Chapter 41
TALL TALES
GREY
Good thing we're united against the world, because the world is all freaking over us.
Didn't make it two hours into Monday before the bullshit hit the fan.
The rumor reached me through Shelby, which was a small mercy. I could lose my shit with somebody I trusted.
The unmitigated fucking audacity. I endured the day worried about Molly, imagining what people might say to her, how they might treat her.
Nobody said anything to me but the athletic director.
I think everybody else was afraid they'd get decked.
I'd never, not my colleagues, not at work.
But I'm just fine with them being scared I would.
She said she was fine, but that was before the rumor.
I didn't hear from her, had no idea if she was okay until I got to her and discovered that no, she definitely wasn't okay.
And now we have to defend ourselves to her boss and probably mine at some point too, though I'm hoping Christine can pass it on.
She's got to have footage. Or not have footage as it were.
I've never even so much as kissed Molly at school, never mind that.
It's so fucking crazy, so outrageous, I know they'll be passing this one around for a long time.
Just gotta get to spring break.
Three more days, and we're off for eleven. I hope we don't leave the house once. Maybe everybody will shut the fuck up by the time we get back.
Wishful thinking, I'm sure. But a guy can hope.
Christine waves us in before we can sit in the lobby, and I set down Molly's bag of bricks as we take the seats across from the principal, who looks almost as exhausted as we do.
"Thank you both for coming. I wish we didn't have to have this conversation," she says, kind but uncomfortable.
"I know you two well enough to know that you wouldn't disrespect the school or put us all in a delicate position, but…
well, the rumor is too big an accusation not to have a conversation about it. "
My ears are ringing, hands clasped in my lap, white knuckle.
"As I'm sure you've heard, the rumor alleges you two were…intimate…in the elementary school library. After hours, but still on school property."
I'm able to control my fury well enough to say, "That absolutely did not happen."
"I would never--we would never--" Molly stammers, hurt, defensive.
"I need to formally ask, is there any truth to her allegation?" Christine asks.
Emphatically, we both say no at the same time.
"Have you ever been alone in the library after hours?"
We're both blinking, thinking hard.
"No," Molly starts. "I don't think so, but we'd never--"
"We've never done anything inappropriate on school property," I answer firmly.
She nods. Sighs. "I believe you--the whole thing sounded too wild from the start.
But I'm concerned that this has already caused damage, and I'm not sure it's through.
The rumor is spreading so fast, I'm worried this is just the beginning.
I've heard parents and teachers talking.
They're all so hungry for news about you two, they'll take anything whether it's true or not.
I'll review the library footage, but unless I find anything to convince me otherwise, I believe you.
And I'll defend you to anyone who doesn't."
"Who started this rumor?" I ask quietly.
"I don't know. No, honestly--I have no idea. At this point, it's so widespread, I can't imagine we could figure it out, either."
"What happens now?" I ask.
"It'll blow over, but keep your heads down. Hopefully by the time we get back from spring break, it'll all be behind us. I'm sorry you're going through this, really. You're two of our best educators, and you don't deserve it."
"Thank you," Molly says like she's not sure if that's the right thing to say. Her hands are trembling, humiliation heavy on her shoulders.
But then she looks at me, and I am so filled with certainty, with the rightness of it all. I reach out to lay my hands over hers where they're balled in her lap.
I'm here. You're not alone. We can handle it.
Shellshocked, we say our goodbyes and get up to leave, walk out of the office. My jaw is clenched so tight, a headache is brewing. She's still shaking as we cross the parking lot to my truck. I open the door for her. She gets in.
The second my door is closed, she breaks.
"Who would do this?" Her voice quivers, angry tears in her eyes, so full of hurt and betrayal that it's physically painful to see. "Who would make that up?"
"I don't know." I want to scoop her up, hold her, kiss her furious tears, but not here. I start the truck, my fist so tight on the steering wheel., the leather squeaks "If I find out who started this--"
"Grey--"
"I won't do anything. I just…I want to know who." My jaw is tight, lips flat. "This is because of me."
"What? No--"
"Yes. If you weren't with me, no one would say shit about you. Your reputation, your job, the kids--" I shake my head. "You're going to lose everything because--"
"Stop. Stop it. We're in this together, right? You and me against the world?"
I chance a look at her, softening when our eyes meet. "You and me against the world."
We're quiet the rest of the way to her house, lost deep in our thoughts. The second I'm parked, I flip up the console and pull her across the bench and into me. "I can't control what they do, but we can control what we do. And we're not backing down."
The feel of her in my arms soothes me, my heart hammering against her cheek. I kiss the top of her head, draw a breath through my nose so I can fill my lungs up with her.
"Do you think it'll blow over like she said?" she asks.
"I don't know. But we'll deal with it together. Okay?"
"Okay."
I sigh, not wanting to let her go. "I should skip practice."
"No, don't skip. I'll make dinner. You go to practice. They've already affected us this much, let's not give them the power to stop our lives."
I pull back, study her face. I want to stay. But I want to listen to her more. "You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"I hate leaving you."
"Me too."
I watch her for a moment longer, then sigh. Again. "Call me if you need me. For anything. I'll leave practice, I don't care."
"I will. Now kiss me and get out of here. Your team needs you."
So I do, a long and hard and desperate kiss. And she scoots out of the truck, shuts the door, waves at me as I back out.
All I want to do is stay.