Page 5

FOUR

IMOGEN

Drake Bellingham must be superhuman. I conclude that because he hardly even breaks a sweat as he covers the distance to the academy,

As we break through the tree line, he leans down and whispers, “It’s probably best if we stop at my house while I grab a t-shirt before I take you to the medical room.”

I see the sense in his statement but my mouth dries at the idea of spending any time at his home.

I hate how desolate I am when I realize my time with him is over as he says softly, “I’ll set you down and if you place your arm around my shoulders, I’ll help you hobble.

I’m not sure it would be appropriate to carry you to the medical room while I’m half dressed.

We would have some explaining to do, and it would attract unwelcome gossip on both our parts. ”

“Of course.” He isn’t wrong and as I leave his safe arms, I taste regret as reality brings me back to our current situation. He is a teacher. I am a student. It will never be anything more and he was merely doing what was right at the time.

We hobble what turns out to be the short distance to his house set on the end of a line of teacher’s accommodation and yet it is hidden behind a few strategically placed trees that ensure privacy.

We reach the wooden steps leading up to his small veranda and he guides me down to sit on one of the steps.

“Wait here. I won’t be long.”

As he heads inside, I attempt to breathe again and shake myself back to reality and accept what this is. It strikes me that Jesse hasn’t crossed my mind once this entire time and yet I don’t feel guilty about that.

I’m not alone for long and Drake reappears, a fresh t-shirt stretching across his toned body, carrying a welcome glass of water in his strong hands.

“I guessed you could use this.”

He offers it to me and I gulp it down gratefully, not realizing just how thirsty I was.

“I would give you some painkillers, but it’s probably best if you get those from the nurse.”

“Probably.”

I hand him the empty glass with a smile.

“Thanks for this and, well, everything.”

My face heats as his eyes burn into mine and a soft smile lights his handsome face.

“Any time, Imogen.”

Just hearing my name on his lips causes my heart to curl with pleasure and I don’t even get a chance to process that before he reaches for my hand.

“Come. We have a date with the medical room.”

As we make the journey in silence, a huge dose of disappointment sits heavy in my heart because this encounter is over and it’s very doubtful will ever be repeated, no matter how much I wish it was.

Drake, or Mr. Bellingham, as I should now think of him, leaves me at the medical room and explains what happened to the nurse, who it appears can’t stop staring at him either.

I hate my reaction to that as she openly flirts with him, despite the fact she’s in her forties and happily married, judging by the wedding band on her left finger.

He is cool and professional and nothing like the man I met in the forest and as he leaves, he smiles in my direction. “I hope you recover soon, Imogen. Take care when running in future and make sure you always have your phone to call someone.”

“I will and–” I swallow my disappointment and smile brightly. “Thank you for helping me, sir.”

He nods, but I don’t miss the resignation in his eyes before he turns and leaves, effectively relegating our association back to teacher and student.

The nurse turns to me and smiles. “Thank goodness Mr. Bellingham was on hand to help. It’s doubtful you would have made it back alone.”

“Yes, I’m very grateful to him.”

As she busies herself strapping my ankle, I replay the events a thousand times in my mind and hate how desolate I am knowing that my time will be spent with Jesse and not the handsome history teacher who sets my soul on fire with just one smile from his heavenly lips.

Cassie peer at me with concern. “Fuck, Imogen, are you okay?”

She came flying over to Willow Tree House as soon as she took my call.

The nurse gave me crutches to use and instructed me to rest my ankle for twenty-four hours, which would have been cool had it been through lessons but it’s the weekend and all it means is I’ll spend it in my room instead of partying with the others.

“What happened?”

She peers at my ankle and I shrug off her concern. “I tripped and fell. It was lucky that Mr. Bellingham was also out jogging and he helped me to the medical room.”

I make light of the situation and she smirks. “Lucky you. What’s he like?”

My heart races when I think of him, and as she studies me carefully, I attempt to conceal my obvious interest in our teacher. “He was kind. He didn’t say much and just helped me to the medical room.”

I conveniently gloss over the way he stripped and used his shirt as a bandage. I don’t mention the way he held me so tenderly in his arms as he carried me to safety and I ignore the way my heart raced when he stared into my eyes and lit the end of a fuse that really should be left dormant.

She appears disappointed with my story and sighs. “I’ll wait with you tonight. It’s not fair if you sit here alone while the rest of us have fun.”

“Don’t you dare.” I fix her with a firm glare. “I’ll be fine. I have some work to catch up on and there’s a movie I’ve been meaning to watch. To be honest, I’m kind of looking forward to it.”

“It doesn’t sit well with me.”

Cassie’s brow is furrowed in indecision, and I shrug. “It’s fine.”

“And Jesse?”

Her concerned question causes my heart to plummet as I revisit my current situation.

“What about him?”

“You tell me, Imogen.”

Cassie’s eyes flash. “Something isn’t sitting right with me about your relationship.”

“Relationship?” I raise my eyes. “We don’t have one—not yet, anyway.”

I shrug, wondering why I am so empty inside where it concerns Jesse. The Claiming was supposed to bring us together, but Jesse has other plans.

Cassie sighs, worry etched on her brow. “Frankie’s worried about him.”

“What did he say?”

I’m curious and Cassie huffs, “He’s not convinced he’s telling the truth.”

“About?”

“About his involvement with Miss Sloane.”

“But she left.” I’m aware of Jesses’s relationship with our former art teacher who left under a cloud when the principal discovered her preference for the students.

If anything, I sympathize because I’m certain that if a certain history teacher gave me one sign he was interested in me, I would fuck the rules and go there like a shot.

“She still has her house in town.”

“How do you know?”

Cassie looks down and mumbles. “Frankie went there and even though she was nowhere to be seen, all of her stuff is still there.”

“And you believe that Jesse is still seeing her?”

My heart drops and Cassie attempts to reassure me. “I don’t, but Frankie thinks he is holding out on him. That he’s hiding something and Frankie is worried it concerns her.”

I say nothing because I share the same thoughts regarding him. There is definitely something on his mind, and I gaze at her thoughtfully.

I recognize the gleam in her eyes and I laugh softly. “Do you want me to do some digging?”

“You read my mind.”

We smile because this is not unfamiliar territory for us.

We share many secrets and will always work as a team, along with Jack, who we both grew up with.

Living with close on fifty bikers taught us survival skills not many other kids learn and the three of us share a close bond that I doubt will ever be broken.

“Leave it with me.”

She nods with relief. “I hoped you’d say that.”

I smile. “You should be going. You don’t want to be late for the party.”

“I don’t like leaving you.”

I wave her concern away as I point to the door. “I’ll be fine. I’ve had enough excitement for the day, anyway. Go and have fun, and I expect a full report in the morning.”

As she leaves, I breathe a sigh of relief because I wasn’t kidding.

I could really use some time alone and figure out exactly where I go from here.

One thing was certain, my reaction to Jesse doesn’t even come close to how I react after one lingering glance from a certain teacher and I am clueless about how to manage that.