Fury tightened her shoulders and she turned on him. “You knew how I felt about this and you didn’t care. I told you last night that I didn’t want to stop working and you just overlooked my feelings.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “No, you’ve got that ass-backwards. I care and that’s why I overlooked how you felt.”
She snatched her keys from her purse. Her hands shook, and tears formed in her eyes. Her knees still felt like worn-out rubber bands.
Letting out a gush of air, he took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. “Cali, try to understand. Humphrey attacked Garcia. Next time, a student or a teacher could get killed. It’s not safe for you to be here.”
She pushed his hand away, not wanting to understand. She couldn’t understand. Not the dreams, not Brit’s willingness to go against her wishes.
“You’re the one who needs to understand,” she said. “You had no right to interfere. None. Zip.”
His jaw muscles tightened. “Let me drive you to my house.”
“No.” Cali leaned against her car and folded her hands over her stomach. The desire to scream, stomp, and to kick a few tires bounced around her head, but sweet Charmin-faced girls didn’t do that, so she just leaned against her Honda and tapped her foot to the cadence of anger and panic pulsing inside her.
He stepped close and pulled her against his chest. Even as mad as a cat with its tail on fire, she couldn’t push him away.
She breathed in, trying not to be lulled by his scent or the warmth radiating from his shoulders. Finally, anger won over and she pulled back. “I’ll drive myself.”
“You’re too upset to drive. We’ll get your car later.”
She looked up at him. “I’m very angry with you right now.”
He gritted his teeth. “I know you’re angry.” A cold gust of air ruffled his hair. “And I can accept that because you’re not the only one angry. I’m pissed that you didn’t call me when you got the call from Humphrey. But let me drive you and we’ll talk about this later.”
Narrowing his eyes at her, he took the keys from her trembling hands. “Please.”
Without keys, she was left with no option but to follow him. The cold cut through her cardigan sweater, but anger still bubbled hot inside her. She got into his SUV and stared out the windshield.
“Seatbelt.” He turned the car’s heater on.
She buckled in, but didn’t look at him. The first half of the drive, neither of them spoke. Then like a shaken soda can, the words spewed out of her. “How could you do this? My work was the last normal thing I have in my life. I need it. I’ve lost everything else.”
“Was Stan normal?” His words came out gritty. “Because you know what? I’m not the bad guy here. I’m the guy who’s trying to make sure your ex-loverboy doesn’t kill you like he has three other people. And for some reason I’d think you’d be pissed at him instead of me.”
She gripped the seat belt, her anger rising. “This isn’t about Stan. I told you last night I didn’t want to stop teaching. I even explained why it was so important. And you—”
“What does that make me?” He thumped his palm on the steering wheel. “Aren’t I normal? Or is Stan your normal?”
“You didn’t have a right to interfere in my job.”
“I only did it because I don’t want to see you or anyone else hurt. I care about you, Cali. I care so damn much that I can’t let you put yourself in danger just because you want to feel friggin’ normal. And I can’t understand why you didn’t call me right after—”
“Caring for someone doesn’t give you the right to make their choices for them.” The impact of her own words turned on Cali.
They sat in silence, staring at the window, then she spoke, “I couldn’t make my mother’s choices.” Tears of frustration rolled down her eyes. “I didn’t understand that then, but I do now. People have to make their own choices. I can’t make your choices. What if I decided you don’t need to be a cop because it’s dangerous? There’s a nutcase loose killing cops.”
He cut his angry gaze toward her. “That’s what I do, Cali.”
“Yeah, and until about thirty minutes ago, I was a teacher who had a job to go to tomorrow, but thanks to you I’ve been banned from the school until further notice.” Finally feeling as if her point had been made, she stared out the window and dried her tears on her shirt sleeve.
The last five miles were long and silent, except for the lulling sound of his car wheels moving on the pavement and the heater humming warmth. He pulled up in his driveway.
She reached for the door handle, but he caught her arm before she jumped out.
“Cali?” A thousand emotions danced in his eyes. He swallowed as if whatever he had to say was going to cost him a pound of pride. “You’re right. I was wrong to do that. What if I call your principal and tell her I’ll have a security guard posted at the school? She might change her mind.”