Okay, well, not exactly. I never wanted to rile the parents up so much they protested. But I wanted Tanner to see what was missing in his students’ lives because of his neglect to adapt to the times. Because he held his own personal beliefs over the school like it was law. Obviously there was a need for redefining the way sex and sensitive topics were approached in school—I would’ve had zero response if there wasn’t.

Maybe he would listen now.

Maybe the news article was blowing the parents’ anger out of proportion as well as the content on my site.

Maybe I’m more in over my head than I even knew.

Maybe I should torch the site and be done with it.

My spine straightened against the thought.

No. I wouldn’t run away and hide just because someone had gotten offended. At the heart of my challenge with Dean—this was white hat. I wasn’t hurting anyone. I was helping people find answers when all other resources failed them.

I would, however, up the security on the site the second we made it home.

Fingers flying fast, I typed out a text to Mom.

Me: Last night was amazing

Me: Tell you later. See you soon.

Laying my cell on the counter, I spun toward the shower, needing the scalding water to rid me of the ick that parent had slathered all over me.

Predator. Un-fucking-believable. It’s not like they said that I was giving a how-to guide on the proper way to give a blow job. Or how unprotected sex was all the rage, or something else like that.

I rolled my eyes and scrubbed my hair a little harder than necessary.

I may as well be if they’re already this pissed.

The rebellious, rage-induced thought sprinted through my head, but I dismissed it just as quickly.

Inhaling the steam from the shower, I calmed myself by focusing on last night. On the incredible weight that had lifted from my chest by telling Dean about my past. But sharing that—it helped. Just as I hoped the people who wrote in to me found some comfort in sharing their stories and questions and fears.

What would Dean think if he knew I was behind the blog?

Would he hold it against me? Advise me to shut it down? Question where I gathered my answers?

No. I could tell him anything. He’d said that last night.

Last night.

The kisses, the way he’d touched me, the connection that crackled between us. It was intense and fantastic and made my heart race just thinking about it.