Or maybe I should have chased after her, fixed it right then.
Instead I was worried about my own shit. I was thinking about Joey and how he was going to react. I was worried he was going to be a jerk, and instead he was more amazing than ever.
Instead I found myself falling for him.
And look where it got me. Falling for Joey cost Kendall. I ran off with Joey and Kendall ran off with Braden. Except Kendall got hurt.
I saw a flurry of activity coming down the slope. A snowmobile led the way with a bunch of skiers behind. A siren blasted behind me, dragging my attention from where Kendall was coming down the hill. I jumped out of the way of the ambulance as it stopped in front of me, both doors flying open just seconds later. The paramedics took off for the slope, meeting the rush of activity as they brought Kendall down.
I backed away, knowing I couldn’t help, but wanting to be close enough in case they needed anything. The other students, Rich, and Amber came out of the lodge behind me, all of us crowding around together. Braden finally came over to us after being dismissed by the people attending to Kendall.
“Is she okay?” I asked him as he passed.
His face was white and his teeth chattered. He had a hollow look in his eyes, a fear I’d never seen in the carefree boy. He nodded. “They said she’ll be fine. I couldn’t leave her. I’m sorry, Ms. James.”
I wanted to be mad at him, to berate him for being careless, but I couldn’t do it.
Maybe we were both to blame. Maybe we both screwed up. It didn’t matter. Kendall was hurt, and we needed to be strong for her.
I wrapped my arm around Braden and pulled him into the warmth of the ski lodge. We walked over to one of the benches and I helped him sit. “You did the right thing by not leaving her. She could have wandered off if she was alone, especially hurt. You helped her, Braden.”
“I’ve never seen someone hit a tree so hard before. I mean, I’ve hit trees when I was goofing off with Justin, but Kendall just… she just fucking bounced, man. It scared the hell out of me. I thought she was dead for a minute. And her arm. It’s all bent at a weird angle and shit. She didn’t know who I was at first.”
“Did you tell them all this? The paramedics? Because it’s important they know everything.”
He nodded. “Yeah, they talked to me before they let me come in here. Shit, Ms. J. I’m sorry. I never meant for her to get hurt.”
“I know, Braden. I think you really do care about Kendall. She and I talked earlier and I know she cares a lot about you. I know you’d never do anything you thought would hurt her, but you know you were both on an off limits slope?”
Braden hung his head, his face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Ms. J. I just wanted some time with her away from everyone else. I came up here over winter break and went skiing on that slope, Joey took me over there, and it was awesome. I thought Kendall would like it, you know. I didn’t know she wasn’t that great of a skier until we were up there. She started to freak out a little bit, but then she was fine. I mean we skied the slope a few times before she hit the tree so I thought everything was good, then… well, you know.”
I tried to focus on what he was telling me, but all I heard was the part about him skiing with Joey over break. That Joey showed him the slope. That Joey told him where to go.
I guess I should be glad Joey didn’t show him where to take her to have sex.
The door burst open and Mr. Rockwell walked in. His dark eyes scanned the empty room before landing on Braden and I. He was dressed in his standard dark grey pants and blazer, white dress shirt, and navy jacket and scarf. He knocked the snow off his boots then focused on Braden.
“Mr. Cogwell, I understand you were with Ms. Munroe when she got hurt. Will you please tell me what happened?”
Braden fidgeted beside me, swinging his feet and wringing his hands. He stared at the ground as he relayed the details of their off limits adventure to his principal. His voice was small and scared. I felt bad for the kid.
When he finished Mr. Rockwell said, “I’m sure you understand that your parents will be contacted. Because you chose to knowingly break the rules, you will no longer be allowed to participate in ski club this year. If you demonstrate behavior fitting for a proper student, you will be allowed to sign up again next year, assuming you no longer behave in a manner we believe inappropriate.”
“I understand,” Braden mumbled.
“Good. Now, if you’ll give me a few minutes with Ms. James…”
Braden scurried out of there, barely making it through the door before it slammed shut behind him.
“I’ve already spoken with Mr. Santiago and Ms. Wyatt. Both said they were skiing the whole time today, keeping an eye on the other students, and were up here for check in. They said you weren’t here for check in, that you arrived after the call was put out for a search party.”
“Yes, sir. I was skiing and lost track of time. I was near Joey, our liaison, when his radio went off indicating students were missing. We came down the slope together and arrived here at the same time.”
He pursed his lips together and watched me, waiting patiently for me to say something else. I kept my mouth shut, not willing to divulge one more little detail to him. He finally sighed and dropped his hands to his sides. “Well, as I told the others, I’m disappointed that none of you noticed the two students going off into an area they weren’t supposed to be in. I have no evidence to show that any of you was negligent, but I’m certain there will be a few questions from the parents. I’m following the ambulance to the hospital and would appreciate if you three would join us there after you make sure the other students get home safely.”
“Of course, Mr. Rockwell.”
He breezed out the door, leaving me feeling like I’d just gotten fired. Or at least sent to the principal’s office.
