“Then how am I going to text and call you?” he points out to her.
Dr. Rollins steps in. “We came across Rose and Frank having a small argument about his missing phone. When I asked Frank if his phone was missing, he said no but he couldn’t produce it, so I knew he was covering for Rose.” Of course he was.
My tender-hearted Rose is always surrounded by protectors. If it’s not her sister, it’s Frank.
“You know, I think this school needs a new library.” Again Dr. Rollins’ mouth forms the same line. It takes a moment before she finally speaks.
“How about we all close our eyes and then maybe the phone will turn up on my desk. I’ll count to ten.” Dr. Rollins closes her eyes. The rest of us don’t. Rose reaches her hand behind her back and hands me over the phone. I place it on the desk before Dr. Rollins gets to ten.
“All right then. This will be a warning, Rose. Understand?”
She nods her head but mutters the word fifth under her breath.
“Where’s my sister? It wasn’t her. It was me! I stole the phone and flushed it down the toilet.” Lily comes pushing past Frank Jr, determination written all over her face. She freezes when she not only sees us but the phone sitting on the desk. “Oh, look at the time. I need to be in art class.”
“Music,” Dr. Rollins corrects as Lily darts back out of the office. “Why don’t you two get back to class as well?”
Frank grabs his phone from off the desk.
“I’ll walk you, Rosey.” Frank offers Rose his hand. She takes it.
“Love you, sweetie,” I tell her as she passes by us to get back to class. Frank gives Avery a chin nod.
“So that library,” I say.
“You’ve all done enough for the school this year.” She finally lets out a small laugh. “Thank you for coming down.”
“Anytime.” Avery stands, taking my arm so we can leave.
“That wasn’t so bad,” I say when we make it back to the car. “No one is even in trouble.”
“Is that so, little thief?” Avery presses me up against the side of the car. “I think someone else has been a bad girl.” Oh, I’m going to be in the best of trouble when we get back home. I press my thighs together as my sex grows slick.
“You felt that?” I pull out his watch and hand it over. I can never get the slip on him, and I’ve been trying for years.
“I feel every breath you take.” He grips my chin as he leans down. “You’re a part of me.” He claims my mouth in a deep kiss. He’s a part of me too, but we both know I did steal one thing from him—his heart. And I’ll never give that back.
* * *