Page 124 of Burning Embers

Jake follows me into the kitchen and then heaves himself onto the countertop. I move to the cupboard and survey the food options. While ice cream was good for curing my shattered heart, it isn’t a suitable dinner.

“You hungry?” I ask, grabbing out a box of spaghetti.

Usually, Hale makes us dinner, but he’s been busy with work for the last few hours. I don’t know what, exactly, he does, but I theorized it involves accounting and numbers. Ew.

And after everything he’s done for me, the least I can do is make him some dinner.

“You trying to bribe my love?” Jake demands with a haughty sneer.

“Is it working?”

“Unfortunately, yes. I’m weak.”

As I begin to boil water on the stove, Jake regales me with all of the latest gossip. Apparently, a lot can happen in a day.

“Your accident is all over social media,” Jake tells me. He grabs an apple out of the fruit bowl and tosses it up into the air.

I make a face at him. “Really? Why?”

“Because we live in the middle of nowhere, and you getting injured is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to us,” Jake deadpans. He bites down on the apple, and juices cascade down his chin. “People are also talking about the new vice principal. My TikTok is covered in fancams.”

“Fancams?” I arch my eyebrows.

Jake chuckles and hands me his phone, which is pulled up to a TikTok video. I push play and am immediately bombarded by images of Christian Montgomery. Walking down the hallway. Talking to another teacher. Leaning against the receptionist’s desk. Sitting down.

I snort before I can stop myself.

Scrolling down, I see that there are evenmorevideos, all from different accounts.

“Really?”

“Read the captions.”

MandyGirl06: This is one Christian that makes me want to sin. #sinforviceprincipal #canhebemydaddy? #punishme

T8teKole:Hot dayummm. Someone send me to the principal’s office. Pronto. #onmykneesforyou #fatherforgiveme #daddygoals

Alish@James:Can I transfer schools? #thatass #harderdaddy #iamabadgirl

“Oh my god.” I don’t know whether to laugh or feel appalled. “Poor Mr. Montgomery.”

Jake chuckles as he takes his phone back from me. “It seems as if his anonymity has ended.”

I laugh awkwardly, but internally, I feel a sharp pinch in my chest. That familiar tendril of jealousy curls around my heart and squeezes.

I don’t like all of these women thirsting over Christian Montgomery, but I know my reaction is irrational.

“Well, a man that gorgeous wouldn’t stay secret for long,” I say absently as I toss the pasta into the water.

I then move towards the fridge, yank it open, and study the contents. When I find ground beef and a can of sauce, I pull them out.

I’ll make spaghetti with meat sauce.

Maybe a side salad to go with it?

Movement in my periphery captures my attention, and I turn, expecting to see Hale.

But it’s not Hale standing in the doorway of the kitchen.