If I Could - B. Celeste Page 0,37

people threaten their kids with boarding school, but never saw it happen. The fear, the absolute panic in his eyes, tells me the threat could be a real possibility for him.

“Write me a paper on the book,” I finally offer him, sitting on the edge of my desk and crossing my arms over my chest. I’ll let his language slide for now. “Two pages minimum, five pages max. Use at least one outside source. It can be on any topic you want. Theme, character, whatever you choose. Turn it into me on Monday. That gives you the weekend.”

I expect him to argue, give me a hard time, or tell me he doesn’t want to do that. Instead, he nods. It’s slow, only one head bob, but it’s there. A silent agreement to my terms. I have no doubt it’ll be a decent paper. Probably worthy of a B or higher if it’s like the other writings he’s given me so far.

Before he leaves, I pick up his discarded packet and set it on my desk. “If there’s anything you’d like to talk to me about, my room is always open. Understood?”

His eyes go to the floor, his feet shifting weight before he gives me another terse nod. I’ve had my fair share of training on how to deal with different kinds of youth, and I know one struggling when I see it. Unfortunately, I can’t help Red unless he wants to be helped. All I know is that his anger—over his father, the move, I don’t know—will eat him alive if he doesn’t find a way to channel it.

When lunch arrives, I head to the lounge to use the microwave and see Lawrence, Harper, and Sullivan sitting around one of the tables. I give them each a nod, tuning out whatever story Sullivan is telling them, while I prepare my leftovers from last night.

“Hey, Reece,” Harper greets. I look over at her with a smile as she turns her body to face me. “Michelle and I were thinking of going to that new Italian place over in Green County tomorrow night. What do you think?”

Lawrence bites into his sandwich, but it’s clear he’s grinning. Ass.

“I hear you have a date,” Sullivan praises me. “It’s about time. Don’t think I remember you going out once since you’ve been here.”

Great. They’ve been keeping track of my sordid dating life. “I’ve been busy…”

Lawrence snorts, causing me to shoot him a warning look. He lifts a shoulder and goes back to eating, leaving me to confirm plans. I’m not sure how, but I plan on getting him back for it. I focus on Harper’s waiting expression. “Italian is fine by me. I can meet you—”

Now the person who roped us into this speaks up, still holding his half-eaten lunch. “Oh, don’t be silly. We’ve already agreed it’d be better if you and I carpool together since we’re practically neighbors. They’re going to do the same.”

“Michelle lives a block from me,” Harper confirms, smiling still. “Remember? I think you’ve been to her place before.”

Lawrence seems interested in that tidbit of information, his eyes sliding to me slowly while one brow lifts. Usually, I meet Michelle if she talks me into going to Terry’s to vent, but there was that one time she got way too drunk to drive home, so I took her there myself so she didn’t have to call a cab.

After settling the plans, the microwave goes off and I decide to grab the container and head back to my room. I’ve eaten in here with them more than I used to, hell, more than I want to, all thanks to Lawrence’s insistence. I get that I probably look like a jackass to most of my coworkers, but I’ve accepted the role of whatever they think of me.

“Have a good day, guys,” I say before exiting, hearing a chair scrape back before footsteps follow after me.

“Wait up,” Lawrence calls, catching up with me easily, skin pinched between his brows. “What’s the hurry? Sully was just telling us about a very impressive penis drawing that one of his students left on their homework assignment. Apparently, it’s very lifelike.”

I stare at him for a second before chuckling at his enthusiasm over that. “Sully, huh? You know, the last person who called him that mysteriously vanished.” Not true, he actually got a job elsewhere that paid more. Point is Sullivan hates being called Sully. Used to give Dan, the guy who up and left, a hard