I guess I had.
Twenty-Two
By the time I made it home that night I was dragging. Kendall’s parents weren’t happy she was hurt, but they didn’t say anything about suing the school or Winter Ridge. They were very gracious people who laid all the blame on Kendall and Braden, but didn’t even appear upset with them. They accepted that kids do things they aren’t supposed to do and that sometimes someone gets hurt.
Kendall was doing better, but the hospital was keeping her overnight for observation because of her head injury. She did break her arm, but it wasn’t as bad as Braden had thought. It was a simple fracture that didn’t require surgery or resetting, just a cast. When I finally left her room she was smiling and talking and acting like herself. She even apologized for getting upset and running off earlier. I told her I was sorry to jump to conclusions about Braden and that he was very concerned about her and really seemed to care about her.
That made her smile.
The next morning I was dragging. Joey texted me, but I never had a chance to get back to him. By morning I was trying to figure out what to say to him at all since we hadn’t talked since we made love in the woods. I was even more confused, feeling like I screwed up royally by not being there for Kendall. Maybe I really did have too much going on. I liked him. I knew that. But when was I going to fit him in? I was back to my original problem.
The school day dragged on. Braden asked me if I’d heard anything about Kendall and told him she was supposed to be released that day. I updated him on how she was before I’d left the night before. He wondered if he should bring her flowers and I told him I thought that was a nice idea.
Rich came to visit me during my lunch break, the only time during the day I had to really chill out. I had just closed the door and turned off the lights when he knocked.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” he said when I let him in.
“No, it’s okay. I was just going to rest for a few minutes. I’m exhausted.”
Rich nodded. “Yeah, it was a late night. I need to get used to it though. We found out we’re going to have a baby.”
“Oh, how exciting!” I yelled, throwi
ng my arms around his neck. “Congratulations. I bet you guys are thrilled.”
“Yeah,” Rich said, scrubbing his face with his hand. “We are. Her parents are already telling us how to raise the kid though. She’s about six weeks along now, and they think they should tell us everything.”
I shook my head. “I can’t say I’m surprised by that. From what you said before they’re pretty involved.”
“Yeah, they are. Speaking of involved… What’s up with you and ski boy?”
I groaned, not ready to have that conversation, with Rich or anyone else. “I don’t know. We’ve been… having fun. But he wants more. And I…”
“Don’t have the time.”
My eyes snapped to his. “How did you know?”
He rolled his eyes and gestured around himself. “Addi, everyone knows that about you. You’re always the first one to take on something new. You’re busy just about every day after school. I would assume you have a social life outside the school, family, friends. But if you’re hesitating about something, or someone, maybe it’s not right. Are you sure it’s just a time thing? Do you like him?”
I sighed thinking about Joey’s hands, and his lips, and his… well, I didn’t need to think about that in front of Rich. But I thought about his laugh, and his voice, and his texts.
“Yeah, I like him. More than I really want to. He was supposed to be fun. A chance to do something for myself. Someone I could have a good time with, but not be another commitment. I have too many of those. But now… well, I feel like I either need to make a commitment to him or I lose him.”
“Did he say that?”
“No, he didn’t say that. But he keeps asking me out and it’s getting harder and harder to say no.”
“Do you want to say no?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know anymore. Something changed yesterday. He was different. Everything was different. And then we heard about Kendall and we never got a chance to talk about it. And I’ve just been going through everything in my head and I… I just don’t know.”
“I figured you were with him when the word went out about Kendall. When I didn’t see you at check in I assumed you were together. After the last time he saw us talking and went all caveman on me. I thought he was going to punch me or something.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure he was going to. Don’t worry though, I told him you’re happily married. He felt pretty stupid after that.”
Rich threw his head back and laughed a short bark. “I would have loved to have seen his face.”
I smiled, remembering the heated look on his face when I told him. Not to mention everything else he told me that day.
“By the way, Amber told Rockwell you were with Joey. I think she’s pissed he chose you over her.”
I groaned. Just what I needed, one more thing to worry about. “I explained to Rockwell why Joey and I were together. Or a version of it anyway. He seemed suspicious, but didn’t push.”
Rich nodded. “I told him you were out skiing and that I hadn’t seen you with Joey all day, which was the truth. I just wanted to make sure you knew Amber was trying to stir up trouble.”
“Well, I don’t think it’ll matter much anymore. I certainly won’t be sneaking off again. I learned my lesson.”
“Yeah, I think we all learned something yesterday,” Rich agreed.
We talked a little longer then he left to get ready for his next class. A sinking feeling settled in my gut. No matter what happened with Joey I knew I wasn’t going to be able to sneak away with him again. My conscience wouldn’t allow me to, not after Kendall got hurt.
After my last class, what would have been Kendall’s class, I felt drained. All the students wanted to know what happened to Kendall. Rumors had been circulating all day and everyone was curious. Some stories said Braden pushed her into the tree. Another said she fell off a cliff. A third said she nearly died of frostbite and hypothermia. I assured everyone she was fine, that it was simply an accident, and that she would be back within a couple of days.
