“Leave the past in the past? Do you hear what you just told me, Mitch? Here you are worried about what Corina will think about the women of Oak Springs and the next second you’re preaching to me about forgetting something from a while back. Pot, meet kettle.”
Fuck, why did he have to turn this shit around on me? “You know what I mean, dude. Just don’t say anything to Mary. She’ll never let me eat over here again.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going to bring it up. Hell, I slept with plenty of girls before I settled with Mary. Just knowing she was with a Parker brother makes me feel sick. Y’all have golden dicks.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Golden dicks?”
He shrugged. “I heard a girl say it once after Cord got it on with her at the bar. She was bragging to her friends.”
I lost it laughing, holding my side. Robert joined in. When I was able to speak, I said, “I’m making a T-shirt for Cord that says that!”
He rolled his eyes and wiped his face. “Dude, you all need one. I’m serious.”
“What’s so funny?” Mary asked, walking into the barn.
Robert stood quickly. “Hey, why didn’t you call? You don’t have to be driving down here on that bumpy road.”
When she smiled at him, I could feel the love between them. They were soon lost in a kiss, and I found myself looking away, an ache in my chest I was trying to ignore.
When they were finished, she said, “I tried to call. Your phone must be turned down or something.”
Robert pulled out his phone and glanced at the missed call. “Damn. I’m sorry, baby. Mitch, you hungry?”
“For biscuits and gravy? Hell, yeah.”
“Sausage gravy. I had a hankering,” Mary said, wiggling her brows.
I walked behind the two of them. “Beggars can’t be choosers.”
Watching Robert and Mary walk hand in hand to the truck, my heart continued to ache in that strange, building way. Maybe it was time I admitted to myself what I really wanted.
Paxton placed Gage in my arms as I sat in the oversized chair.
“Isn’t he pretty, Corina?” Chloe asked, staring down at her baby brother.
“He is. Just like you, Chloe. How do you like being a big sister?”
She stood a little taller. “Oh, I love it! I’m a great big sister too. Mommy says she couldn’t do it without me.”
Paxton sat down on the sofa, a wide smile across her face. I was so happy for my best friend. She’d found her happily ever after.
“I bet she couldn’t,” I said. “Daddy helps too, right?”
Chloe nodded. “Yes, but he gags when Gage goes number two. He said he did with me too!” She covered her mouth and giggled. “It’s stinky!”
Laughing, I glanced over to find Steed and Paxton lost in each other’s eyes. The emptiness in my chest grew a little more as I looked back at Gage.
“Have you heard from Amelia again?” I asked as I ran my fingertip over Gage’s cheek. He was sound asleep and the most precious thing I’d ever seen.
Paxton sighed, “No! Have you?”
I shook my head, “Nope. She only sent me the one text that said she had something big to tell us when she got home from New Orleans.”
“Yeah, she sent that to Waylynn and me as well.”
“Let’s hope she didn’t do something crazy and get married,” Steed said with a light-hearted chuckle. My eyes lifted to meet Paxton’s. Neither of us had to say a word. We both knew that was exactly what had happened.
Paxton smiled bigger. “You never know with Meli.”
Steed tossed his head back to laugh, but stopped abruptly. “You don’t think they did, do you?”
Paxton shrugged. Steed looked at me. I laughed and added, “I'm not saying anything.”
“Do you think Wade and Aunt Meli will bring back a surprise for me and Gage?”
Steed gazed down at his daughter. “I bet so, pumpkin.”
Chloe jumped up, her face lighting up like she’d remembered something important. “Corina! I drew you a picture. It’s in my room. I’ll go get it!”
I giggled and nodded. “I can’t wait to see it!”
Watching Chloe run off, I turned back to Steed. He stood and paced the floor. “They got married. I have this weird feeling they did. Pax, do you think Amelia would do that?”
She nodded.
“Mom and Dad will freak out!” Steed said.
Paxton stood and took Steed’s hands. “Steed, calm down. Your folks are not going to care if they really did get married, which I really think they did. All they want is for y’all to be happy.”
