Tonia's POV
Minutes ticked by in suffocating silence. When Kermit remained completely mute, I forced myself to glance over at him to confirm he was actually still sitting beside me in the car.
He was there, but something had shifted. His entire demeanor screamed detachment. Fury radiated from every line of his body. Whatever thoughts were churning through his mind had transported him somewhere dark and unreachable.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice cracking as I tried to draw him back to the present moment. It worked. His eyes found mine, though they remained guarded. "For stepping in with the board members. Even though I specifically told you to stay out of it."
His shoulders lifted in an indifferent shrug that cut deeper than any harsh words could have. "You still ended up suspended."
"Only for weeks!" The laugh that escaped me sounded brittle and hollow. Hours of crying had left my throat raw and scratchy.
