The Librarian Principle (14 page)

“
Hey, Whitehall.” Blake gave him a causal nod, oblivious to the nuclear-level tension.

Ryder narrowed his eyes at Blake, who was so close to Liese their arms were practically touching. “Mr. Stone, Ms. Harper.”

“
Sir.” She donned a serene smile she didn’t feel and noticed his hair, which was rather disheveled. Turning her attention back to Blake, she touched his forearm. “I should really get to the library. I’ll see you later?” Liese jumped when Ryder’s office door slammed.

Blake rolled his eyes. “Who pissed in his cornflakes?”

Betty leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, “I have no idea, but he’s been like that all morning. We’re all used to him being a little sensitive, but this is one of the worst moods I’ve ever seen him in. I’d stay out his way today if I were you.”

“
Duly noted. Come on, Liese. Let’s get out of here before you fully experience Whitehall’s Mr. Hyde side.”

Liese glanced at the principal’s door as she heard something being dropped, or thrown, inside. “That sounds like a very good idea.”

It was only Tuesday. She had all week to anticipate that experience.

Blake followed her out of the office, checking the hall before he started asking questions.

“
You sure you’re okay?”

Liese nodded, because speaking meant lying, and she couldn’t keep it together if she had to lie again to Blake.

He squeezed her shoulder. “Come on, I know you better than that.”

Conflicted, she shrugged out from under his palm. She couldn’t let Blake in on her secret. “Sorry. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“
That makes two of us,” Blake said, eyes on the floor. “Look, you shouldn’t be the one apologizing. I overstepped my boundaries yesterday, and if you’re mad at me say so and then I can figure out how to fix it.”

“
Mad at you?”

He chanced a glance at her. “I grilled you pretty harshly, and I didn’t have the right to do that. I know it’s not my business, but we’re friends, and I want you to feel like you can confide in me if someone does something to make you uncomfortable.” He paused, but she didn’t take the bait. “I was a jerk, and I feel bad about it.”

She felt awful. “I have to go.” She spun around, ready to bolt.

“
Liese?” Blake grabbed her arm, and she nearly screamed in frustration.

She didn’t understand how men could be so damn oblivious. On the verge of an emotional breakdown, she didn’t want to be in the middle of the hall when she finally succumbed to the torrent of tears.

“
I’m not mad at you, Blake—really.” She raised her hand to stop his protest. “But I’m not having the best day, and I’m afraid I’m going to lose it in a second.” Tears welled. “Fudge.” She censored her language out of habit at school. She looked up at the ceiling, blinking rapidly, as though gravity would stop the tears from falling.

“
Oh my God, you’re going to cry, aren’t you? Oh, God.”

The panic in his voice made it more difficult to hold the tears at bay.

“
I’m going to hug you now,” he warned and crushed her to his chest.

“
This looks really inappropriate,” she mumbled into his shirt, arms hanging loosely at her sides. All she wanted to do was latch onto him and sob. He smelled like fresh laundry and incense, an oddly comforting combination.

“
Who cares? It’ll give the kids something to gossip about. Maybe this will dispel the rumor that I’m gay. Besides, I’m hugging you as a friend, and because you obviously need it.” He gave her a squeeze.

“
Thanks.” She sniffed and pushed away.

“
You need me to get you anything? Tea? A pint of ice cream?”

“
No, I’m good, but thanks for the offer.”

“
Okay, no problem. I grew up with four younger sisters; I’m good at the consoling thing. And if you change your mind and decide you’re pissed at me, please tell me so I can give you the chance to bitch slap me for being a turd yesterday.”

Liese gave him a watery smile and chuckled. “Okay.”

“
Oh, and there’s no rehearsal until tomorrow night, so if I don’t see you, have a moderately okay afternoon.”

“
You too.” She waved him off, still feeling like she could lose it without much provocation, but thankfully back from the edge. Heading for the library, she checked to make sure no one had seen the exchange. Mercifully, the halls were empty.

Liese spent the afternoon half expecting Ryder to show up in her office. Part of her wanted it to happen so she could tell him exactly how she felt about the way he’d treated her this morning. The other part was terrified that any type of confrontation would reveal how deeply invested she was.

After the final bell of the day, her office phone rang. She looked at the extension, but disappointment dispelled her nerves when she saw it was an outside line. Irritation took hold when she remembered Sean’s message from the previous night. She wondered how many of the hang-ups in the past month had been him and whether his unfailing interest was more serious than she’d originally thought. It seemed a conversation with him was imminent. She just hoped he hadn’t managed to get her work number, as well.

