Tasha laughed, as if still unable to believe the handsome, older man wanted to ask her out, her face lighting briefly before it fell.
“It was a whirlwind; he became everything to me, so much so that it scared the crap out of me. He’s pretty intense, and always knew exactly what he wanted, whereas I was still trying to figure it all out. Not him, I mean, I was certain I was in love with him . . . head over heels. But, I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, and I craved my independence. You guys know that, that’s why I left, and I began to worry that I was losing my will to gain that independence, because I was so enamored with Jericho.”
When Tasha fell silent, Dru pushed, “And, then?”
“Then, Mom got sick. Millie had finished culinary school, and you were on your last semester. I knew I needed to be here with you guys, and with Mom, so I decided to come back home and transfer . . . finish school here.”
“And, Jericho?” I asked softly.
Tasha hung her head, and her voice was so low, I had to strain to hear her response.
“I just left. I was a complete coward, and took Mom’s sickness as a sign that I needed to break away from Jericho and figure out what I wanted out of life.” Tasha lifted her head, the tears flowing freely now. “He’s right to hate me. I’ve been waiting for him to confront me, to tell me off, or scream at me, but he hasn’t. He’s ignored me . . . all this time . . . as if I meant nothing. As if I didn’t break both of our hearts by walking away. And, I guess maybe I didn’t. Maybe he didn’t even notice I was gone.”
With that, Tasha stood up and walked out. Dru’s eyes sought mine, and I knew what she was thinking . . . We needed to kick Jericho Smythe’s ass.
Jackson
Hey! I know you have school, but can you break away for lunch? If not, it’s totally okay. Just thought I’d ask.
I WAS WALKING DOWN THE hall, the discussion my class had just had on the pros and cons of Mr. Darcy still playing in my mind, when Millie’s text came through. An instant grin and, I’m a little embarrassed to say, some stomach flutters, were my immediate reaction to seeing her name pop up on my phone.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to break away during the school day, but was so pleased that Millie contacted me and wanted to see me, that I wondered just how strict Principal Wiggins’ policy on non-staff members eating in the lounge was . . .
Realizing I was willing to risk it, I texted back:
Can’t break free for lunch, but you could come here. I’ll even share my peanut butter and banana sandwich. My break is until 12:30.
I was standing in the middle of the hallway, looking down at my phone as I awaited Millie’s reply, when a gentle hand on my shoulder, and softly spoken, “Jackson?” shook me out of my revere and had me looking up.
“Oh, hey, Rebecca. Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I replied sheepishly, then looked back down when I felt the phone vibrate in my hand.
Lol, I won’t steal your sandwich, I’ll bring my own. Should I go to the front office?
No, I’ll meet you at the side of the school, just follow the sign that says staff parking and I’ll be there.
“Uh, sorry, Rebecca,” I muttered as I tore my gaze from my phone and back to her. “What’s up?”
My phone vibrated again.
Perfect, see you in ten.
“If this is a bad time . . .” Rebecca began, her voice trailing off as I turned my attention to her once more and placed my phone in my back pocket.
“Sorry, no, of course not,” I said, then felt a stab of panic in my chest. What if what Ty had said was true, and Rebecca was about to ask me out?
I noticed she was wringing her hands nervously and that her eyes kept darting around the hall, looking at everyone and everything but me.
“Well, this may be weird, but I was wondering . . .”
When she paused, I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.
“Rebecca, I think you’re great. I’ve loved getting to know you over the years, and having you by my side at the dances always make them much easier to bear, but I think of you as a friend . . .”
Rebecca looked from my hand on her shoulder to my face, her own looking quite puzzled.
“Huh?” she asked, and a different kind of dread began to fill me.
The embarrassing, mortifying kind.
“You weren’t going to ask me out?” I asked cautiously, even though I could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t. “I’m sorry, it’s just, I’m seeing someone, and Ty said you had a crush on me . . .”
Rebecca’s mouth formed a small O, and she smacked the heel of her hand to her forehead.
“That explains it,” she sighed.
“What?”
“Last year, after Julie, I may have had a small crush,” Rebecca began, holding her finger and thumb up to indicate just how small.
“Not necessary,” I muttered, pushing her hand down with mine and looking around us in hopes that no one else had heard our conversation, or misunderstood what she’d been indicating was small.
“But, after spending time with you, and being your shoulder afterwards, I realized that we were definitely more suited to be friends.” As I was trying to process whether or not that hurt my feelings, she continued, “And, since then, I’ve come to realize who I really have feelings for, and was worried that I had no shot, but now it all makes sense, because he thinks I’m into you.”
It took me a moment to brush off my feelings and catch up, and when I did, I cried, “Ty?”
Rebecca grimaced at my reaction, smoothed her hand over her hair in what I knew was a nervous gesture, and said, “Look, I know he’s kind of a player, but, I really, really like him. He’s smart, funny, a great teacher, and totally hot.”
This time I grimaced. What were we now, gossip buddies? I didn’t want to hear how hot one of my friends thought my other friend was . . . In fact, now that I knew I was off the hook, I wanted to get the heck out of this conversation and go wait for Millie.
