work with you on it. Writing essays like this isn’t easy.”

She glared over her shoulder at Kira and Miles. “Seems like it’s easy enough for them.”

“Amber,” I warned. “They’ve been working at this every week just like you have.”

Her focus snapped back to me. “Kira isn’t this smart. Miles is probably writing her essays for her.”

I bit back a sigh. “That would mean that Miles would be writing about two different books every week, and I just don’t see that happening, love.”

She let out a noise, turned away from me, and stalked back to her desk. As she left, I heard her mutter, “He’d read a hundred books if it meant Kira would keep sucking his dick,” and my whole body went rigid.

Chapter 22

Theo