Page 56 of Keeping it Real

Ouch.

Alek went still in his chair, his lips slightly parted before he clamped them shut again.The color was high in Miss Lane’s cheeks, but Sheridan had to give her props for maintaining her composure.It’s not every woman who gives a sexy professional athlete his walking papers in front of an audience.Based on Alek’s response, he hadn’t seen the hit coming.

“There’s one last thing you both should be aware of.”She pulled several sheets of paper from a folder on her desk.“I found these when Finn and I were going through his backpack.”

She slid the papers forward so they both could see them.The breath froze in Sheridan’s lungs as soon as she took in their meaning.They were disparaging notes and drawings.All of them about Finn.Accusing him of jinxing the Mayhem.Laying the blame for the team’s poor start to their season on Finn’s arrival at Alek’s house.

“What the hell is this?”Alek snatched one up.“Who wrote these?”He stood swiftly, swearing violently as he towered over Finn’s teacher.

Sheridan couldn’t fault him for his menacing tone.She felt sick, too.But it wasn’t fair to take it out on the teacher.

“Alek, Miss Lane isn’t to blame for these.”

“Well, someone sure the hell is!”he shouted.“I want to know who wrote these.I want them kicked out of this school.I want to speak to their parents.Do they have any idea what that little boy has been going through?”

Miss Lane stood also.“The headmaster of the upper school was made aware of the situation as soon as I found those this morning.I’m sure he’ll be in contact with you both today.”

Her words did nothing to pacify him.Alek swiped up the rest of the notes and headed for the door.

“Sweetheart, he’s going to have contact with me right now.”

“Alek!”Sheridan called after him.

Miss Lane only smiled as she sat back down.“Mr.Ellis has dealt with worse.Don’t worry.”

Sheridan picked up one of the notes that had floated to the floor in Alek’s furious departure.“My guess is these started arriving about three weeks ago,” she murmured.

“Why do you say that?”

“Just a hunch.”Sheridan sighed.“I’m sorry for all of this.”

“Finn is a great kid.He’ll be okay.The two of you make great surrogate parents.”

She chuckled.“Let’s see if you are still saying the same ten years from now.”Guilt made her say what came next.“You know I don’t think you should give up on Alek.Finn will come around.He’s getting used to having Alek in is life, and he doesn’t want to share him.That’s all.I know Finn adores you.”

The other woman shook her head.“The issue isn’t Finn.I agree he’d eventually come around.”

“Then I don’t understand.”

And she really didn’t.Sure, her jealousy might have done a happy dance when the teacher delivered her blow earlier.But Sheridan knew where she stood with Alek.And a part of her would always want him to be happy.

“Don’t you?”Miss Lane cocked her head to the side.“Alek’s heart is already engaged.”

A cold dread shot through her.There was someone else?How had she missed that?

Finn’s teacher sighed.“You two make a cute couple.”

Wait, what?

“Oh, no.You’re mistaken,” Sheridan assured her.“It’s not like that.Alek thinks of me as an annoying younger sister.”

Miss Lane actually snorted.“Are you sure?Because when he looks at you, that’s not the vibe I’m getting.”

“He doesn’t look at me,” she whispered.

The other woman laughed.“Oh, girl.He looks at you every chance he gets.It’s almost as if he can’t help it.”

Sheridan stared at her in stunned silence for several frantic heartbeats until the buzzing of the phone in her hand brought her back to earth.Unidentified callerscrolled across the screen.Who could be calling Finn?She remembered the call he’d received several weeks ago.