We pull into the student parking lot, but rather than whipping into a spot beside one of the other cars, Penny drives up over the curb and on the grass until she throws the Jeep in park under a tree.
“You’re going to get towed,” I warned. “The principal is a real hardass.”
She snickers. “Do you think Aunt Karen wants to deal with Dad if some idiot door dings my new baby?”
“Point taken. Let’s go. I still have to pick up my schedule from the office,” I remind her.
We walk up to the school and my anxiety spikes up. The last thing I remember about school is being dragged around by Ryan. Him dictating my every move. I shake off a shudder, reminding myself he won’t be here this year. I’m on my own and it feels good.
Penny elbows me once we get inside the building. “Don’t fail this time.”
“Ha-ha,” I deadpan. “Go to class, dork.”
She bounds off, her blond ponytail swinging behind her. I start for the office, nearly ramming right into a man. He grips my elbow, steadying me.
“Charlotte?”
“Hey, Mr. Ewing,” I chirp.
He stares at me for a moment, unease in his stare. “You, uh, here again?”
“Kinda failed the last time,” I say with an embarrassed smile.
He returns my smile with one of his own. “Don’t worry about it. Everyone makes mistakes. I know I have.” He pauses as though he’s waiting for me to agree, but I don’t know anything about his life. “Right, hopefully they put you in my class again.”
“We’ll see. Headed to get my schedule now.” I gently pull my arm from his grip. “See you around.”
He winks at me. “Absolutely. I’m always around if you need help with anything.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
He holds my stare for a moment longer before waving. I watch him walk off, wondering what that was all about. It’s then I feel it.
Burning heat.
Anger.
Hate.
My hackles rise, wondering how Ryan managed to get here. I fight the rising panic, swallowing down bile that threatens to spew. As though drawn to the source by a magnetic pull, I drag my gaze up to lock eyes with familiar green eyes.
Cal?
I frown, confused as to why he’s here.
“Char, hon, you’re going to be late,” Aunt Karen says, poking her head out of the office door. “Here.” She thrusts my schedule at me.
I snatch it without looking at it, my attention darting back over to Cal. He looks ridiculously out of place in the school. For one, he’s the hottest guy here standing easily at six-foot-five, solid with sculpted muscle that strains against his button-down dress shirt, and his chocolate hair styled into a messy, just-fucked way. I tense when he strides our way, the menacing glare transforming into an easy, fun smile I’ve always known him to have until I smashed into his best friend.
“What’s he doing here?” I choke out, no longer feeling confident like I had been all morning. Surely he won’t say something cruel in front of my aunt.
“Mr. Hutton,” Aunt Karen says, smirking. “Try to behave. You’re one of us now, son.”
I snap my head his way, my mouth open in shock. “Y-You’re a teacher here? How?”
“Pre-Calculus. I didn’t know what I wanted to do after I nearly lost my best friend to an accident.” His words linger in the air like knives pointed at me, ready to rain down. “But Ms. Frazier here told me the school lost their senior Pre-Calculus teacher. Here I am.”
“Don’t you like have to be certified or something?” I demand, my voice growing shrill.
“His degree is in Finance,” Aunt Karen explains. “And he took the teacher certifications this summer. He’s qualified. Don’t worry.”
“But, if you think you’re getting any special favors from me, you’re wrong,” he practically growls. “I’ll be hard on you. Probably harder than everyone else.”
I can’t believe this guy.
Aunt Karen smiles and nods in agreement. That’s always been her thing. Not giving us special treatment even though she’s our aunt. Now, she thinks she’s rubbed off on him. In reality, he’s boldly telling her that he’s going to be an asshole to me.
And she freaking agrees.
I lift my schedule and frown to see his name on my schedule for my first class. The bell rings, making me jump.
“You’re late,” Cal says. “Detention.”
Aunt Karen cackles and smacks his arm. “Get to class both of you. Be nice, Hutton, or I’ll make you scrape gum off desks.”
He holds up his hands, flashing her a mischievous grin. “Yes, ma’am.”
Unbelievable.
My new enemy is my damn teacher.
I cannot wait to tell Loden. He’s going to laugh his ass off and then help me plan his demise. Leaving Cal, I stalk down the hall, fuming. This isn’t about him finding a job, coincidentally at my school. It’s about him making good on a promise to terrorize me. If he’s gone this far, there’s no telling what he’ll do next.
Like Ryan?
My heart rate speeds up when I hit the stairwell that’s now empty. I’ve just made it to the landing when heavy footfalls thud behind me. I let out a shriek when Cal grabs my hand, stopping me.
“Wait,” he growls.
I nearly stumble as I back myself against the
