"It's a strong suggestion. One I hope you'll take seriously."
After he leaves, I sit in my empty office staring at the wall, my mind racing. The message was clear: they're watching us. He’s watching us. Would he really ruin Taryn’s life because he wants her for himself? Like he’d ever have a fucking chance with someone like her.
I grab my phone and text Taryn.
Me:Change of plans. Can't do this afternoon. Will explain later.
Taryn:Are we in trouble?
Me:Not yet. But we need to be more careful.
Taryn:How much more careful?
I stare at the question, knowing what she's really asking. How much of this do we have to give up? How much distance do we have to put between us to keep her safe?
Me:We'll figure it out. I love you.
Taryn:I love you too, Daddy.
The simple declaration makes my chest tight with possessiveness and fear in equal measure. Because the truth is, I don't know how we're going to figure this out. I don't know how I'm supposed to keep my hands off her for the next two months when every instinct I have is screaming that she's mine.
But I know one thing for certain: I'm not losing her. Not to some small-town scandal, not to administrative pressure, not to anything.
I'll find a way to make this work. I have to.
CHAPTER 9
Taryn
I’m hanging around outside the sports building, waiting for Murphy, when Principal Morrison walks out into the afternoon sun. The moment I see him, my stomach turns. Murphy’s text told me that we’re not in trouble, not yet, but clearly something has happened because we’ve been told to be more careful.
I turn away and start walking in the opposite direction, hoping to make it clear there’s nothing going on between me and Murphy beyond the professional, but I hear Morrison’s voice before I can take a step.
“Taryn, a word if you don’t mind?”
My shoulders lift involuntarily at the sound of my voice on his lips. Some teachers call us by our first names, some would default to Miss St. Claire, but the few times I’ve heard thePrincipal call out a student’s name it’s always been the formal option.
So why my first name, and why now? Is he going to ask me to betray Murphy? Because that willneverhappen.
“What is it, Mr. Morrison?” I force what I hope is an innocent smile as I turn to face him.
He takes two steps my way, closing the gap and smiling in return. “Oh, Taryn, you can call me Phil.”
I try to stop the grimace before it appears. “Okay… Phil. What’s up?”
“Just letting you know, I don’t think Coach Murphy is going to be bothering you again.” Another step closer to me, then another. “I’ve made it clear that—”
“He doesn’t bother me.”
Morrison frowns, taking another step closer and dropping his voice. “We both know that’s not true. A girl of your intelligence shouldn’t be interested in some former football ogre like him. You need a man of learning. Someone who gets you.”
“Principal Morrison, I don’t know what you mean. There’s nothing going on between me and Coach Murphy.”
“Good. Good. Of course not. Why would there be? I’m just saying, in a few weeks you’ll no longer be a student here, and you’re going to have options. But those options and applications can be a lot more successful with a recommendation from the school principal.”
“What are you saying? Are you…?”
He reaches out to touch my face, and I nearly fall to the ground in my rush to back away, my feet catching on the edge of a paving slab that tries to trip me.
