Edward hovered near me for the rest of the day and glowered
at Riley. Hell, I glowered at Riley. Why he was here was beyond me? As Edward
was putting the decorations away and pulling out the holiday decorations from
the store room, Riley came over to me.
“Can we talk, Bella?” he asked, blinking at me and giving me
his seductive grin.
“No. We can’t. You’ve done enough, Riley. You robbed me
blind and …” I growled, not wanting to say the other thing. My heart deadened
and all I wanted to do was to take all the sleeping pills in the bottle and
never wake up. “I think it’s best that you leave.”
Riley’s eyes flashed angrily and he moved closer to me. “I’m
working, babe. I can’t leave.”
“Back off,” Edward snarled, stepping between us and growing
almost twice his size. “I don’t know what you did to Ms. Swan, but obviously, she’s
not comfortable with you.”
“Oh, the boyfriend,” Riley sneered, his nose wrinkling and
his facial expression turning more menacing.
“Right. The boyfriend,” Edward said, twining his fingers
with mine. “Why are you even here? You’re the night custodian.”
“Shawn called in sick,” Riley chuckled, gazing at me and
licking his lips. “I’ll see you later, Bella. In more ways than two.”
I shuddered, remembering that tone. Edward moved me behind
him, clenching his hand into a tight fist. Riley took the hint and left my
classroom. I released his hand, but Edward held firm until Riley was in one of
the fifth-grade classrooms. “I’m not leaving you, Bella. He is truly evil,” Edward muttered. He looked at me
and his green eyes were glittering with tears. “He will … He will not stop.”
“How do you know that?” I asked. “Can you read his mind?”
“No, but I know men like him,” he choked out, pulling me
into his arms. I felt a stronger connection around me and I felt so protected. A
few moments later, Edward released me, cupping my cheeks with his hands. “I’ll
stay until you get ready to go bed after we leave school. Okay?”
“Okay,” I conceded, not wanting to be alone. Being so close
to Riley unnerved me.
The kids came back in just prior to dismissal and we sent
them on their buses or with their parents. Angela left immediately after
school, wishing Edward luck before she met up with her fiancé who was driving
her to the Port Angeles airport to catch a flight to SeaTac. Edward and I left
shortly after that, getting ready to drive to my apartment. “Do you want to go
out? I mean, have some drinks or dinner?” Edward asked.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I’m tired and I’ve got a
migraine.” Edward nodded and helped me into my coat. He gallantly carried my
bags and helped me into my truck. He followed me back to the apartment. “Do you
want something to eat?”
“I took the liberty of ordering some pizza,” Edward said. “I
figured out how this cell phone contraption worked and it’s really quite
convenient, yeah?” I giggled, seeing his expectant smile. We went inside,
taking off our coats and sitting on my ratty couch.
“So, I have to ask. Why do you float from job to job?” I
asked. “You’re clearly college educated and compassionate. The kids love you. Why
don’t you just teach full-time? Are you some trust-fund baby?”
“I can assure you that I’m not a trust-fund baby,” Edward
snorted, taking a sip of the beer I’d offered him. “I just like flexibility. I
go where I’m needed.”
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