Page 55 of Bless My Heart

“From a student?”

“Technically, yes. But I met him, and, you know…slept with him before I knew he was a student. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but then he walked into my class at the start of the semester.”

“So, he is in one of your classes?”

“Yes.”

“Hazel, why didn’t you say something? We could have transferred him out of your class. Things would have been so much better if you had done something right when it happened.”

“I know. It’s just all the other classes were full, and he needed the class this semester to graduate on time. I just freaked out. I thought I could keep it professional, but then I found out about the baby. He wanted to be a part of everything, so we started meeting outside of class. and things … escalated.”

I watch him run his hands down his face. “We could have tried to make an exception to get him in another class. Now, he’ll probably have to take the entire class again anyway.”

“I didn’t grade any of his work. I always split the assignments with my teacher’s assistant and made sure she graded Wes’s. The test have been Scantron, so I just run them through the grading machine. The only thing left is the final, which has some essay questions.”

“I understand, Hazel, and I trust you. But it’s not up to me anymore. Sara took this all the way to the Dean. You’re going to have to make your case with him.”

“Do you think I could get fired?” I ask, not really wanting to know the answer.

“I don’t know. Maybe. It would be different if he wasn’t in your class, but with this … I just don’t know.”

“Shit.” I lean back in my chair.

“Congratulations on the baby,” he says quietly.

“Thanks. It’s a girl.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll be hearing from Dean McKeller soon. Just keep your head up, Hazel. You’re a smart girl who got herself into a tricky situation. Matters of the heart are hard. I get it. I’m sure you felt stuck. Hopefully, McKeller will see this as a learning opportunity since you’re so new.” I know he’s just trying to make me feel better. I don’t have hope that this will end well for me. I just hope that McKeller will have it in his heart to show me a little grace.

Sam stands up and motions for me to go to him. He wraps me in his arms. “Don’t worry, Hazel. Even if it doesn’t work out here, there are plenty of other things you can do. You and that baby are going to be just fine.”

“Thanks, Sam.”

He releases me, and I watch him walk out of my office, his shoulders slumped with disappointment.

I get it. I really do.

I’m pretty disappointed in myself right now too. I feel stupid. I should have gone to him to second Wes stepped in my class, but I didn’t. Now I’m here, hoping that a man who barely knows me will understand that I made a stupid mistake.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

WES

Wes: I’m so sorry

Wes: Are you ok?

Wes: Did she say she was going to tell anyone?

Wes: Hazel??

Wes: Please answer me, baby.

Wes: ?????

I haven’t heard from Hazel since I walked out of her classroom this afternoon, and I know she’s been home for at least an hour. I don’t understand why she isn’t responding to my texts or answering my calls.

I fucked up. I know I did. I shouldn’t have kissed her in school like that, especially when she asked me not to do anything stupid around anyone from school. Hell, she even made me drive to a different town just to have dinner in public.