Saylor (Signature Sweethearts #9) - Kelsie Rae Page 0,3

She does know what I’m going through.

And I hate that neither one of us has a way out.

We’re screwed.

2

Saylor

“Shit,” I mumble under my breath as I race toward the brawl on the soccer field. Hooking my arms under Grady’s armpits, I pull him off Turner, then drag them both to the classroom.

It’s been a month since school started, and things have been going well. My nerves are still a mess by the end of the day, but the fear of running into Owen at the drop of a hat has been put at ease, so I’ll take it. However, our inevitable run-in seems to have been pushed up a bit now that his kid just got caught pummeling a fellow student.

What the hell was that about, anyway?

After running a few paper towels under the faucet, I offer them to a very disheveled Turner.

“Hold this against your nose,” I tell him.

With a scowl firmly painted across his boyish features, he takes it from me.

A few pieces of grass are sticking out of Grady’s hair, but he refuses to look at me as I chew on my lower lip while trying to not let my past taint the situation. This is bad. Normally, it wouldn’t be a big deal, and I could handle it like a champ. But this is Turner’s last straw, and Grady’s been a pretty awesome student so far. But it’s not like I can sweep this under the rug without talking to his parents.

And talking to Grady’s parents sounds like my own personal brand of torture.

Thanks a lot, boys.

“Hey,” I demand, my gaze bouncing between both of them as they cower in their plastic chairs. “Wanna tell me what happened?”

They shake their heads.

My attention shoots over to Turner again. “Stay right here. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they both murmur in unison.

Once I find Turner’s mom’s contact info in my cell, I press call, then bring the phone to my ear as I step out into the hallway.

“Hello?” Mandy answers after a few seconds.

“Hey. We have a bit of a situation.”

“No,” she groans, her voice laced with defeat. “What now?”

“Turner got into a fight.”

“What? Why? He’s been doing so well….”

“I know. I’m sorry, Mandy. But I need to––”

“Please don’t, Saylor. Seriously. Principal Wells is an ass. No offense,” she adds when she remembers who she’s talking to.

“None taken,” I reply dryly. Artie Wells has always been a letter of the law kind of guy, while I prefer the whole spirit of the law method. But I get it. Turner’s had way too many chances already for a first-grader. This is bad. And if it were Artie’s way, the consequences would be absolute.

A defeated Mandy sighs. “Look. If Principal Wells finds out Turner got into another fight, he’ll expel him. You know that. Turner’s been doing so much better since his dad finally moved out. If he gets kicked out of school, he’ll lose the last bit of stability he has. You have to understand––”

“Trust me, I know.”

“Can’t you talk to the other kid’s parents? Maybe explain the situation? I’m not saying Turner didn’t start it because we both know that he likes to pick fights, and the last few years have been rough on him. But he’s been getting better. Even you told me that you’ve noticed a difference in his behavior.”

“I know, Mandy,” I repeat, chewing on my thumbnail as I glance toward the two little monsters in the corner of my room through the cracked door. They both look terrible. Grady’s shirt is torn, and he has a giant grass stain the size of Texas on his shoulder, while Turner’s eye is already swelling. The kid’s going to have a nice shiner, that’s for sure.

“Can you talk to his parents?” Mandy begs again. “Maybe we can sort this out ourselves without involving anyone else. We can figure out some kind of punishment on our own or something. Just this once? Please?”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I squeeze my eyes shut as dread pools in the pit of my stomach. But Turner doesn’t deserve to take the fall for my cowardice. And even though I might get fired for this, I mutter, “Fine. But you are so gonna owe me for this, Mandy.”

“Thank you! Seriously, Saylor. I owe you more than you’ll ever know. And you have my official permission to tell them about Turner’s history with his dad and why he acts up sometimes. You’re also welcome to give my number to the parents in case they want