Page 7 of Burning Skies
His jaw turns to granite, and he gets up quickly, dumping me on the couch. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
I cringe at the vehemence in his voice and try to stand but nearly topple over. “Calm down. This doesn’t have to be a big deal.”
“Calm down? Calm down?” His voice grows louder. “You’re not twenty-one. What the hell are you doing here? Did your brothers make you do this? Because you can tell them to fuck off if they think?—”
“No one made me do anything. I’m here with my roommate.”
“So what? You thought you’d slum it for a night with a Walker?”
My eyes sting, and I reach out to try to calm him down, but he jerks away like my touch burns. “Beau, I swear, I’m not trying to pull anything here.”
He laughs coldly. “Go back to your castle, princess. You don’t belong here.” With that, he turns on his heel and walks out, slamming the door behind him.
Tears trek down my face as I stare blankly at the dark room. What just happened?
A few minutes later, the door opens again. Everything in me hopes it’s Beau, but it’s the bouncer we talked to at the end of thehall. He clears his throat. “Your friend gave me a hundred to call you a ride. It’ll be here in ten in front of the house. I’m supposed to walk you out and make sure you get home safely.”
Humiliation burns my face. I sniff and wipe my tears before I tie on my mask. “Can you give him a message for me?” He hesitates, which tells me he can. “Tell Beau he can shove that money up his ass. Tell him he’s every bit the dick my brothers say he is.”
With that, I push my shoulders back and walk out.
Beau Walker can fuck right off. I hope I never see that man again.
1
HONEY
SEVEN YEARS LATER
After I pinthe advertisement for the Harvester Club’s monthly meeting to the bulletin board, I stand back and check that it’s centered.
“Hi, Miss Honey!” a student yells as she runs by me.
“Hey!” I smile, glad I went with that moniker instead of Miss McAllister. Having students call me by my last name made me feel like my mother. Plus, I want to make my own way in this world and not rely on my family’s legacy.
As I walk down the hallway of Wild Heart High School, football banners with our wolf mascot and various art projects decorate the walls.
This place smells like foot funk sometimes, but I don’t care because I love teaching. How could you not enjoy a job where you have a reason to get an endless flow of office supplies?
“Good morning, Honey,” the secretary says as I stop at the main office for my mail.
“Morning, Gladys.”
She leans forward. “We’re putting together a Halloween committee to plan festivities for the elementary school kids. CanI count on you to join? I know you have a lot going on with your club, but I could use your help.”
School keeps me so busy, I can barely think straight, but I can’t turn her down. Teachers in Texas don’t get tenure, and I still feel the need to prove myself to the board of education so they renew my contract.
And I need this contract. If the high school lets me go, my father will use it as an excuse to make me move back to the ranch. Plus, I want to support our students. At least a Halloween committee sounds like fun. “Of course. I’d be happy to lend a hand.”
“Wonderful. I’ll email you the details.” Before I can walk away, she holds up a finger. “Will you have the proposal ready for the principal this week?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I love what you’re doing. It’s about time we get back to our roots.”
I grin. “Thank you. The Harvester Club meant a lot to me in high school, so I want to give back.”
“That’s so exciting. Will you actually raise animals on that lot?”
