Page 34 of Robbin’ the Rich

“Uh…” His gaze flicked nervously toward the hallway behind him before settling back on me. “Can I stay here for a little while?”

Not a question about homework then. I leaned back slightly, keeping my tone casual.

“Sure.”

The visible relief on his face made my chest ache a little. Tyler slipped into the room quickly and headed toward one of the back lab tables without another explanation. A second later, through the hallway window, I spotted two boys lingering outside before eventually moving on.

I pretended not to notice. Middle school was brutal enough without making kids explain which version of cruelty they were surviving that day. Tyler pulled out homework quietly while I returned to my grading, letting the room settle into comfortable silence again. Safe, that was always the goal. Even if I couldn’t fix everything, I wanted my classroom to feel safe.

A few minutes later my phone buzzed again.

Robin: what’s the plan tonight?

Heat curled pleasantly through my chest. I was catastrophically down bad for this woman already.

Micah: impatient

Robin: correct

Micah: it’s a surprise

Several dots appeared. Disappeared. Then reappeared.

Robin: statistically speaking, how likely is murder?

I snorted loudly enough that Tyler looked up from his homework.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.” I shook my head, smiling helplessly at my phone. “Sorry, did you have any homework questions?”

“No, I’m good.”

I didn’t like the look on his face. For a thirteen-year-old kid, he knew too much.

My phone buzzed again.

Robin: if i die, i’m haunting you specifically

Micah: noted. dress cute anyway

A full thirty seconds passed before her reply came through.

Robin: wow bossy

Me: You’re not the only one who can get a little bossy.

This time the pause lasted even longer.

Then finally⁠—

Robin: See you tonight. Looking forward to it.

I stared at the screen, grinning like an idiot before I could stop myself.

Across the room, Tyler slowly lowered his pencil.

“Are you smiling at your phone?”