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If I worked at the farmer’s market selling art every weekend it was open, I still would barely be able to feed myself after a few months. I was screwed. I had twins on the way and I was jobless. Screwed.
My heart was heavy as I realized I’d never teach the kids waiting for me in my classroom ever again. I’d never teach again if Hendrix had his way.
“Here you go, honey.”
I looked up as Janice spoke to me. I hadn’t even seen her approach. Clearing my throat, I stood up and took my purse from her. She didn’t have anything else and I just assumed I’d never get any of the rest of my things. Art from students over the years hung on the walls. Pieces of my life over the last few years would just gather dust until they were trashed by the cleaning staff at the end of the school year.
“Will you…” My voice broke and I had to start over. “Will you have one of the students box up the rest of my things?”
Janice’s face pinched and she gave a slight shake of her head. “Principal Hendrix isn’t a very kind man when he’s angry, Ms. Carter. I’ll do what I can but I suggest you say goodbye to whatever’s left in there.”
I dropped my head and nodded. “Okay.”
I walked out of the school for the last time and I managed to hold it together until I was behind the wheel of my car. I didn’t want a student to see me so I pulled out of my parking space and drove to the far edge of the parking lot. I broke down, feeling every bit of the loss I was facing. It took me half an hour before I could safely drive home.
If I expected a break when I got home, I was sorely mistaken, though. The three men who’d just gotten me fired were standing in my driveway, waiting on me.
41
***Fiona***
Ryder opened my car door and reached for my hand to help me out but I pulled away from him. I got out without help and walked a few feet away from them, needing distance.
“We didn’t mean for you to get in trouble with your boss, Fi. Do we need to talk to him?” Sebastian sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I would’ve been perfectly fine alone. Without these two superstar idiots.”
Jake scoffed. “You don’t get to spend more time with Fiona just because you’re not popular.”
Ryder laughed and nodded. “True. If you’d both stayed home, though, I could’ve managed the crowd. Instead, you started arguing and drawing attention to us.”
I closed my eyes. “I was fired.”
They kept arguing with each other. Sebastian growled at them and held up his hands. “This is ridiculous. We can’t just all three show up at the same time.”
“Okay, so go home.” Jake shrugged. “Easy enough to solve that problem, bud.”
“How about you two just admit that the twins are mine?” Ryder turned to me and froze. “What’s wrong, Fiona?”
“I said I was fired. Hendrix fired me for being a giant liability. Only I’m not the liability. You three are. I got fired for y’all showing up again. Better than just being fired, though, he’s going to blacklist my name across Texas.” I shook my head as I walked past them. “So, thank you for that.”
“He fired you?” Sebastian shook his head. “I’ll call a friend who specializes in employment law. He can’t just fire you when you didn’t do anything, angel.”
“Fuck that guy, Fi.” Jake glanced back towards the school like he was considering his options. “He needs a solid kick to the ass.”
I held up my hands. “I need a break.”
Even as I said the words they didn’t feel right but they were already out and I was so tired and overwhelmed that I didn’t want to take them back. Right then, I did need a break.
Ryder gently took my hand. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I just… I need some space. No more competing, no more gifts, no more showing up places. I just need some time. I loved that job and because you three couldn’t wait a couple of hours, I just lost it. I lo-” I cut myself off and looked away. “I care about each of you but I need a break.”
Jake moved so he was standing in front of me. “Angel… We can back off with the gifts and shit. Just don’t close us out.”
I stared down at my feet, unable to look at him. “Just give me some time, please.”
“Fiona, I know you’re upset but you don’t have to go through this on your own.” Sebastian held the back of my neck and sighed. “We fucked up. It won’t happen again.”
I stepped away from them. “Tonight. Give me tonight. You can’t be the problem and the solution right now. I need time to process what just happened.”
