Are they stripping her of her student teaching position? She’s supposed to start next week.
My chest tightens, a mix of nerves and outrage. I shove my hands into the pockets of my jacket. She’s worked too damn hard to lose this opportunity because of some asshole.
It won’t just be her student teaching position she loses…
I banish the thought. It’s a defeatist attitude. Maybe she can find a student teaching position somewhere else. Or she can volunteer. I have no clue how certification works, but they’re always saying on the news how there’s a shortage of teachers. Surely she won’t be locked out permanently because of some sexy videos.
It’s not like she’s planning to show them to her students.
The door to the building swings open and I do a double take as Piper steps out into the sunshine, a smile on her face.
That has to be a good sign, right?
“How did it go?” I ask, jogging up the stairs to meet her.
Her brows shoot up and she glances around, as if she might be in the wrong place. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in class.”
“I skipped.” Before she can say anything, I throw my hands up in self-defense. “I couldn’t leave my girl hanging when she needs me.”
I jog back down the stairs and grab my supplies, a bouquet of lilies and a hot chocolate from Daily Grind, the campus coffee shop.
She huffs a laugh and her breath crystallizes in the air. “What is all this?”
“I know you’re a strong woman and you can handle whatever the education department throws at you, but I wanted to be here for you, just in case you needed to talk.”
“That’s very sweet.” She stretches up on her toes and plants a chaste kiss on my lips before taking the cocoa. “Have I told you that you’re the perfect boyfriend?”
“I think you just did. So?” I ask, nervous energy roiling in my gut. “How did it go?”
“Better than expected.” Her smile falters. “Barnes promised to let me student teach, and she’s going to write me a letter of recommendation for my job search.”
Relief floods my chest. “That’s great news.”
Better than even I could have hoped for. It must be a tremendous weight off Piper’s mind, too.
“It is.” She nods slowly, her smile faltering. “But I have to write a statement about what happened.”
Christ. That’s not going to be easy. I hate that she has to give that asshole anymore of her time and headspace. “How do you feel about it?”
“Good, actually.” She dips her chin, almost like she’s convincing herself. “If I want Mike to be held accountable, I have to tell my story.”
If he weren’t such a manipulative piece of shit, there’d be no story to tell, but I don’t say that because it’s not helpful, even if it’s true.
“I’m a damn good teacher, regardless of how I paid for school, and I’m not ashamed of my cam work, but…”
She worries her bottom lip between her teeth.
“But what? Whatever it is, you can tell me, Piper.”
She sucks in a deep breath and exhales, the words following in a rush. “I’m going to give up camming.”
“They can’t make you do that. They have no legal—”
“No one is making me do anything. I’ve had some time to think it over these last few days, and my conversation with Dr. Barnes solidified my decision.”
The news is unexpected, and even though I’m still not a fan of sharing Piper with other men in any context, I’m even less thrilled with the possibility that she’s being forced to give up something she enjoys because of someone else’s outdated, misogynistic view of sexuality.
You’ve come a long way in the last four months…