On the third ring, she shook free of her musings and picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“
Um, hi.” There was a long pause before the familiar female voice spoke again. “Liese? Is that you?”

“
Marissa?”

“
Thank fuck.”

“
What’s wrong? What happened?” Liese asked. The image of Marissa tied to a chair while Sean bawled at her feet and forced her to listen to him whine sprang to mind.

“
What do you mean what’s wrong?!”

Liese held the phone away from her ear while Marissa screeched.

“
You call and leave me a message while you’re sobbing and totally incomprehensible, and you have the nerve to ask me what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“
Incomprehensible?”

“
Like that one? I looked it up just for you before I called.” Even angry, Marissa was snarky.

“
I do. Thanks for that.” Liese smiled in spite of her situation.

“
But seriously, what the hell is going on?” Marissa demanded. “You sounded pretty awful earlier. I think we need to make some rules now that you aren’t living here: no text can go unanswered for more than twelve hours. I almost had a damn heart attack today, and I’m too young to die.”

“
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“
You’re forgiven. Now tell me what the hell happened.”

“
I can’t right now. I’m at work.”

Marissa sighed dramatically. “I know you’re at work. I called you, remember? When is a good time?”

“
Can I call you when I get home?”

“
Will
you call when you get home?” she asked. “Because if you don’t, I’m driving down there and kicking your ass, proverbially speaking. I wouldn’t ever really kick your ass.”

“
I promise I’ll call the second I walk in the door.”

“
Fine. I’ll be waiting.”

“
Okay, thanks.” There was relief in knowing she’d be able to talk to Marissa soon. “Oh, there is one thing, though. Has Sean been in contact with you lately?”

“
Is that what this is about? Please tell me you’re
not
thinking about getting back together with that lunatic.”

“
God, no. I may do stupid things, but I’m not that dumb.” Liese tried not to be offended. Marissa was just being a good friend; she’d borne witness to Sean’s freakish tendencies during the initial breakup. “He sent a few texts recently, and last night he left a message about getting back together.” Liese fiddled with the phone cord and surveyed the room to ensure the privacy of their conversation. No one needed to know about her piss-poor track record with men.

“
Maybe you should reconsider that restraining order.” Marissa had wanted her to file one when Sean camped out in front of their apartment door three days in a row.

“
Yeah, maybe.”

“
Don’t think we won’t be talking about this later, too. That guy’s a psycho.”

“
I know.”

“
Good. I expect to hear your voice before five; any later and I’ll be on my way to your house. And I won’t be in a good mood, either.” Marissa hung up.

In order to adhere to the phone call deadline, Liese left school shortly thereafter. A visit from Marissa was always welcome, and it had been almost three weeks since her last visit, but Liese would rather she be happy than pissed off. After four years of living together, the separation hadn’t been easy.

Liese avoided the main office on her way to the parking lot. The temptation to barge into Ryder’s office and give him an earful held far too much allure. The last thing she wanted to be was a stage-five clinger—she already had one of her own. The idea of becoming anything like Sean made her want to commit herself to an asylum.

As soon as she arrived home, she called Marissa. “He found the photoshopped pictures.”

“
Who did?”

“
Ryder.”

“
Fuuuuuuck.” Marissa exhaled loudly into the receiver. “Wait, does that mean you’re fired? Are you moving back here? Why were you at work today?”

“
No, I’m not fired, and no, I’m not moving back to the city.”

“
Boo.” Marissa didn’t hide her disappointment. “Wait. How the hell are you not fired?”

“
I slept with him.”

“
With who?”

“
With Ryder.”

“
He blackmailed you into sleeping with him?” Marissa’s voice rose an octave. Or two.

“
No. He didn’t blackmail me.”

“
I’m so confused.”

“
That makes two of us.” Liese went on to explain in the barest of details what had transpired, leaving out the part about Ryder “punishing” her because the rest of the story was bad enough. Relaying it to another person made it that much more real—and embarrassing.

“
That asshole,” Marissa seethed.

“
I’m so stupid.” Liese picked apart a napkin, creating a pile of white fluff on her kitchen table as they talked.

“
No, you’re not. You’re human, and humans make mistakes. This is a pretty bad one, I’ll give you that, but how were you to know he was going to be a huge dick about it?”

“
I should’ve known nothing good would come of this.”

“
Probably, but you can’t take it back now. I hope he was at least well equipped.” Marissa tried to lighten the mood.

Liese snorted. “I’m not giving you those details.”

“
Oooh, so he was good? That’s too bad about him being a giant penis. Or should I say
having
a giant penis.” Marissa fished.

“
Mar . . .”