Page 18 of Almost Rotten

We’re sitting so close our knees are touching, but it’s not enough.

I want to pull her into me. I want to hold her right here, right now. I want to cancel the rest of the day’s plans and take her back to my condo where I can keep her tucked away safely in my bed.

“The marriage bit was fast thinking on Ty’s part. The dean insinuated that I was engaging in inappropriate behavior with a student and was prepared to fire and expel me.”

Pain radiates through my chest. How does this keep getting worse?

“But Tytus insisted we had a ‘relationship that trumped a typical student-teacher dynamic,’” she says, using air quotes. “And Stalworth seemed to buy the story.”

Spineless bastard.

Self-doubt tickles up my spine. It’s not that I don’t trust her. It’s just that I used to be a very poor judge of character. There was a time—years, in fact—where I went to great lengths to change the narrative and gaslight myself into believing a lie.

Despite the absurdity of the idea, I grit my teeth and ask her directly for clarification.

“Sweetheart, I hate that I even have to ask this, but please tell me you’re not married.”

“No,” she cries out, tugging on the ends of her hair. “We’re not married. We’ve never even kissed. He blindsided me,” she seethes, her red eyes watery again. “And now he wants me toplay along.” A sigh escapes her. “Afterward, he cornered me to tell me as much.”

My anxiety spikes, the blood rushing through my body so intense I can feel my pulse in every limb.

“What do you mean, hecorneredyou?”

She casts her gaze down to the carpet, her voice quieter, her tone one of distress. “He cornered me near the vending machines and told me that what you and I have is done. That this wasn’t a game to him anymore. He said he expected me to act like his wife, and that if I didn’t, he’d send Stalworth the video with sound.”

Black spots dance in my periphery. “He’s mental.”

She grimaces at the insult. “He’s just…” She sighs. “He’s just Tytus.”

As if that means anything to me. As if it’s an excuse for his unhinged behavior.

“You don’t know what we’ve been through,” she adds.

I scoot a fraction closer. “So tell me.”

She shakes her head, eyes welling once more. “I can’t.” She swipes at the tears. “Please, don’t ask again. Just believe me when I say I can’t. Not because I don’t want to or because I don’t trust you. I just—” She hiccups and sniffs, a fresh wave of grief crushing her from the inside as steady tears flow down her cheeks once again. “I just can’t.”

Jesus H. What have they been through, the pair of them? What could possibly be so dark, so insidious, that she shuts down completely and can’t even think of it without sobbing?

If the defeat in her expression is any indication, I’ve already lost.

But I won’t accept it. Not without fighting like hell for what I want.

“This isn’t right,” I say, reining in my fury, keeping my words even. “I don’t give a shit if he goes to the dean or tries to get me fired.”

Her head snaps up at that declaration. “No. I refuse to let that happen.”

“I refuse to cower to revenge porn and blackmail,” I snap back.

“Mercer,” she pleads, “you don’t understand.”

Because she won’t help me understand. Not that there is anything she could do or say to make me sympathize with the boy she’s defending.

“There would be consequences,” she whispers. “I can’t let you get fired because of me.”

Teeth gritted, I grip her chin and tip her head up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “I’m not going to fucking lose you because of him.”

She swallows thickly, bottom lip trembling.