Chapter 15 Honey
HONEY
After class, I do a double-take when I see the message on my desk. Report to the principal’s office during your lunch.
Adrian peeks over my shoulder and lifts a brow. “What did you do?” he teases.
“Stop. I know I’m a grown woman, but I still get stressed out when I get a message like this.”
He chuckles. “It’s not a big deal. I’ve been called to her office a dozen times.” He holds out his arms. “And I’m still here.”
“Do you really get in trouble for stories in the newspaper?”
Tilting his head, he shrugs. “Sometimes people get touchy about things. Like last year. Remember when a senior released two pigs in the building, and they were labeled Piggy One and Piggy Three in black Sharpie? And the entire school spent the afternoon looking for number two? The assistant principal took issue with our article because he didn’t like how my student quoted him.
But my kids win national awards. You can’t really argue with that. ”
“You do a great job. I even saw two of your students taking photos when the shed caught on fire. There’s no way anyone would’ve captured that if you guys hadn’t been working late.”
Glancing around, he lowers his voice. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about it. That had to be scary.”
“It was, honestly. Fire is so unpredictable. I just didn’t want it to spread. It wasn’t until it was over that I freaked out.”
The bell rings, and I realize I need to haul ass to the main office, so I pack my things.
Adrian puts his hand on my arm. “Before you go, can I ask a favor? My student Sabrina is supposed to ask you for an interview for our article. Can she stop by to see you after school?”
My father will flip out if he sees how close that fire came to my house. “I don’t know, Adrian. I’m a pretty private person.” I feel bad telling him no.
“Please? Having a first-hand source is so much better for her article.” He folds his hands together like he’s praying.
I think about what I told Cyn at the Laughing Pony, that I hate being a doormat around my parents. It’s time I start doing what I want, isn’t it? So I relent. “Could we talk on Monday? I have to chaperone the football game tonight.”
“You’re the best, Honey. I really appreciate it.”
Realizing I’m about to be late, I grab my planner, a pen, and my cell, and book it down the hall. I dodge students as I race to the front office. The secretary tells me to go in, and I pass her desk, which has an enormous bouquet of roses. Someone spent a small fortune on those.
I’m not sure what I’m expecting when I get into the principal’s office, but it isn’t seeing the sheriff and the fire chief when I stick my head in. “Hi. Am I late? I just got your message.”
The principal waves me in. “Honey, please grab a seat.”
As I walk deeper into the room, I realize there’s one more person in attendance. Beau Walker.
My heart instantly goes crazy when I spot him. Except I’m not prepared for his reaction to seeing me. When he was standing in my backyard earlier this week, he was friendly, but now he looks pissed for some reason.
He’s standing there like a sentinel, arms crossed, jaw tight.
God, this man. I don’t know if I want to kick him in the shin or lick his face.
But seeing as we only used each other for sex, I settle for ignoring him. I sit in the chair across from the principal, fold my hands, and pretend I’m not freaked out I got called in. Clearly, I have an issue with authority. No wonder I always wuss out around my father.
Principal Erickson smiles at me. “Thanks for joining us, Honey. Like I said at the assembly this morning, the fire department has some concerns about the recent emergencies at the school. Beau was kind enough to come down here on his day off. He was worried we’ve had three incidents in three weeks, and Fire Chief O’Neill agrees.
I admit that’s a lot, even for us. After discussing it, Sheriff Reynolds wanted to review the details.
I told him you were there for two of the situations.
If you don’t mind, could you recount what you remember? ”
I shake my head. “I wasn’t there for the fire in the bathroom. Just the shed fire.”
Sheriff Reynolds takes out his notepad. “But you were in your classroom across the hall, correct?”
“Yes,” I say slowly.
“And you were there for the rattlesnake too.”
Frowning, I turn to Beau. “You think someone did that deliberately?”
He barely glances at me. “How else do you think a full-grown rattler got inside the building?”
There’s a cold breeze wafting off him. I’m not sure why he’s mad at me. What did I do?
I’m so glad I didn’t suck his dick.
I can return that energy, asshole. I turn to the sheriff. “I assumed the snake got in through a vent. Or maybe students propped the back doors open after school, and he snuck in. The sports kids constantly leave the gym doors open to the back field. We’re not far from wooded areas.”
“That’s possible, I suppose.” The sheriff thumbs his mustache. “Can you tell me about that shed fire? What was happening when you noticed it?”
“I was in the English office grading papers.”
“It was after school, correct? At about five?”
“Yes, sir.”
His lips purse as he stares at me. “Why were you here so late?”
An uneasy feeling settles over me. “I had a lot of papers to grade, and since the last period of the day is my prep, I just kept going after the bell. I wanted to get my work done before I went home.” I glance around at everyone. “I always stay late.”
Reynolds nods slowly as he writes in his notepad. “Can anyone vouch for you?”
Vouch for me? “What do you mean?”
He shrugs. “We have to look into every possibility.”
“You think I started the fire?” I turn to Beau, pissed that my name might get dragged through the mud. “Did you suggest this? Do you really think I’m an arsonist?” Is that why he never came back that day to talk to me? Because he thinks I’m somehow involved?