“Ah, look, Rebecca,” I began, but she stopped me.
“Jackson, I just want you to feel him out, see if he’s interested, and maybe . . . put in a good word?”
She looked so hopeful that I couldn’t say anything but, “Yes. Of course I will, but I gotta run, okay?”
“Okay,” Rebecca said with a big grin, then bounced up on her toes and gave me a kiss on the cheek and added, “You’re the best.”
I chuckled as she practically skipped down the hall, then turned and rushed to meet Millie at the side door. I could see her walking up the sidewalk through the window of the door as I approached. She was loaded down with her purse, a stylish lunch bag, and a large container that I really hoped contained a cake.
I opened the door and held it for her, her smile warming me when she looked up and saw me standing there.
“Hey,” Millie said sweetly as she brushed passed me. She lifted her arms a fraction and added, “I brought a red velvet cake.”
My response was to sigh and say, “I love you.”
Millie
I STOPPED WALKING ONCE I realized I was marching down the hall alone and had no idea where I was going. I turned to see Jackson still standing at the door, frozen, his mouth gaping a bit as he moved it but no sound came out.
I tried to figure out what had happened, then his words came back to me and I guffawed.
“Calm down, Jackson, I know it was just a reaction to the cake, and you don’t actually love me,” I assured him, even though the words had given me a quick thrill coming out of his mouth. “You’re such a nervous Nelly. People tell me they love me all the time after they get a taste of my cooking.”
Relief filled his face and he smiled as he crossed to me.
“Really? I have a lot of competition, huh?”
“Yup,” I quipped, matching his step as we made our way down the empty hallway.
It was kind of weird being in a high school again. Brought back memories. Some good, like me and Dru
laughing as we rushed through the halls to get to soccer practice before we got busted by Coach. Or bad, like the time my boyfriend Cooper told me he was breaking up with me to go out with the head cheerleader.
“Did you just call me a nervous Nelly?” Jackson asked, his voice filled with mirth, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“I sure did,” I replied with a chuckle. “You keep getting caught in your head about things you’re worried I think or expect, and I totally get it, you’re out of your element and it throws you off. But, Jackson, I’m really enjoying being with you, and I hope you’re enjoying being with me too. I’m not putting pressure on either of us, and if you get nervous or wonder what I’m thinking or feeling, just ask, okay? I promise I’ll tell you.”
Jackson stopped and smiled down at me, then bent to brush his lips softly against mine.
“All right, Mr. H!”
We jumped apart and I flushed, then we grinned at each other and he took the cake out of my hands.
“Sorry, I should have grabbed this right away. C’mon.”
I looked around the teacher’s lounge as we entered, and it looked exactly how I always imagined one would look. Full coffee pot and microwave on the counter, a large fridge, and about five round tables scattered throughout the room. There was a small, flat-screen TV off to one side, and it was currently turned to a morning talk show.
There were about eight women scattered throughout and two men sitting at a table at the back of the room. One was a little older, and a little rounder, with light-brown hair and kind eyes, while the other was obviously physically fit, with close-cropped black hair, toffee-colored skin, and a face made to flirt. Their heads had come up when Jackson opened the door, and they tracked our progress through the room.
“Guys, this is Millie,” Jackson said as we came to a stop at their table. He sounded like he was proud to be introducing me to them, which warmed me from within, and I had to hold back a snort at the way they kept looking between us, silent, their eyes wide. “Millie, these mutes are my buddies. Rob teaches Algebra One and Ty, PE and Health.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” I said, thinking Rob looked exactly like the algebra teacher I’d had in high school, and that Ty probably had his hands full with hormonal teenaged girls who thought their gym teacher was hot.
“She brought us cake,” Jackson added, lifting the cake an inch as proof, when his friends still didn’t respond.
“Red velvet,” I offered, and they finally shook off their shock.
“Red velvet? My favorite, don’t tell Jan,” Rob joked before taking a sip of coke.
I assumed Jan was his wife and said, “I promise.”
Ty stood up and offered me a hand, which I shook, then gestured toward the chair and said, “Please, sit. Sorry we lost it for a minute there, we thought Jackson was exaggerating when he said how beautiful you are and were struck when we realized he’d been holding back.”
I laughed as Jackson rolled his eyes and went to set the cake down on the counter.
“That’s very sweet, Ty, thank you,” I said, my cheeks warming. “I know you don’t have a long break for lunch. Thanks for letting me join you.”
“Believe me, it’s our pleasure,” Ty responded smoothly.
“All right, all right,” Jackson chided as he sat. “That’s enough, smooth talker.”
Ty looked mock offended, then sat back, grinned, and popped some almonds in his mouth.
“I’m sorry, we only have ten minutes left, is that even enough time for you to eat?” Jackson asked, leaning in so that our shoulders brushed.
I looked up at him and found myself lost in his eyes for a moment. I noticed flecks of green in the brown, which seemed to twinkle behind his glasses, and I bit back a sigh as I remember how they’d looked when he’d gazed down at me Friday night when we were laying on my couch.
His dimple popped out and he murmured, “Millie?”