“Besides, if they did get married, we could always throw a reception,” I added. “So much more fun, and less stress!”
Steed nodded. “You’re right. This would totally be something I could see both of them doing.”
Paxton sat down, pulling Steed with her. “Especially with everything that has happened with Wade. Knowing his history, I have a feeling he likes to live in the moment and not waste a second of it.”
“That’s true,” Steed said, “but if they did get married, we have a problem bigger than my parents.”
“What’s that?” Paxton asked.
“Chloe,” Steed and I both said at once.
Paxton’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, shit.”
“Hell! Shit! Fuck!” Chloe shouted as she came running back in.
“Chloe Lynn Parker, what did I tell you about saying bad words?” Steed cried out.
Stopping in front of me, Chloe covered her mouth and giggled. “Sorry, Daddy!”
She leaned in and whispered in a rather loud voice, “I need to be careful or Santa won’t bring my horse.”
“Your horse?” I asked.
Chloe nodded. “Aunt Meli said if I was good Santa would bring me a horse!”
Steed buried his face in his hands. “I’m going to kill her.”
Feeling my phone buzz on the desk, I glanced down to find a text from Amelia.
Amelia: Wade and I should be home around seven. Can you come over to my parents’ place for dinner? I want everyone there for our big announcement.
My heartbeat quickened at the thought of seeing Mitchell. No matter how hard I tried to forget him and move on, I couldn’t. I was going to have to soon. It was clear he wanted nothing more than the night we’d shared together. But was it clear? The way he looked at me sometimes…as if he longed to pull me into his arms. It was confusing, and one of the reasons I couldn’t let myself move on.
Me: Of course! I’ll see you then.
Staring at my phone, I took a deep breath and thought about asking Philip if he’d like to join me. We were only friends, two-of-towners who bonded while working together at the school, but I wouldn’t mind a repeat of Mitchell’s reaction when he saw Philip with me at the shower.
I dropped my phone. “For the love of Pete. Don’t play games, Corina.”
“Do you always talk to yourself?”
My head lifted. A handsome guy stood in the doorway of my classroom.
When I opened my mouth, nothing came out. I slowly stood. “Excuse me?” I finally managed to say.
“Oh, good. You’ve found Corina’s room,” our new principal, Lance Moreland, said as he walked into my room.
“Mr. Moreland, how are you this morning?” I asked, rounding my desk. School was starting in a few weeks and I was one of the first teachers to head back and prepare. What else did I have to do? It wasn’t like I had a distracting love life.
“I’m fine, thank you. Ms. Miller, I’d like for you to meet Lane Lewis. Mr. Lewis, this is Corina Miller. You’ll be taking her place in the first-grade classroom.”
“Wait, what?” I asked, my smile dropping from my face.
“Ms. Miller, Mr. Lewis will be teaching first grade this year.”
My heart sank. “I teach first grade!” When I swung over to Lane, he seemed just as surprised as I was, but he forced a smile. Ugh. If he wasn’t so gosh darn cute I’d be even madder.
>
“Well, we’ve had to make a few changes,” Lance said.
“Mr. Moreland, I was under the impression you didn’t have a first grade teacher,” Lane said, clearly feeling awkward.
“You’re firing me?” I cried out.
Mr. Moreland wore a shocked look. “What? No! You’re moving to kindergarten.”
“W-what?”
“Oh, no,” Lane said as he looked at me with eyes that said he knew exactly how I was feeling. “Been there. Done that.”
Yep. He knew.
“Kinder? You want me to take Paxton’s place? But…they’ll tear me to pieces!”
Mr. Moreland chuckled. “Don’t be silly. You teach first grade. Kinder is just one below.”
I shook my head. “No, first graders are broken in! They know the ropes. Kinders are…new and they’re scared, and the parents are insane.”
“Ms. Miller! We do not call the parents insane.”
Lane leaned in. “Kinder parents are harder to deal with.”
