Page 56 of The Cheerleader is Off Limits

She lets out a laugh. “For what exactly?” She puts her hands on her hips, and Iverybriefly let myself think about how hot she looks when she’s mad. I’ve only seen her light and fun and fiery in a different way, but this attitude is turning me on too.Ignore that.“No, go on, tell me, what are you going to say is my reason for detention?”

“Let’s start with your attitude.”And the fact that it might have the power to make me hard if I focus too much on it.

Fury flashes across her blue eyes before she narrows them. “And how are you going to prove that exactly? And more importantly, who is going to believe that? All the teachers who find me delightful? Or maybe the kids in your class who never hear me speak? Or maybe the guys onyourteam that can't figure out why you’re such a dick all of a sudden when you’re evidently the ‘cool teacher.’” She shakes her head before putting a hand on her forehead and taking a deep breath. “Look, I am sorry that we are in this position. I am really,reallyfucking sorry. I’m sorry I lied, but being an asshole to me isn’t going to help. And incorrectly failing me isn’t helping either.”

“First of all, you lied about something big. And you’re correct, you got a perfect score, but I wanted to talk to you, and I knewyou would have questions about your quiz when you saw the grade.”

“Okay, so one, that’s mature. And two?” she says, her voice full of annoyance, “come down off your high horse, PLEASE. I’d bet money you’ve probably fucked a nineteen-year-old before. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been boo-hooing when I met you about wanting to change and not wanting to date women who were so young, and you were ready to stop messing around and stop thinking with your dick and blah blah blah,” she snaps, and her words shock me.

Is that what she thinks of me?

She continues, “I’m sorry I lied about being in high school and that we are in this situation because of those lies, but I am more than happy to play the part that we’ve never met before.Youare the one fucking it up! I haven’t told my cousin, and I am keeping my head down in your class. I’m sorry I couldn’t transfer out. My counselor said that if I wanted to graduate on time, I had to stay in your class, as there wasn’t another option, and I needed the credit to graduate. Believe me, I don’t want to be at this school or in your presence a second longer than I have to, so yes, I’d like to graduate on time in May. Now,whydid you want to talk to me in the first place? I was more than happy pretending that you did not exist.”

I fold my arms across my chest and give her a confused look. “By joining the cheer squad?”

She scoffs. “What difference does that make?”

“We really shouldn’t spend any more time around each other than what’s necessary.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you insane? You can’t tell me I can’t be a cheerleader. Just treat me like the rest of the girls on the squad.”

“Well, you’re not just like the rest of the girls on the squad, now, are you?” I snap. Even though she was my student, I didn’tsee her that way. I saw her as the woman I met at the airport who offered me weed gummies, and I fingered in her car and then spent the last week fucking all over my house.How could she think I could look at her the same way I looked at anyone else?

Memories of all the things we’ve done come rushing back after I’d compartmentalized my brain so I wouldn’t think about it.

Touching her. Tasting her. Fucking her.

Her scent.

The way she looks when she comes.

Watching her come on my phone screen.

The way her pussy–

STOP.

“I don’t know. Half the girls at this school thirst after you.” She rolls her eyes. “Can’t imagine why, you’re kind of the worst,” she says with a saccharine smile. “But I don’t know what you’ve done before me. I’m new to this school.” She blinks at me, and fury spikes in my veins and effectively halts all my previous thoughts about her.

“How dare you?” I stand, anger coursing through me. “You ripped me of a decision I had no idea I was making. Don’t throw that shit in my face when this situation we are in is ofyourmaking. I never would have touched you if I'd known you were going to be a high school senior. I don’t give a shit that you’re nineteen. You’re a student, and that’s a line I never would have crossed if I were given the choice.”

She twists her mouth, and I think she actually looks contrite over that vile comment. “Fine, I’m sorry for what I said. I don’t… actually think that. And I’m sorry for all of this. I don’t know how many times I can say it.”

I lower myself back to my seat and let out a sigh. “Good. And look, I'm sorry that I’ve been cold and… tough on you. I just felt like it was easier to do that, so if anything ever did come out, itwouldn’t look as if we’d been sneaking around when you were my student.”

“I get that, but it’s also a giant red flag that you’re the only person who seems to have this problem with the new girl in school. You’re being more obvious by acting this way, and it’s not a good look.” She glances at the door before looking back at me. “You have more to lose than me, River, and I don’t want you to get into trouble. But you’re walking around looking guilty as hell by treating me differently than everyone else.”

I scratch my beard, hearing her words loud and clear. “You’re right,” I tell her. Her eyebrows pinch slightly, and I can tell she wasn’t expecting me to say that. “And you’re right that I have no right to tell you that you can’t be a cheerleader.”

“If you’re thinking I joined just to be closer to you, you couldn’t be further from the truth. My cousin is on the team, and she wanted me to join. I’ve been doing gymnastics since I was a kid.” She shrugs. “This was always the plan.”

If I was being honest, I never thought she was joining as a way to get closer to me. There was no reason for her to lie about that either. “I believe you.”

“Well… good. Can we just… call a truce or whatever? Otherwise, this is going to be a really long nine months.”

“Yeah,” I tell her. “Truce.” I nod.

“Great. Can you start by writing me a pass? I’m going to be late for fourth period, and everyone is such a stickler about tardiness.”