She just crossed her arms. “You can find Marcus’s project on the back wall. You’ll need to move along now.”
Troy’s mouth twisted, but he must’ve seen the writing on the wall. “Whatever. I can do better than somefatteacher, anyway.”
And with that, he turned and stalked off down the row of folding chairs, muttering under his breath.
Fiona exhaled. Her hands were shaking, just a little.
Dean turned to her, his voice low. “I know that wasn’t my place.”
She stared at him for a beat, unsure what to say.
Then he added,“Thank you for letting me do that.”
She blinked. “Letting you?”
“I know you didn’t need me,” he said quietly. “But it meant something to be the one who told him to fuck off.”
Fiona’s heart thudded, confused and full.
He wasn’t gloating. He wasn’t trying to win points.
He was just… grateful.
“Okay,” she said softly. “You’re welcome, I guess.”
Dean gave a small nod. Didn’t linger. Just stepped back toward the tech table like it was any other school night. Like he was just part of the support crew.
Fiona stood there a second longer, staring after him.
The road home was quiet,lit only by scattered streetlamps and the muted glow of her headlights.
The night replayed in loops. The way Dean had stepped forward. The way he hadn't made a scene. The way he'd saidthank youfor letting him defend her.
He’d just stood beside her and told a man to back off, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like of course he’d do that. Like of course she deserved that.
She blinked, trying to refocus on the road.
He had been inherspace. Quiet. Supportive. No condescension.
And she didn’t know what to do with that.
She knew what he really thought about the career. She knew he thought of her as a joke.
She pressed her lips together, fingers tightening on the steering wheel.
What if he’s changed?
What did that mean? For their marriage?
Was it too late?
Was it enough?
Did it change anything?
She swallowed the tight ache in her throat. The divorce was still happening. She was building something new. A life without him in it. A life that was finally her own.
She exhaled shakily and turned onto the familiar back road that led to Emma’s place. The stars were bright above her. The night was still.