My head was spinning. I needed a drink. A hard drink.
Lane took me by the arm. “Maybe you should take a seat, Corina.”
I nodded. “Yes. Sitting would be good.”
Taking a few deep breaths, I pulled myself together and looked at my boss. “And if I refuse to teach kindergarten?”
Mr. Moreland seemed surprised. “Well, if you refuse, I guess we’ll have to see if another teacher will do it. I’ve gotten such amazing feedback from the parents who are on the PTA, though. Your name was the first and foremost to replace Paxton.”
I forced a smile. It was nice to know the parents thought so highly of me.
Lane cleared his throat. “First grade is right next door. Correct, Mr. Moreland?” The principal nodded. “I’ve taught kinder before. I’m sure Ms. Miller and I will work together during the transition, especially since I’m coming from teaching almost six years of tenth-grade biology.”
My eyes widened in horror, and my jaw fell open. “When did you teach kindergarten?”
With a wide grin, he said, “My first year of teaching.”
Laughing, I stood. “Oh, my gawd! They are going to tear you to pieces. You have no idea what you’re walking into.”
Now it was Lane Lewis who blinked like the room was spinning.
Mr. Moreland clapped his hands, causing both Lane and me to jump. “I see you two are going to be great working partners. Lane, I’m glad you decided to head on back into town. Tell your folks I said hi.”
And like that, our new boss—and the man who just set us both up for failure—quickly walked out of the room.
“I need a drink,” Lane whispered.
“That makes two of us.”
“Mom, will you please stop pacing?” I asked.
My mother stopped and turned to Tripp. “Where is she? She said she was almost home and what’s this big announcement?”
The doorbell rang, and my mother flew through the living room to the front hall.
“It’s not Amelia!” my mother shouted.
Laughing, Tripp made his way to the bar in the back corner of the family room and poured a drink. “Anyone else need one? I have a feeling Meli is about to drop a bomb on us all.”
With a long groan, my father dragged his hands down his face. “Please, Lord. Don’t be a baby.”
“Why not, Daddy? What’s wrong if Amelia is pregnant?” Waylynn asked as we all directed our gazes to my father.
Looking at each of us, he smiled. “Nothing would be wrong if she was pregnant, but I’d rather she and Wade get married first.”
“Look who’s here!” my mother said in an overly cheerful voice.
When I glanced at the entrance of the family room, my breath caught. Corina was so damn beautiful. Her smile made my chest constrict, and yet feel light at the same time. How the fuck could that happen?
“Hey!” Paxton said, walking over to her best friend. “She texted you, too?”
Corina nodded, trying with all her might to ignore me as she glanced around and said hello. When her eyes finally met mine, she held her smile in place, but it looked a little painful. “Hey, Mitch.”
With a quick nod, I said, “How’s it going, Corina?”
She shrugged. “It’s going.”
Chloe rushed over and dropped on the floor. “I can’t wait until you're my teacher!”
Corina’s smile faded. Big time. “Chloe, I was so looking forward to that, but I’ve got some bad news.”
My heart seized. My breathing was at a standstill. Was she moving back to Chicago?
“What’s the bad news?” Chloe asked while I leaned forward.
“They moved me down to kindergarten.”
“What?” Paxton and Chloe said at once.
“Why in the world did they do that?” Paxton asked.
“The new principal thinks I’m a good fit for the position. Well, definitely a better fit than the new teacher they hired for first grade.” Corina looked down at Chloe and smiled. “You’ll like him, Chloe.”
“He? My new teacher is a he?”
Corina nodded. “Yep. His name is Mr. Lewis.”
Paxton shook her head. “Where is he from?”
Chloe had her face buried in her hands bemoaning that a man teacher wouldn’t be able to draw.
“I’m sure he draw perfectly fine, Chloe. You’ll see.”
Chloe looked up and nodded, not really sure if what Corina had said was true.
“He’s from Oak Springs, but he’s been teaching in Austin for the last few years. He wanted to move back here, but he has to teach elementary until they open a position for a high school biology teacher.”
