He whips his face to mine, frowning now. “You may not care, but society does. Do you think I have a chance in hell of playing football at college level if people knew I was gay? No one would recruit me.”
Robbie pulls his hair back and begins to pace. “It’s not fair.”
“Babe, we’ve talked about this.”
“Uh, maybe I shouldn’t be here,” I chime in.
“Yeah, I don’t think you should,” Phillip retorts.
“No, I brought Chiara here because she’s the only one who would understand our situation and maybe help us.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling leery now.
With a glint in his eyes, he says, “I know about you and Mr. Walsh.”
What the hell! I feel the blood drain from my face.
“Mr. Walsh and me?” I laugh nervously. “Are you for real?”
“You don’t need to lie, Chiara. I heard you in his office. It was pretty clear to me what you were doing in there.”
Oh God. I want a hole to open in the floor and swallow me whole. My cheeks are burning up from mortification.
“You were eavesdropping?” I grit out. “I can’t believe this.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Oh no. You did mean to do it. You followed me and then stood outside Alistair’s office.”
“Robbie, why did you do that, babe?” Phillip asks.
“Because I had a suspicion, and I wanted to be sure. Can’t you see? Chiara is having an illicit affair with a teacher. And we can’t disclose we’re together either. We can be each other’s alibis.”
I curl my hands into fists, trying my best to not yell obscenities at him.
“You want me to fake date your boyfriend. Is that your plan?” I ask.
“Yeah. You can’t deny it’s a brilliant idea,” Robbie replies.
I shake my head, disgusted. “I can’t be here.”
“Chiara, where are you going?” Phillip asks.
I don’t answer as I walk out of Robbie’s room, then sprint down the hallway and the stairs. I try to find Valerie to tell her I’m leaving, but there are too many people, and I can’t see her anywhere.
Phillip calls my name from somewhere behind me. I don’t slow down. He doesn’t catch up with me until I’m outside.
“Chiara, wait.” Grabbing my arm, he turns me around.
“Let go of me, Phillip.”
“I know you’re mad at Robbie, but please don’t do anything harsh.”
“Who do you take me for? I’m not going to blabber. Now let me go.”
Suddenly Alistair is there, yanking Phillip away from me by the back of his shirt. “You heard her.”
Phillip staggers back, looking as white as a ghost. “Mr. Walsh. It’s not what it looks like.”
Alistair ignores Phillip to look at my arm, then at my face. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
His eyes are shining with barely contained rage. If I say one wrong thing, he’ll unleash that on poor Phillip.
“I’m fine,” I insist. “I just want to go home.”
“I’ll take you.”
I shouldn’t accept Alistair’s offer, but staying another minute here is not an option either.
“Okay.”
Phillip throws me a pleading glance before he heads back inside.
I meant what I said. I’d never reveal his secret to anyone, no matter how angry I am at Robbie.
But will Robbie grant me the same courtesy?
31
