"Mr. Collins, I’d like to have a word with you."
Adam paused mid-step and turned to look at lody with a frown. He didn’t want to talk to her-he really didn’t. The look in her eyes the last ti they spoke had been enough of a warning. Sothing had shifted.
He also knew Adir liked lody as a teacher, which only made things more complicated. The last thing he wanted was to sour this relationship or, worse, cause Adir any discomfort. He wasn’t about to let any tension with lody spill over onto the kid.
Still, he reminded himself that maybe-just maybe-he was reading too much into it. It might not be what he imagined at all. So, he forced a polite tone and asked, "Yes?"
lody straightened slightly, stared into his eyes, and even though she felt the chill emanating from his entire person, she chose to ask in a asured tone, "I’ve arranged for our school counselor to conduct an interview with Adir, focusing on his feelings regarding you and lanie."
She paused just long enough to let the words sink in before continuing, "As I’ve ntioned before, I believe your involvent in the volunteer program has been beneficial to him. However, if you’re unable or unwilling to attend the appointnt, our counselor will still move forward and assess how your absence may be affecting Adir’s emotional well-being and social developnt overall."
Adam nodded as lody looked at his expectantly and nodded," You do that."
He already knew about the ’showdown’ that lody had with lanie and there was no way he was going to be guilted into anything.
He had never been one to play gas. If lody wanted to dig around in Adir’s feelings, let her. He had nothing to hide- and neither did lanie. And if this was her way of gaining an upper hand after her argunt with lanie, she was going to be disappointed.
As for the councillor talking to him, it was beneficial to Adir ultimately so there was nothing to worry. Whatever doubts lody was fishing for, she wasn’t going to find them.
He might have understood her concern, but he did not appreciate her trying to control their lives.
lody looked at him carefully, noting his clipped tone. Her hands clenched. Had she revealed her true feeling to him? Was that why he was trying to keep hus distance? She clenched her hands and asked in a low voice," Is there so kind of misunderstanding? I’m only asking because... you’ve been short with the last few tis we t. Cold. And I thought maybe it was sothing I said or did?"
Adam shook his head, "No misunderstanding. I’m just in a hurry. Adir’s already back in the car by now probably, and I don’t like to keep him waiting. So, if there is nothing, I’ll take your leave."
He turned then, ready to walk off. The conversation was done as far as he was concerned.
"Adam, wait," lody said quickly.
He paused at the edge of the classroom’s door and paused and turned around, "Miss lody, I really am in a hurry..."
lody shook her head and stepped forward slightly," I just- there’s sothing I’ve been aning to talk to you about. Can we et later today? Sowhere neutral? A coffee shop, maybe."
Adam turned his head slowly and looked at her. "There’s no reason for that," he said flatly. "If you have sothing to say, you can say it right here."
"It’s personal."
His posture stiffened. His voice was quiet, but the words were steel. "There is nothing personal between us,Miss lody."
He turned again, more firmly this ti, but she didn’t let it end.
"Aren’t you curious?" she asked suddenly. "That lanie and I look alike?"
Adam stopped in his tracks.
For a second, he didn’t say anything. Then, slowly, he turned back to face her.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
lody tilted her head slightly, gauging his reaction. "I an, it’s... not subtle, is it? The resemblance. Sa hair. Similar eyes. Sa height. Even our voices are close."
"I assud it was just that—coincidence."
"Is it?" she asked, her voice softer now, almost hesitant. "Are you sure?"
Adam stilled mid-stride, the weight of her words cutting through the fog of irritation. He turned slowly and walked back toward her, his expression unreadable but every protective instinct inside him on high alert. His voice was low, controlled—but there was steel behind it.
"What do you an?"
lody held his gaze, aware she was treading a delicate line. "I an," she said carefully, "that there are parts of the past—deep parts—that you don’t know. Things lanie might not know either. And I believe those things matter now.
Adam narrowed his eyes, studying her face for a flicker of manipulation, but found none. Only a strange mix of hesitation and urgency. "Why ?" he asked slowly. "Why not talk to lanie directly if this is about her past?"
lody took a mont before answering. "Because I’m not sure she’d listen. Or understand. Or even believe . And honestly... I don’t want to overwhelm her. Especially not without context. But you—you’re steady. Rational. I thought if I could talk to you first, maybe you’d help figure out how to approach her."
Adam’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like the sound of this. He knew everything about her past... the only thing he did not... was her parents... And if this was sothing related to them, he didn’t want to know if lanie didn’t want to know. That put him in a dilemma.
But he finally said, "lanie doesn’t need anyone handling her like she’s fragile. If you have sothing to say about her, you can say it to her directly."
"I’m not trying to hide anything from her," lody said quickly. "I’m trying to do the opposite. I just... I needed to know if I’m imagining things. If it’s even possible. Look? Can we please et up so that I can explain things?"
Adam took a deep sigh and nodded at that. "I’ll let you know."
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