When the bell rang I was so ready to just get the hell out of there. It was Tuesday, which meant girls’ night. Tuesday was the only day of the week I didn’t have something going on after school and I was ready to go.
I quickly gathered my things, anxious to get to the hospital to check on Kendall before heading over to Bite Me! to spend the evening with the girls. A knocked stopped me. I sighed heavily, straightened, and turned to see the last person I ever expected to have in my doorway.
“Joey? What are you doing here?”
He was leaning against the door frame looking yummier than any man had the right to look. He was in his red and black ski jacket, which just made me think about what happened the day before. He had on jeans, dear God, those jeans were hot. Worn pockets and knees, barely stretched over his bulky thighs. Cupping his crotch just enough to remind me of the treasure inside.
His jacket was open, revealing a simple black t-shirt underneath. Why did men wear anything besides jeans and a black t-shirt? Oh, man, how it stretched over his chest and made my mouth water. My hands twitched with the memory of his muscles under my fingers, his skin beneath my nails. I wanted to hold on to him again and feel his power, his strength.
“Does this door lock?” he asked in a strangled voice.
I nodded and bit my lip, wondering if we could really have sex in my classroom.
Then I heard the slide of the lock and it was like a trigger for my body.
I practically attacked him, jumping into his arms the second he turned around. He guided us to the near corner of the room so we wouldn’t be visible to anyone peeking in the classroom. His hands cupped my ass and I was able to wrap my legs all the way around his hips, his growing erection already making me wet, making me want him.
“I didn’t come here for this,” he said as his lips blazed a path from my ear to my neck. He nipped at my collarbone and his hands went for the hem of my skirt. I said a silent prayer that I’d worn a skirt that day. And a thong.
His hands skated up over my thigh highs and he groaned when he cupped my bare ass. “I need to be inside you, right fucking now.”
I climbed down so he could strip out of his jeans. He unbuckled and tugged them down while I slid my purple thong down my legs and sat on the edge of the table at the back of my classroom. I’d never be able to work with a student there again, but it would be damn worth it.
“Jesus Christ, you’re beautiful,” he whispered as he rolled a condom down his length. He came back to me, his lips colliding with mine as he slid home, filling me up.
“Oh, holy fuck,” I moaned around his lips.
“Is this table going to hold us?”
“I don’t fucking care right now, just don’t stop,” I begged.
Joey didn’t have to be told twice. He withdrew slowly then slammed back into me, the slow and fast doing wondrous things to my insides. He did it again, and again, and I knew it wasn’t going to take me long.
He reached between us and grazed over where we met and my whole body clenched, then soared. Joey swallowed my screams with his kisses, continuing to manipulate my body as he found his own release seconds later.
“Holy shit,” he said when we could finally breathe again. “That was fucking-“
The door knob rattled. Someone was trying to get in my classroom. And I had my skirt around my hips with Joey buried balls deep in me.
“Oh, my God, I’m so getting fired,” I hissed.
Joey pulled out and quickly tucked the condom and wrapper in his pocket. I searched for my panties while he put himself back together. I slid into my panties as the doorknob rattled again. “What the hell is going on?” I asked, more to myself than anything.
“Janitors?” Joey suggested.
I knew they didn’t normally show up that early, but it could be anything.
And I would get fired for being irresponsible.
Again.
Twice in two days I fucked the beautiful man in front
of me instead of doing what I knew I should be doing. Instead of being the responsible person I was supposed to be, I was having sex.
I’d finally done it. I’d turned into my sister.
And it felt like shit.
Twenty-Three
“I can’t do this.”
“Do what?” Joey asked, coming up behind me, his hands rubbing my shoulders.
I shrugged him off and walked away. “I can’t be with you anymore. I can’t be this person. It isn’t me.”
“What are you talking about?” He sounded angry. He should be. I was.
“This. Us. It isn’t going to work. I’m not who you think I am.”
“Excuse me?” Joey backed away like I was about to tell him something truly horrible. Like I used to be a man. Or I was in witness protection. Or something like that.
“Ever since I met you I’ve been trying to be someone else. I’ve been trying to be more like my sister. She’s carefree and she’s fun and she’s always thinking about herself. I wanted that. Or really, she told me how boring I was and I decided to be more like her. At first I think it was to piss her off, but then I met you and it was fun to be fun. I liked thinking about myself. And then my parents split up and my mom moved in with my sister and I didn’t have to take care of her anymore. I just wanted to have fun. Everything I do is planned out. And I was having fun not having a plan.”
Joey shook his head and ran a hand down his neck. He was just so gorgeous. I hated that I was having to say goodbye to him, but I knew it was the right choice. I couldn’t continue on like nothing had happened. Like I hadn’t ruined a kid’s life and almost ruined mine. He was toxic for me. I couldn’t resist him, and one day it was going to cost me.
Bulky & Beauteous Page 17