Page 46 of Almost Rotten

The students in the back agree and clamber out, but Ty holds back.

When they’ve collected their things and are strolling away, he clicks the automatic lock on his door.

It takes effort not to roll my eyes. From the driver’s seat, I could easily unlock my own door if I wanted to.

“You’ll stick close.”

It’s a statement, not a question.

With a sigh, I drop my head against the headrest and eye him. “I have work to do, just like you.”

“If the professor shows up, I don’t want you talking to him.”

I press my lips together to keep from sassing back, from telling him that the professor isn’t the man he should be worried about tonight.

“Sawyer. Did you hear me?”

I huff out a humorless laugh. “You’re not my boss, Tytus. You’re notanythingto me anymore. And if my actual boss shows up here tonight, I will talk to him, thank you very much.”

His dark eyes sharpen as he glares at me. “You’re a lot more compliant when you’re grinding your pussy on my lap, petit diable.”

I slam my hand on the top of the steering wheel, startling us both.

“Don’t,” I seethe. “Not now. Not here. I’m not doing this with you tonight. You don’t get to carry on with this delusion where I belong to you. You don’t get to deny that you destroyed our friendship with this sick game. This week has changedeverything. So don’t you dare sit there and mock me when I’m just trying to get through the fucking day.”

Tears well, but I sniff them back, unwilling to let them fall.

I’m so angry I could scream.

I want out of this car. I want away from this boy.

Ty’s demeanor eases, his whole body relaxing. “Fine.” He shrugs. “We don’t have to do this here. Let’s get out there. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get home.”

The dread that’s been my companion for days now doubles, winding its way through my every cell.

I just told Ty he destroyed our friendship and that I’m done.

Yet he looks completely unaffected, only dropping the topic so we can get back to the dorms.

I can’t continue like this, but I won’t break down or back down. Not now. Not when there’s work to do.

Silently, I unlock my door and climb out. I gather my things, and without looking at Ty again, I walk away.

The storefront is closed this late, but I take the stairs up to the porch anyway, peeking in the window on the bakery side, just in case Edna’s there.

What I wouldn’t give for a slice of pie right now.

The lights are out, as expected.

Turning, I glance up toward the house. I purposely avoid looking at the corn maze in the distance. I’ve had to bow out of the discussions the students have had regarding its use for the event because my cheeks burn every time corn is mentioned.

The front windows of the farmhouse glow with a warm yellow light.

I’m desperate to know what Noah might be up to tonight, despite how risky it would be to indulge my curiosity by sneaking over there.

With a sigh, I wander to the stairs. I walk along the perimeter of the porch, through the crates of pumpkins and mini gourds all on one end, then around a massive tiered display of mums. All the while I have to fight the urge to pull out my phone and snap photos.

That phase of the project is already wrapped up. The class has everything it needs.