21. Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry.
“Lucas is a good kid,” Ezra murmured as he steered into the parking lot Magnolia directed him to. “I’m sure there’s an explanation.”
The high school looked more like a college campus. The school buildings were all red brick with pristine lawns, the American flag and Louisiana state flags whipping proudly in the wind at the entrance.
“I know. I can’t even imagine what this is about.” Her entire body vibrated with energy as he pulled into a parking spot, her hand already on the handle before he’d fully stopped.
“Listen, I need to ask something before we go in. Is there a chance that Anderson knew about your allergy?”
Still tense, she paused, her fingers wrapped around the handle. “He…actually does know about it. We went to a gala together years ago. I can’t imagine he actually remembers, but yeah, I did tell him about my allergy. He was all weird about people with allergies, saying they were mostly made up. It’s the only reason I told him about mine, to shut him up. And I can’t think about him right now.” She jumped from the vehicle before he could say another word.
He followed after her, quiet as she signed the two of them in and made polite small talk with the admin at the front desk. The woman was behind a plastic barrier in an open office area and it was clear Magnolia knew her.
A door next to the admin’s area opened and Lucas strode out, hands shoved in his pockets. He looked surprised to see Ezra, but just glanced down instead of making eye contact with his mom.
A man in a suit and tie stepped out, his expression neutral enough. “Let’s talk first,” he said to Magnolia with familiarity, then continued. “Then I’ll talk to both of you together,” he said, looking at Lucas. He flicked a curious gaze at Ezra, but didn’t say anything more as Magnolia headed inside.
“You want to get some fresh air?” Ezra asked.
Lucas nodded, looking relieved as they headed out into the brisk sunlight.
Ezra nodded toward a couple stone benches. “Want to sit?”
Lucas shrugged, but sat, crossed his arms over his chest.
“Want to talk about it?”
Another shrug. “Not much to say. I punched a guy and he deserved it.”
“How about you tell me the whole story?” Because Ezra couldn’t imagine Lucas just punching someone out of the blue. He might not have known him for long, but the kid had a good head on his shoulders.
Lucas sighed, some of the steam leaving his body. “Some asshole, a senior I used to play basketball with, was showing off a…picture of a girl from my class. I don’t even know if it was real but he was laughing and showing everyone in the locker room, saying nasty things about her.”
“Was she dressed in this picture?”
Jaw tight, Lucas shook his head.
“How old is she?”
“I dunno. Sixteen, I guess. Maybe fifteen. I took his phone and smashed it. Then he took a swing at me so I punched him. And I’m not sorry about what I did. I don’t care if I get suspended!”
Ezra ran a hand over his face. “When you go back in there, I’m going with you. Just don’t say you’re not sorry. Let me do the talking. Do you have the cell phone?”
He shook his head. “The principal confiscated it. It’s in his desk. I saw him put it there.”
“Okay, come on.” As they walked back into the building, Magnolia was stepping out of the principal’s office, her expression pinched as she moved toward the two of them.
“I think we’re going to be able to work this out with a short suspension,” she murmured.
Ezra frowned. “He’s not going to be suspended.”
Now she frowned, but the principal motioned for them to come inside. Ezra followed, ignoring the surprised look, and held out his hand instead.
“I’m Ezra, Lucas’s father. I’ve been out of the country but I’m back now.”
The man looked shocked as he glanced at Magnolia for confirmation.
“We’re not able to talk about his job,” she said cryptically, her smile neutral.
Ezra smothered a smile, mainly because he was pissed about this morning and now this bullshit. His kid wasn’t getting in trouble for doing the right thing. Nope .
“Okay then…let’s discuss this. I’ve talked to Conway’s parents and they want this to be handled quietly as well. I think a few days of in-school suspension and extra community service for both boys will do. And it won’t go on their permanent records. Conway is already accepted into college and he’s sorry about what he did.”
“He’s sorry he was showing off naked pictures of a minor?” Ezra asked as he sat next to Magnolia in one of the little chairs in front of the gigantic desk.
Magnolia gasped.
He glanced at her, frowned. “You didn’t know?”
“I thought they were fighting in the locker room over a girl,” she said, looking stunned. “Just shoving each other.” She turned that ice-blue glare on the principal, her entire demeanor changing. “Now what’s this about pictures? Is this about a girl here at school? And why aren’t the girl’s parents involved? Is she okay?” she demanded.
The principal cleared his throat nervously.
“That phone is evidence so I hope you haven’t done anything to it,” Ezra said before the man could respond. He’d learned that overwhelming a target with information could be a very effective tactic. “I’ve already reached out to Detective Flores about this situation.” A little lie but one he could back up later if necessary. “In my profession, I work closely with law enforcement,” he said, leaning closer. “And it’s concerning that our son has been brought in here with threats of suspension when he was simply trying to stop one of his classmates from distributing inappropriate, likely illegal material. I’m not sure if the other individual involved is eighteen—”
“He is,” Lucas murmured from the seat behind them.
“Ah, well that definitely changes things.” Ezra sat back, trying not to look smug. “We’ll be involving the police immediately.”