Updated Apr 8, 2026 • ~6 min read
Chapter 9: Eighteen Hours
Sienna
Twenty-four hours.
That’s all Sienna has left.
Twenty-four hours until Back-to-School Night. Twenty-four hours until Jace walks into her classroom and realizes that his girlfriend is his daughter’s teacher.
Twenty-four hours until everything FALLS APART.
She’s standing at the front of her classroom on Wednesday morning, going through the motions of teaching, but her brain is SCREAMING.
Harper is sitting in the third row, diligently taking notes about fractions. Sweet, smart, wonderful Harper who has NO IDEA that Ms. Martinez is dating her dad.
Harper who made Sienna a card yesterday because she noticed Sienna was sad.
Harper who’s excited about Back-to-School Night because she can’t wait for her dad to meet her favorite teacher.
The guilt is CRUSHING.
“Ms. Martinez?”
Sienna blinks. The whole class is staring at her.
“Sorry, what?”
Marcus, one of her students, raises his hand higher. “I asked if we should show our work on problem five?”
“Oh. Yes. Always show your work.”
She turns back to the whiteboard and writes out the next problem, but her hand is shaking.
She can’t do this. She can’t stand here and teach like everything is NORMAL when she’s been lying for two weeks.
When she’s been kissing Harper’s dad.
When she’s fallen in love with a man she has to let go.
🔥
Lunch break. Sienna sits in her classroom, door closed, staring at her phone.
Three new messages from Jace.
**Jace:** Morning. Harper wouldn’t stop talking about you at breakfast. Apparently you cried over the card she made you?
**Jace:** She’s very proud of herself.
**Jace:** I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. To you meeting her. To her meeting you. To all of it.
Sienna’s eyes burn.
She types: *Me too.*
Deletes it.
Types: *We need to talk.*
Deletes it.
Types: *I can’t do this anymore.*
Deletes it.
Finally settles on: **I’m looking forward to it too. See you tomorrow night.**
She hits send before she can overthink it.
Jace responds immediately: **Can’t wait. Miss you.**
**Sienna:** Miss you too.
And she DOES. God, she misses him. Even though she saw him three days ago. Even though they’ve been texting constantly.
She misses him and she loves him and tomorrow she has to BREAK him.
Her phone buzzes again. This time it’s Maya.
**Maya:** How are you holding up?
**Sienna:** I’m not.
**Maya:** Want me to come over tonight? Wine and terrible movies?
**Sienna:** I have to prep for tomorrow. Both the teaching part and the “destroying my own happiness” part.
**Maya:** You’re not destroying anything. You’re doing the RIGHT thing.
**Sienna:** Then why does it feel so wrong?
**Maya:** Because feelings don’t care about ethics. But you’re strong. You’ll get through this.
**Sienna:** I don’t feel strong.
**Maya:** Fake it till you make it, babe.
Sienna locks her phone and puts her head down on her desk.
She’s a TEACHER. She’s supposed to set an example. Make good choices. Follow the rules.
And instead, she’s been sneaking around with a parent, lying to everyone, falling in love with someone she CAN’T have.
What the hell is wrong with her?
🔥
The afternoon drags.
Sienna teaches reading. They’re on *Charlotte’s Web*, and today’s chapter is the one where Charlotte dies. Perfect. JUST perfect.
Half the class is crying by the end. Including Sienna, but for completely different reasons.
“Why did she have to DIE?” one of the kids wails.
“Because that’s life,” Sienna says, and her voice cracks. “Sometimes we lose people we love. And it’s sad. And it’s not fair. But we keep going anyway.”
Harper is watching her with those too-wise eyes. The same eyes as her father.
“Are you okay, Ms. Martinez?” she asks softly.
No. No, she’s NOT okay. She’s falling apart.
“I’m fine, Harper. Thank you.”
Liar.
🔥
After school, Sienna stays late, prepping her classroom for tomorrow night.
Back-to-School Night is a big deal. Parents come, see the classroom, meet the teacher, hear about the curriculum. It’s her chance to make a good impression.
It’s also the night her entire world implodes.
She arranges student work on the bulletin boards. Sets out info packets about the fifth-grade curriculum. Straightens desks.
Everything has to be PERFECT.
Because if her professional life is falling apart, at least her classroom can look good.
Her phone buzzes.
**Jace:** What time should I be there tomorrow?
**Sienna:** Doors open at 6. Presentation starts at 6:30.
**Jace:** I’ll be there at 6. Want to grab coffee after? Celebrate surviving Back-to-School Night?
Her heart CLENCHES.
There won’t BE an “after.” After tomorrow, they’re done.
**Sienna:** Let’s see how the night goes first.
**Jace:** Mysterious. I like it.
**Jace:** Hey, are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been kind of off this week.
**Sienna:** I’m okay. Just nervous about tomorrow.
**Jace:** You’re going to be great. Harper adores you. And I already adore you. So you’ve got nothing to worry about.
Sienna’s vision blurs.
He adores her. HE ADORES HER.
And tomorrow she has to tell him goodbye.
**Sienna:** Thank you. That means a lot.
**Jace:** Anytime. Get some rest tonight, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow.
**Sienna:** See you tomorrow.
She locks her phone and lets herself cry. Just for a minute. Just to get it out.
Then she wipes her face, gathers her things, and drives home.
🔥
That night, Sienna practices in the mirror.
“Jace, I need to tell you something.”
No. Too vague.
“Jace, I’m Harper’s teacher.”
Too blunt.
“Jace, there’s been a misunderstanding—”
God, that sounds like she’s blaming HIM.
She tries again. “Jace, I should have told you sooner, but I’m Harper’s teacher. I didn’t know at first, but when I found out, I should have ended things, and I didn’t, and I’m so, so sorry.”
Better. Still terrible. But better.
She practices it five more times. Ten. Twenty.
By the time she goes to bed, she has the words memorized.
But she doesn’t know if she’ll have the courage to actually SAY them.
🔥
Sienna lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, counting down the hours.
Eighteen hours until Back-to-School Night.
Eighteen hours until she sees Jace walk into her classroom.
Eighteen hours until he realizes the truth.
Eighteen hours until everything ends.
She should have told him sooner. Should have been HONEST from the start.
But she was selfish. Cowardly. WEAK.
And now they’re both going to pay for it.
Her phone lights up with one last text from Jace.
**Jace:** Can’t sleep. Thinking about you.
Sienna’s chest ACHES.
**Sienna:** Me too.
**Jace:** Tomorrow’s going to be great. I can feel it.
If only he knew.
**Sienna:** Goodnight, Jace.
**Jace:** Goodnight, Sienna. Sweet dreams.
She locks her phone and closes her eyes.
But sleep doesn’t come.
Instead, she lies there in the dark, rehearsing her confession, mourning a relationship that’s not even over yet.
Tomorrow, she’ll do the right thing.
Tomorrow, she’ll tell him the truth.
Tomorrow, she’ll let him go.
Even if it destroys her.
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