ce M

waiting patiently right outside, immediately fell into step behind us. Their pre

room before we leave?" I asked, trying to maintain a formal tone. I still didn't quite know how to talk to her. Sh

ncipal giving a lecture. Please, just call me Viola. And I'll call you Mathew, okay? No more of this 'Miss' stuff." She tucked

now. "You won't need to pack clothes. Consider that stuff your old life. We will go shopping, and I'l

. "Buy things for me? Like, a whole new wardrobe

se you are my partner's daughter?" I wasn't sure if I was telling her or asking myself. Money wasn't a big

gar daddy for the day. But yes, just one more thing, and this is important." She leaned in a little and dropped her vo

ld never fall for my partner's daughter! And most of all, I would never, ever f

was just kidding! Gosh, don't have a heart attack." She laughed, a light, airy sound. "Actually, if anyone should be worried, it's me. I wouldn't mind fa

making her look right at me. "Don't talk like that. Ever. You are a young lady, not... not

her playful mood vanishing. "Yes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It

y? "It's fine. Forget it. Now, let's go back to your room. You said you needed to get somet

want to get stuff from my room? What could

as I spoke to lead the way. "Yes, now sto

lk was quiet, the only sound our footsteps on the linoleum floor. Finally, we stopp

. A few books piled on a nightstand, a hairbrush on the desk, a cozy-looking sweater thr

all of your ex-boyfriend's pictures and stuff. Every last trace of him. Are you still in love with him?" I asked her, genuinely curious. I had no idea why

That trash?! Are you serious? I wasn't in love with him, not even a little bit. I have neve

o understand her better. "Then why the hell did yo

so lonely. I just wanted someone, anyone, by my side to care about me, to pay attention to me. That's all it w

all new to me. They attracted me like a magnet. They made me drown deeply into her gr

uldn't! She was my partner's daughter, for God's sake! So, I was practically like her uncle, or something like that. Even though the age ga

thinking about?! Why w

jacket, startling me a bit. Her hands were warm against my c

or a lighter! To burn the pictures, like you said

e was. "Um, okay... right. No, actually, my men will do it. T

ful smile and mouthed sil

ut of her room and toward the next chapter of this very strange day. I was about to spend the next couple of days in my hotel with a girl I h

school driveway. Before we could get into the back seat, I noticed a figure standing far away, un

obsessed. It made me wonder all over again why he had trie

a with a flourish. Then I leaned much closer to her than necessary, my lips nearly brushing her

ch was mixed with the faint notes of my favorite perfume on her skin. "So," she whispered back, her breath warm, "consider tha

inside the back seat. She gazed back out the window at Jake, who was now huffing and puffing angri

ond time in less than fifteen minutes? Why was she so sure of her strong appeal over other men? Well, she ha

we began to pull away, I turned to her and said, my voice confident and clear, "Just so we're

ith mischief like she knew a secret I didn't. "Okay, sure.