Waylynn jumped into the conversation. “Hold up. You said his last name was Lewis? Lane Lewis?”
Corina gave her a wide grin. “Yes! Do you know him?”
Paxton and Waylynn started laughing before Waylynn said, “Yes, Corina! I went to school with him. He was a year younger than me. Please, tell me he is just as gorgeous as he was in high school.”
“Oh, he is!” Corina added, peeking at me before turning back to Waylynn.
Waylyn shook her head. “Man, oh man. Lane Lewis is back in town. This ought to be interesting. Remember he had a thing for Harley, Tripp? He actually asked her to prom y’all’s junior year ’cause he thought you had broken up with her.”
Tripp huffed. “Yeah, that fu…ahh…jerk.”
“Good save,” Steed said with a chuckle.
Corina smiled at Chloe. “I think you’re going to like your new teacher. I’ll be right next door, so I’ll still get to see you.”
Chloe stood up. “Aunt Corina, I have something important to ask you!”
I pulled back, turning to Cord. “When did Chloe start calling Corina her aunt?”
He shrugged. “Beats me. It’s cute, though.”
“Ask away!” Corina said as she pulled Chloe onto her lap.
“This is important.”
Trying to hide her smile and look serious, Corina replied, “I’m ready.”
I couldn’t help but think what an amazing mother Corina would be.
Chloe used her hands to ask her important question. “Is my new teacher cute like Wade?”
“What?” Steed cried out as Paxton covered her mouth, trying to muffle her laughter as Gage slept in her arms.
“Chloe, that is not an important question!” Steed said. His face was as white as a damn ghost. It was near impossible for the rest of us not to start laughing.
“Actually, Steed, this might help with the present situation you’re fixin’ to face, if you get my drift,” Waylynn said.
Steed sat back and raked his hand down his face. “Christ Almighty, I need strength.”
Corina cleared her throat and looked at Chloe. “Well, I’d have to say yes! He is very much as cute as Wade. Maybe even more handsome.”
Corina and Paxton looked at each other. When Corina wiggled her eyebrows, I rolled my eyes and took a drink of my iced tea. Lane Lewis was a dic
k, and I couldn’t stand the motherfucker. Now he was going to be teaching my niece and playing teacher with Corina.
This fucking sucks.
“Yay! I can’t wait to meet him!” Chloe clapped her hands. How Gage slept through Chloe’s outburst was beyond me.
Cord bumped my arm. “You remember Lane. Don’t you, Mitchell?”
Glancing over, I shot him a dirty look. “Yes, I remember him. Why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Just wondering how you feel about the woman you secretly pine over getting cozy with a guy who, back in high school, stole your clothes when you were in the shower and ran them up the flagpole.”
Keeping my voice low, I replied in a hushed voice, “She isn’t getting cozy with him. They work together.”
“I give him less than a week before he asks her out.”
Looking at the rest of them, I realized we’d missed some of the conversation.
“We actually had a couple of drinks before I headed over here,” Corina said. “Tried to nail our game plan for the school year.”
They’d had drinks already?
“I’d started my lesson plans, so I told him I would let him look over them. You don’t happen to have a copy of your lesson plans from last year, do you?” Corina asked Paxton.
“Yep, I sure do. They’re in the file cabinet. I left it all there for the next teacher.”
Corina and Paxton got lost in shop talk, lesson plans and where the crayons were stored.
With a chuckle, Cord shook his head. “Well, hell. The bastard moves fast. I’ll give him that much.”
I tried to tune in to what Corina and Paxton were talking about. Not two seconds later, my mother yelled as Amelia and Wade walked in.
“We’re home!” Amelia said with a huge smile.
“Oh, hell yeah. She’s married,” Cord whispered as we all stood. “Look at the blush on her cheeks. It’s killing her not to shoot it out.”
I let out a chuckle and nodded.
Pulling Amelia in for a hug, my mother said, “Welcome home! How was the trip?”