“Hmm?” I realized I was staring and turned my attention to my lunch bag. I pulled out my sandwich and chanced a peek up, only to see Rob and Ty grinning at me like crazy. I flushed and said, “Hi.”
“Hi,” they replied in unison, still grinning, and I heard Jackson chuckle next to me.
“You know, Millie, we’re so happy to meet you, really. Jackson’s had such a hard time since Julie, and it’s nice to see him looking happier than I ever have,” Rob said.
“Rob,” Jackson warned, probably not wanting Julie brought up, but Rob ignored his warning.
“What? It’s the truth, and Millie should know.”
“We’re going out on Saturday night, you should come with us,” Ty invited.
“Where are you going?” I asked, even though I had to work and it would be impossible take another weekend night off. Still, it was nice of them to invite me.
“Well, Rob likes country bars, and Ty likes to go out dancing, so we always go to the Irish pub. Kind of meet in the middle.”
“I don’t know if an Irish pub is in the middle of a dance club and a country bar, but it works out. Pretty low key, so we can hang out and have a few drinks,” Ty added.
“That sounds like a lot of fun, and I wish I could, but we have two events on Saturday, and there’s no way I can miss it. Maybe next time?”
“Ah, that’s right, you’re a business owner . . . Do you get any days off?” Rob asked.
“We’re off Mondays.”
“Next Monday is a Teacher Work Day. We could change our plans to Sunday night, would that work?” Ty asked, and I thought it was really sweet that they wanted me there on their guys night.
“Um,” I mentally flipped through our calendar. “Yes, actually, Sunday’s event is a brunch, so should be done and cleaned up by four.”
“Let’s do that then,” Ty said, then paused, grinned and asked, “Didn’t Jackson say you have sisters?”
“Ty,” Jackson said, trying to sound chastising, but ruining it when he laughed at his friend.
“What? I’m just sayin’, they deserve a night out, right? Why not all meet up and have dinner and drinks.”
“I’ll see if Jan wants to come,” Rob added, then frowned and said, “Of course then I can’t have beer or corned beef. Maybe I won’t invite Jan.”
“I’ll talk to my sisters, see if they want to go,” I said with a laugh.
“Perfect,” Jackson said, and I turned to him and smiled, happy at the prospect of another night out with him, even if it was in a group.
Just then, the bell rang, and Jackson muttered, “Shoot, you didn’t even get a bite of your sandwich.”
“It’s okay,” I promised as I rose to my feet. “I had fun.”
Jackson leaned down and I rose up, eager to meet his lips, but before we touched, a stern voice said, “Mr. Heeler,” and we both jumped back.
We turned our heads slowly to see a short man wearing a button up, tie, and scowl.
“Who’s that?” I whispered.
“Principal,” Jackson replied, then said, “Go, I’ll deal with him.”
I gathered my things and hurried out.
As I was leaving, I heard Rob say, “That cake better still be here after school,” the principal ask, “Who was that? You weren’t having a date during school hours, were you, Mr. Heeler?” and Ty urge, “Give the guy a break, Wiggins, he’s finally happy.” Then I got out of there as fast as I could.
Jackson
IT HAD BEEN A FEW days since I’d gotten chewed out by Wiggins for having a date in the teacher’s lounge, the thought of which still made me smile. I’d pointed out to the principal that there was no actual written rule about such a thing, to which he’d huffed that it was implied, and asked if I’d ever seen anyone else have guests over for lunch.
Although I had seen Jan on occasion when Rob had forgotten his lunch, I’d known I was toeing the line by inviting Millie. The thing was, I couldn’t find it in me to care. I hadn’t seen her since, and that was four days ago, so I was happy that I’d gotten to see her, even if it was only for
a few minutes.
We’d been mostly keeping in touch by texting each other throughout the day. We’d talked a few times, but we were on different schedules, and she was usually still working when I got off. I’d always heard owning your own business was tough, but the amount of hours Millie and her sisters put in was staggering.
Luckily, they were talking about hiring more full-time work. I didn’t know how they’d been functioning for over a year and was happy they were in a place where they could bring on more help and give themselves a bit of a break.
I shook my head and looked back down at the papers I was grading. This had been happening a lot lately, me daydreaming about Millie when I was supposed to be doing something else. There was no denying, the woman was getting under my skin.
The thought had me smiling as I focused on the paper in front of me.
The students had grumbled when they’d walked into class and found a pop quiz of sorts waiting on their desks. But, it was less of a quiz than a chance for them to give me their opinions on what we’d been reading and discussing in class. It helped me determine how much they’d comprehended the material, while giving me insight into their thoughts and feelings on the subject.
I did this with each book we read, and it was one of my favorite parts of the class, seeing how one work could be interpreted in so many different ways.
“Daddy?”
I looked across the table to where Kayla was doing her homework.
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“Do I have to go stay with Mama and Papa again this weekend?” she asked, avoiding my eyes as she played with her pencil.
I set the red pen I was holding down on the paper and adjusted my glasses as I looked at my daughter with concern.
“You love staying with them. Did something happen? Is there a reason why you don’t want to go over there?”
Kayla shrugged one shoulder and still didn’t look at me.