I’m the first one to follow the plan. “That’s bullshit!” I stare at Beringer with pure astonishment, as if a teenage boy hooking up with his hot teacher is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. “I never touched her.”
Beringer looks startled by my denial. What, did he think I’d own up to it? Moron.
“I see,” he says. He pauses, then addresses Ms. Mann. “And what do you have to say about this, Caroline?”
Her name’s Caroline? I had no idea.
“What do I have to say?” she repeats, and damn, I’m impressed by her calm, even tone. “What I have to say, Francois, is that I’m shocked and disgusted and, frankly, insulted that you would bring me into this office and accuse me of fraternizing with a student.”
“Is that a denial?” the headmaster asks.
“Of course it’s a denial!”
I hide a smile. Forget math—she should be teaching drama.
“It’s one hundred percent a denial,” I chime in, matching her level of outrage. “I’d never hook up with some old lady—” I quickly look over and say, “No offense.”
“None taken,” she says tightly.
“Trust me, I get plenty of action from girls my own age.”
There’s a short silence.
Dad studies Ms. Mann again. “How old are you, Caroline?” he inquires.
“I’m twenty-four, sir.”
Dad turns toward Beringer. “Easton is eighteen. Even if something untoward did happen, there’s no crime here.”
“You’re right, this isn’t a criminal concern. Unfortunately, it’s an ethical one. If this is true—”
“It’s not,” Ms. Mann and I say. Angrily, and in unison.
We’re putting on the performance of a lifetime. I’m tempted to high-five her.
“Actually,” I say as an afterthought, “I’d really like to know who made these allegations, because that’s the person you should be talking to.” I raise my eyebrows at Beringer. “You know, for spreading lies and trying to hurt the reputation of an Astor Park faculty member.”
I gesture toward Ms. Mann in a dramatic fashion. I’m starting to really get into this.
“Ms. Mann is an awesome teacher,” I declare. “She actually makes math fun, if you can believe it. You know how hard it is to capture my attention—”
Dad snorts softly.
“But she’s able to engage me in the classroom, so much that I actually look forward to going to Calc every day.” When Beringer’s eyes narrow, I quickly hold up my hand. “To learn, sir. And nothing more.”
“There,” my father says briskly. “I believe my son and this young woman have both said their piece. Other than this anonymous informant of yours, what other evidence do you possess that suggests they’re involved in an inappropriate relationship?”
The headmaster hesitates. Then his shoulders sag, just slightly. He has no evidence, and we all know it.
“Eyewitnesses?” Dad prompts. “Anyone who can swear to seeing them together?”
Beringer shakes his head. “No, we have only the word of the student—”
Student?
That gets my attention. What asshole ratted me out to Beringer?
It wouldn’t have been Ella or Val. Not Hartley or any of my teammates. One of the guys might’ve blabbed to someone, though. And that someone could’ve told Beringer.
So. Who’s cruel enough to want to get Ms. Mann fired, and catty enough to try to get me in trouble…
Uh-huh. I have a good idea about who that could be.
Luckily, this stupid little meeting breaks up not long after Beringer admits to his lack of evidence. Before he dismisses us, however, he lets it be known that he’s keeping an eye on the situation. Ms. Mann huffs and makes suitably angry and affronted noises, demanding to speak to him in private.
Dad and I leave the office without a word. He places a hand on my shoulder and we both nod pleasantly at Beringer’s secretary. Only when we’re in the lobby and out of earshot of anyone, Dad curses under his breath.
“Jesus, Easton. A teacher?”
I blink innocently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Contrary to what you may believe, you are not that good a liar, son.” He shakes his head in frustration. “At least assure me that it’s over?”
“What’s over?”
“Easton.” He draws a calming breath. “All right. You know what? Don’t say a word. Just nod if this irresponsible insanity is no longer going on.”
I don’t play dumb this time. I jerk my head in a quick nod.
Dad looks relieved. “Good. Make sure it stays that way.” After a quick goodbye, he strides out the front doors.
Through the glass windows of the lobby, I watch him descend the steps and duck into the waiting Town Car out front. His driver, Durand, closes the back door and hops into the driver’s seat. The Town Car speeds off, probably to whisk Callum Royal away to Atlantic Aviation’s corporate headquarters.
The click of heels on the polished floor has me turning around. I scowl when I see who it is.
“Is everything okay?” Felicity asks, and there’s no mistaking the note of glee in her voice. “I heard you were called into Beringer’s office. And someone told me one of your teachers was summoned, too. What a coincidence!”
“Drop the act,” I order in a low voice. “I know you were behind it.”
“Behind what?”
I ignore her batting eyelashes. “That woman could’ve lost her job, Felicity.”
She is totally unruffled. Indifferent, actually, as she rolls her eyes at me. “Hey, she made her own bed. She fooled around with a student and now she gets to be held accountable for her actions.”
It’s exactly the same thought I’d had not so long ago. Now, I can’t stop thinking about the fear in Ms. Mann’s eyes when she’d faced the possibility of losing her job. My stupid, horny actions almost ruined that woman’s career, and I feel sick about it.
I meet Felicity’s victorious expression. She seems to be enjoying herself.
“Congratulations, you got back at me for ruining your party on Friday night,” I say through gritted teeth. “Can we call a truce now?”
“Oh, sweetie. A truce?” She laughs loudly, a peal of sound that echoes in the huge, empty lobby. “Sorry, but the war’s just begun.”
Chapter 24
To my surprise, I find Hartley lingering by my locker, a worried expression on her face. “Is everything okay?” she asks, clutching her math book to her chest.
“All good.” I throw my stuff in the locker and take her arm. “Want to grab something to eat?”
I expect her to say no, but she follows me without argument.
“Easton, what happened?” Ella accosts me when we exit the main building. “Someone said they saw Callum on campus.”
“I’ll tell you later. Hartley and I have somewhere to be.” I tug on Hartley’s arm. “Come on.”
We climb into my truck. Hartley doesn’t say a word. I’m afraid of telling her what happened in the headmaster’s office. She’ll hate me.
But my mouth, which has never had a good barrier, opens and starts spilling.
“Someone found out about Ms. Mann and me and told Beringer.”
Hartley winces. “Oh no.”
“Oh yeah.”
“I never once bragged about this.”
“I didn’t think you would. But how could it have gotten out? I was the only one who opened the door.” She goes quiet for a moment, as if she’s thinking back to that day. “I guess there were other people in the hall that could’ve seen something, but why wait until now?”
“I don’t think anyone saw anything.”
“Then how did it get out?”
I focus straight ahead. I don’t want to see her expression when I admit this. “I might’ve inadvertently said something. It was stupid. Pash was hassling me about hooking up with an Astor girl and when I said no, I might’ve implied that I liked a bit more of a challenge.”