Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
I kept scanning the room, but Merry and the boys weren’t there yet, which put me even more on edge.
Beep. Beep. My phone chirped with an incoming message. Thinking it was likely Merry, I pulled out my phone, but the message was from Principal Alana.
Nolan! Mrs. Crenshaw waited until TODAY to inform us she will not be returning to the school. The recovery from the hip surgery has been too difficult, and she was already vested for retirement. Anyway, I’m going to need a sub for the rest of the school year before we open the position permanently. I wanted to offer it to you first, but I know it’s New Year’s Eve. Call me tomorrow either way, and we can discuss.
Oh. I made a small, almost inaudible noise. Now this was news. I needed to tell someone, talk it over with Cara, something. But Stella snagged me before I could make it over to Cara’s table.
“Dance with me, Uncle Nolan.” She tried to drag me in the direction of the dancefloor, which was mainly populated by kids. However, Athena stopped both of us.
“How about a review of the food table?” Athena asked, camera rolling. Food was the last thing on my mind.
“I…promised Stella we’d dance,” I said weakly.
Athena didn’t look ready to take no for an answer, but a group of girls from seventh grade choir swept me up in a huge group hug.
“Mr. Bell!” I was greeted like a long-lost hero, and getting to hear all the kid gossip from the break was a good distraction for a few moments, at least until Kaitlyn and her equally sour-faced mother showed up.
“Mr. Bell, a word.”
“Yes?” I braced myself for the incoming list of complaints.
“Thank you from the bottom of our family’s hearts for such a wonderful job.” Kaitlyn’s mother had the stiffest smile in the world, even as she held out a small envelope. “The festival was magical.”
“No, thank you.” I pocketed the card for later, and buoyed by my reception from the kids and parents, I resumed my trek toward Cara. Stella had run off, and Athena was filming some friends, so it seemed like a good time to seek advice.
Of course that was when Merry and the boys showed up. Ryder wore a spiffy Versace shirt and shorts combo and needed to tell me the whole story of how a package from their mom had arrived with designer duds. Naturally, Merry looked like a storm cloud at the mention of his ex. Which meant sitting on the news of Principal Alana’s text message in favor of herding the boys toward the food table.
“Mr. Winters!”
However, I wasn’t even able to properly greet Merry before he was swamped by kids from school reporting in on how their families had liked the various presents they’d crafted in his classes. Simply seeing their excitement and proud faces made my own chest swell. Merry was a spectacular teacher, and the school was lucky to have him.
As was I. Was it even a question whether I’d consider Principal Alana’s offer? I might live in a city of millions, but guys like Merry didn’t come along every day, no matter how big the dating pool. Amid all the kid chatter, his gaze caught mine, and he offered a tired smile.
“Sorry,” he said as the kids and their parents finally gave him some breathing room. “You look great, by the way.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t sure if he’d be open to a quick kiss on the cheek here, so I settled for an awkward stare of longing instead. “I missed you the last two days.”
“Aww.” His face softened, and he lowered his voice. “I missed you too. The bed at my folks has never seemed bigger or emptier than after you left. And we found the most amazing new poke bowl food truck. I was sad you won’t get to try it.”
There it was, my perfect opening. I stepped a little closer. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Expression going pained, he held up a hand. “Please, no dramatic confessions tonight.”
“It’s not that dramatic.” My tone came out more wounded than I’d intended. The message was big news, however. I felt like Athena, desperate to see Merry’s reaction so I could decide for myself how I felt.
Merry patted my shoulder, already seeming more distant, whatever we’d had slipping away along with the current year. “Let’s enjoy tonight and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”
“Are you feeling okay?” What I truly wanted to ask was why he was pulling away so abruptly. It wasn’t like him at all to cut me off.
“I’ve got a headache.” He quirked his lips. “That package from Alyssa was drenched in perfume and scented crap. Sorry. You deserve better than my bad mood.”
“I deserve you.” I gave him a pointed look. “And you deserve to feel better. How about some hydration?” Seizing my chance, I grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the buffet. “And let’s get you some food.”