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“So you’re just done at the end of the semester?”

Kamryn nodded. “When Dr. Waddy will come back.”

“Kamryn…” Elia dragged out her name. She canted her head to the side and stayed very still. “I visited Miller in the hospital last week. He’s not going to be coming back at the end of the semester.”

“But the board said he would be.”

“Even if he wanted to, the stroke did a lot of damage. I’m not sure if physically he’ll be able to return to work at all, and definitely not in the next five months.” Elia stayed still, glancing toward the door to make sure that there weren’t any students coming in. “Maria hadn’t told anyone just how bad it is yet, but it’s not easy to hide if you go visit him.”

Kamryn frowned. “So they probably need a longer term Head of School then.”

“They’ll likely open up the search in November when Maria can’t hide the fact that he won’t be returning.” Elia hated to think about it, but she’d already mentally started preparing ways that she could help them move out of the Head of School’s house in the middle of the winter. It would be difficult, but she had no doubt that this was coming to that.

“Damn,” Kamryn mumbled and plopped herself back down onto the desk. “I can stay on for another semester. It’s not like I have anywhere else to go, but that’s really going to hurt the students and faculty.”

Was Kamryn finally understanding the weight of the position? This was the mature side that Elia had seen from her several times in the last few weeks, but she longed to see more of it. And she was spot on. This was going to hurt everyone involved.

“What will you do for income if you don’t stay?”

Kamryn shrugged and leaned back slightly. Elia couldn’t tear her gaze away, not now. She’d found herself staring at Kamryn more and more lately, unable to stop just watching her.

“Find a new job somewhere.” Kamryn frowned. “I wasn’t going to give up the chance to get back here if I could, though. That’s been my dream since I left.”

“Really?” Elia raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah. I guess I could apply for the full-time position when it opens up. Or you could!” Kamryn turned and gave Elia a brilliant grin, one that was full of mischief.

“I wasn’t even offered an interview this time around. What makes you think they’d give me one next time?”

“Then let’s make sure they do.” Kamryn clapped her hands together, her grin getting even brighter.

“Don’t you want the position?”

“Yes and no.” Kamryn shrugged.

So they wouldn’t be going against each other for it? How odd. That bit of jealousy that had taken root in Elia’s chest eased slightly. She felt lighter somehow with just that one statement.

“I’ll dig a bit and see what I can find out about the interview process and why you weren’t included in it.”

“Don’t dig hard. I’ve ruffled enough feathers on the board.”

Kamryn pulled a face, her forehead scrunching up and brow pulling together with curiosity and confusion, but she didn’t push for another answer. “I’ll help you out. What’s a former student to do?”

“Move on with her life.” Elia sighed when she realized too late how the tone of her voice came off. “You could apply yourself.”

“Maybe I will. But it won’t be any fun if there isn’t any good competition. It’ll help elevate the search, don’t you think?”

Maybe there was something to that. Maybe Kamryn wasn’t as naive as Elia had initially thought. She’d obviously held other positions before, so perhaps she knew more about playing these political games than Elia did.

“If you help me, then I’ll help you.” Was she really going to do this? The idea had taken root, and she wasn’t able to shake it. She’d been working up toward it for a while, but it would be a good way to size up the competition and also get what she needed in return. “I’ll pretend to be your girlfriend in front ofLauren and Rosie and the others. You help me get an interview for the job—or at least figure out a way to force their hand in explaining why I was denied.”

Shock registered on Kamryn’s face. “You want to be my fake girlfriend?”

“Weren’t you supposed to ask if I was going to the wedding?” There was teasing in Elia’s voice that she hadn’t heard herself use in years. This was flirting—not flirting with the intention of anything happening, but flirting sheerly for the enjoyment of seeing someone’s reaction. In this case, Kamryn’s reaction. “I suppose you should ask.”

“W-what? Do you want to go? I mean you can go without being my fake girlfriend if you really want to.”

Elia heard student voices in the hallway. She stepped in closer to Kamryn, the fronts of her thighs touching the side of Kamryn’s leg. She lowered her voice just to make sure that no one else heard what she was saying.