Page 32 of Her Forbidden Teacher

Someone enters from my peripheral and I turn, grinning as I greet Addison.

Except, it’s not Addison.

The woman I was married to and slept beside for years is standing just inside the greenhouse door. Her mousy brown hair is pulled into a tight ponytail that tugs on her eyes. I remember her once telling me it was her secret to get rid of crow’s feet.

“Theo,” Mary Ellen cries out, a bright, albeit false, smile on her face.

I once thought she was pretty, but now all I see is ugliness inside and out. Everything about her is fake. It’s so obvious now.

As she approaches me, she rubs at a small baby bump. It could be passed off as bloated, but since I know she’s pregnant, I see it for what it is. I suppress a shudder as she nears. Not because I’m worried this baby is mine, but because Mary Ellen is a viper in my den. I want her out.

“What are you doing here?” I say coolly, crossing my arms over my chest.

She stops a few feet away and her smile falters. “The principal said I could find you here.”

“But why are you here? At this school?”

Her lips thin out and her eyes flash with familiar disgust toward me. It was something I saw often in those last few months of marriage to this woman. Utter contempt.

“I thought you’d want to see your baby,” she bites out, her words like a strike of a snake. “You always did want to be a daddy.”

My blood curdles at her words. Yes, having a family was and still is a high life priority. But not with her. Not anymore.

“It’s not my baby, Mary Ellen. We both know that.”

She scoffs. “Are you saying I’m a whore who doesn’t know who the father is?”

“I’m saying we can both do simple math. We weren’t having sex. This isn’t an immaculate conception.”

“You’re still a cold, dead, emotionless fish. Thank God I divorced you.”

I’m the one who filed, but I don’t argue with her. “Nevertheless, the baby isn’t mine.”

“We’re still awaiting the paternity results.” She lifts her chin in defiance. “And when I’m proven right, you will pay child support, though I’m unsure how you’ll be able to afford it with this pathetic job of yours.”

I glare at her, refusing to answer. Maybe she’ll just go away.

“I found another stupid picture…oh.”

Mary Ellen whirls around at the same time I snap my head in the direction of our newcomer. Addison, with her long, flowing blond hair and innocent expression looks like my guardian angel come to save me from the devil herself.

Addison quickly crumples the photo in her fist and shoots me a worried look. Somehow, she knows who this woman is to me. And she’s worried. Like I said, my guardian angel.

“You’re interrupting an important conversation between me and my husband,” Mary Ellen says nastily to Addison. “School’s over, little girl.”

“Ex,” I bite out. “And you need to leave, Mary Ellen. Greenhouse Club starts right after school. If you need to discuss something with me, you have my lawyer’s number.”

Mary Ellen’s critical glare sweeps over Addison and she shakes her head in disgust. “Careful, Theo. Wouldn’t want you to become a pedophile statistic with all these pretty young things running around with their doe eyes just because your ego needs stroking…among other things.”

“OUT!”

Addison and Mary Ellen both flinch at my angry outburst. My ex-wife mutters something nasty under her breath but hurries away. If she sensed something between me and Addison, there’s no doubt she’s feeling inadequate. Addison is everything she’s not. Mary Ellen commands rooms she can be queen in. But Addison is angelic and otherworldly. A mere queen could never compare to that of which comes from heaven.

As soon as she’s gone, I deflate, relieved to be able to breathe again. Addison rushes over to me and throws her arms around me.

“Oh my God, she’s scary,” Addison says, breath tickling my neck. “No wonder you hate her. Evil woman.”

I run my nose along Addison’s cheek. So soft. Her touch brings me such fucking joy. Her voice. Her presence. Seeing the two women compared side by side is eye opening.