Hugo: Yeah, about that. I was going to tell you the news over a drink. Guess Dad beat me to it.

Me: Waiting eager as fuck in my house like a kid on Christmas Eve.

Hugo: I’m sorry, man. I should have known better.

Me: AG? Really?

Hugo: Not all of us have big dreams of being a high school statistics teacher.

I send him several middle finger emojis.

Hugo: Seriously. This could be good for me. For our family. I didn’t tell you because you always get pissy when Dad is involved.

He’d get pissy too if Dad stole the love of his life, put a couple babies in her, and then married her, making her his stepmom.

Me: What do you need from me?

Hugo: Get along with Dad. Be happy for me.

Me: I’m happy for you.

Hugo: Liar.

Me: I’ll get there. As for Dad…I’ll work on it.

Also a lie.

Hugo: Just help me keep an eye on Spencer. The last thing we need is some scandal popping up when I’m knee-deep in this campaign and have dumped a shit ton of money into it.

Me: Spence isn’t going to cause trouble. I’ll keep an eye on all three of those brats at school. You have my promise.

Hugo: Let’s have that drink soon. Tonight?

Me: Long day today. Friday?

Hugo: I’ll pencil you in.

Asshole.

Me: What did Jude say when you told him?

Hugo: Jude is Jude. He rarely replies to my texts and never responds to my phone calls. I’ll feel him out on Sunday.

We text back and forth for a bit while I make dinner. It’s not until he’s done chatting and I’m alone with my thoughts that they drift back to Willa.

Is that monster of a stepbrother of hers going to take more pictures?

My blood boils at the thought of him lurking over her sleeping form, moving the covers away to reveal naked parts of her. If he wasn’t seventeen, I’d whip his ass for the hell of it.

I should check on her.

Grabbing my laptop from my bag after dinner, I make my way into my home office and sit down. I have assignments to load, but first, I need to make sure Willa is okay. I open up my inbox, skip over some student questions for the time being, and draft an email to Willa.

Just making sure you’re okay. If you ever need to talk, my number is on the syllabus.

I should delete the email, not send it. But I’m not being perverted. I just want to know that she’s okay. It’s platonic. Any teacher would check in on their student after going through something like Willa did today. It’s completely normal.