The door bumps into my ass and I yelp in surprise. Mr. Park’s features harden and he barks out, “May I help you?”

“Callum?”

Mr. Park’s nostrils flare and he curses under his breath. Not like he’s ashamed of being in here with me, but as if he’s annoyed we’ve been interrupted. I give him a knowing smile. This moment feels like our little secret and I want him to know I won’t give him away.

“I’m teaching Miss Reyes to use this dinosaur of a machine, Miss Collins. You’d think Mr. Erickson could find a way to budget for a better copier machine,” Mr. Park says. “Do you need in here?”

Mr. Park grabs a handful of papers off the shelf and pushes them into my hand. He motions with his head for me to go over to the copy machine. I wriggle past him, my body brushing against his in the process. He stiffens and I can feel the heat of his stare burning into me. As soon as I’m at the machine, he opens the door.

With my back to them, I try not to look guilty. But I am guilty. I’ve been flirting with my teacher all alone. Given the time, who knows what would have happened. My skin flushes as they talk in friendly voices behind me.

“Let’s get you back to Mr. Erickson, Miss Reyes.”

I jolt at being addressed and set the papers down on a shelf. If I don’t make eye contact, maybe Miss Collins won’t see how badly my mind is still racing with steamy fantasies about Mr. Park.

Once we’re in the hallway and traded places with Miss Collins, I shoot him a questioning look. I’m not sure why I need reassurance, but I need it. I need to know what I felt in that room wasn’t my imagination. That he felt it too.

His penetrating stare bores into me, his expression giving nothing away. My heart sinks until he tugs at the knot on his tie.

“They should also see about fixing the air conditioner in there too,” he grumbles, though it sounds teasing. “We could have suffocated in there.”

My skin flushes and I fight a smile. “I did find it hard to breathe.”

Oh my God.

We’re absolutely flirting.

Shamelessly and in the hallway. At school.

“It’s probably good we escaped when we did then.” He winks at me again before growing serious. “Are you going to be okay? At home?”

I deflate like a balloon, dropping my attention to the scuffed linoleum. “I will.”

He steps closer, enveloping me with his faint cinnamon and apple aroma, until his shiny dress shoes come into view. “You’ll tell me if you feel…unsafe?”