Chapter 13
Bad news never waits in line. It gangs up on you.
Assigning Watership Down to the freshmen was officially a brain fart. Trying to scrounge up twenty–seven cheap used copies in inland Alaska? Harder than catching a bear with my bare hands.
The next shipment was three weeks out. Which meant if I didn’t fix this, I’d be standing in front of the class next week performing a
mime act.
No choice. I had to go to Cynthia.
Her door was open. I knocked twice and walked right in.
Cynthia looked up, her eyes brightening. Honestly? I still wasn’t
used to this treatment. At my last school, the administration looked
at me like I was a walking disaster waiting to happen.
“Tessa! Come in. What can I do for you p>
“Little problem,” I said, skipping the small talk. “Is there any way to
get books from Anchorage fast? Like, not–waiting–centuries fast p>
She frowned, thinking. “How many p>
“…One hundred and twenty–six.” I said the number, feeling my
confidence wobble.
One for every student. Sounded a little entitled.
Cynthia’s frown relaxed into the kind of helpless smile you give a
kid who’s up to no good. “The kids love your class, Tessa. That’s good.
Go fill out a reimbursement form with Joanne on Monday. I’ll
Chapter 13
approve it. Next time Declan flies to Anchorage, you go with him to
get the books p>
My smile died instantly.
“With… him p>
The iceberg who looked like he wanted to throw me out of his plane
mid–flight?
“Yes.” Cynthia laced her fingers together, watching me through the
gaps, a playful smirk on her lips. “Is there a problem p>
“No, of course not. That’s great p>
I agreed fast. Free books were a miracle. In a remote district like this, getting a budget for my “rebellious” reading list was basically
divine intervention.
If I let a little thing like fear of Mr. Ice Cube stop me, I’d be
brain–dead.
I slipped back to my classroom. Just as I finished changing into my snow boots, I remembered I hadn’t asked about the spring state exams. I doubled back.
I reached Cynthia’s door and froze.
The name stopped me dead.
“Declan….that’s the reason we brought her here,” Cynthia said patiently into the phone.
I instinctively shrank back into the shadows against the wall.
Eavesdropping is trashy. I know. But my feet were nailed to the
floorboards.
Chapter 13
“I take your concerns seriously,” Cynthia’s voice cooled. Her
patience was clearly running on fumes. “But no one else thinks she’s a problem. I think your past is making you paranoid p>
Silence.
Then, Cynthia’s voice cut through the air. Steel–wrapped velvet. “Enough. Listen, kid–this is an order. Tomorrow, you take Tessa Romano to Anchorage p>
I stood frozen in the hallway.
She was talking to Declan. And she was talking about me.
Even without hearing the other side of the call, I knew what Declan
was saying. And it wasn’t a compliment.
My pathetic little “maybe I’m overthinking it” or “maybe he’s just slow to warm up” theories? Shattered.
“You must respect her. Consider her… under my guardianship p>
What?
I wanted to storm in and demand an explanation. What is going on? But I held back. Around here, getting labeled an “eavesdropper” was
social suicide.
I backed away silently, turned, and speed–walked to my truck.
Driving back to the Spruce, Cynthia’s words buzzed in my head like trapped flies.
What was Declan’s issue with me? My terrible social skills? My reading list? Those were the only two things worth gossiping about. But Declan didn’t look like the type to give a damn whether kids
read fantasy or Faulkner.
Chapter 13
Lost in thought, I pulled into the Spruce garage. I’d just killed the engine when my phone rang.
Cynthia.
“Hello p>
“Hi, Tessa. Declan says to meet him at six tomorrow morning at the diner. You’ll ride to the airstrip together p>
I hung up and banged my forehead against the steering wheel. Hard.
Six A.M.
Trapped in a cockpit for hours with the man who viewed me as a
plague.
Fine.
If this was the price for free shipping? I’d pay it.
(21)
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.