His stoic exterior finally cracks and his eyes widen. “No. Of course not.”
Trig always says you can never trust a Walker. Maybe he’s been right this whole time, and I let great sex blind me to reality.
I get up, barely able to contain my irritation. “If you really think I’m dumb enough to start a fire feet away from my own house…”
Beau holds up his hands. “Honey, I swear, I don’t think you’re involved.” He frowns at Reynolds. “Sir, with all due respect, I watched with my own two eyes as Honey helped hose down the yard behind the shed.”
Who gave the sheriff the idea I might be involved if it wasn’t Beau? To think I nearly gave this guy my virginity.
Annoyed, I turn to the principal. “Trish was also here after school. She left because the fire was close to her car, but she can vouch for me. If the sheriff has any more questions, I can give him the name of my family’s attorney.
I won’t have the McAllister name maligned. ” God, I sound like an asshole.
Sighing, the principal nods. “I’d never suggest you were involved, Honey. We just have to talk to everyone. Also, your father called me to let me know he’s considering your proposal for the Turner farm. That’s fantastic.”
“Great.” I force my lips to tilt up, but I’m annoyed she’s being nice to me because she wants my family’s money, not because I worked my ass off to write that damn proposal or do the research or get kids involved in that club after it fizzled out.
I turn to head out, and she calls out my name again. “Before I forget, there’s a delivery in the front office for you.” She smiles brightly, probably hoping I don’t call my father about the sheriff questioning me. “Someone sent you flowers.”
A grim smile curves my mouth as I turn to look at Beau. “Wow. Someone really thoughtful must have sent them.”
Because we both know it wasn’t him.
The bouquet is ridiculous. A hundred long-stemmed roses in a huge vase that weighs more than I do. Leaning up on my toes, I sniff the pretty petals. Too bad they’re from Ian.
The principal’s secretary, Gladys, leans around them. “There’s a card, Honey. Read it.”
I glance back at the main office where Beau’s staring at me with something akin to regret in his eyes. What does he regret? Saying something that made the sheriff think I was an arsonist? Or not sending me flowers?
Considering the man has never even asked for my number, surely it isn’t the latter.
I take a deep breath.
I lost my cool in there. I shouldn’t go around accusing people like that. Now that I’m not being confronted by an administrator, the sheriff, and the fire chief, I can admit I might have overreacted by jumping on Beau’s case.
The biggest takeaway here is I can’t be trusted around that man. I make bad decisions, as evidenced by the mind-blowing sex I had with him in the back seat of my SUV.
I grab the small envelope off the card holder and open it. Can’t wait for our next date. xo Ian.
Do we really have to go out again? I tuck the note into my planner and turn to Gladys. “Would it be okay if I left them here until the end of the day? I don’t have room for this on my desk.”
“Of course, dear. I love roses.” She sighs so sweetly at the flower arrangement, it makes me feel guilty for not appreciating it more. “Oh, before I forget, you can’t meet in your classroom for the Harvester Club meeting next month. There’s a conflict, but I can book you in the room next door.”
“That’s fine. Thank you.” Glancing back at Beau, I let out a relieved breath when I notice he’s deep in a discussion with the fire chief. I return my attention to Gladys. “Actually, why don’t you keep the flowers?”
“I couldn’t do that.”
“Of course you could. I’m allergic to roses. My eyes get puffy, and my throat gets hoarse. You’d be doing me a favor.”
Her eyes light up. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Consider them yours.”
She leaps up and runs around the desk to hug me. “Thank you, Honey!”
“You’re welcome.” It would be one thing if Ian and I were really an item, but I know he’s just trying to butter me up.
My temple throbs whenever I think about our next date. Would it piss off my father if I cancelled?
I’m halfway back to my office when my phone buzzes with a call. When I see “Dad” flash on the screen, I groan. It’s like he can sense I want to back out of that date.
I duck into the office supply room and hit answer. He doesn’t even wait for me to say hello before he begins yelling. “When were you going to tell me that goddamn fire was practically in your backyard?”
His voice is so loud, it makes me wince. “It wasn’t really in my backyard, per se. It was—”
“This is why I hate your job. You work with little hooligans who don’t appreciate what you’re sacrificing to be there.”
I roll my eyes. “As much as I’d love to think I’m God’s gift to education, I have a lot of really talented colleagues. In fact—”
“When’s your next date with Ian?”
Has my father always treated me like this?
“I’m not feeling great.” Trying to channel my best Ferris Bueller, I fake-cough.
“My throat is a little sore. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go out with Ian again this weekend.
I really need to rest.” My dad is headed out of town, so hopefully, he won’t hear that I’m at tonight’s football game.
“It’s that damn job.”
“Thanks for checking on me,” I say sweetly. “I’m going to go make some hot tea. I’ll talk to you soon, Daddy.”
I hang up before he can jump on my ass again.
Because I have bigger fish to fry. Like figuring out why the sheriff thinks I might have started that fire.