Page 93 of I Think He Knows?

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Eliza’s birthday can’t come soon enough. Mason has been blowing up my phone nonstop.

“Mason, it’s seven in the morning,” I answer.

“So? I know you’ve been awake for hours.”

This is true.

“What’s up?”

“I took the day off work,” he says. “I’m picking up the you-know-what from the jeweler. I ordered the flowers, and I’ll set them up while you’re at brunch with Eliza. Is there anything I’m forgetting?”

“Mason, you’ve got this.”

“Next time I see you, I might be engaged,” he says.

“You will be engaged,” I correct him.

“I know,” he says. “I’m trying to stay humble despite getting engaged to a woman who’s way out of my league. I’m not sure how I got so lucky.”

I pull into the parking lot of the school, and suddenly I see Cam and Lilly talking near his car.

“What the hell?” I blurt out.

“What’s wrong?” Mason asks.

“Sorry. I, um, just got to work.”

I park on the other side of the lot, but I can still see them. It looks like they’re having an intense conversation.

“I’ll let you go,” he says. “But you’ll probably hear from me a few more times before tomorrow.”

“That’s fine,” I say, even though I’m only half listening.

I watch as Lilly hurries towards the entrance with Cam following. He reaches out and stops her. Then she folds her arms and drops her head. Is it weird I’m watching this all transpire? What am I supposed to do? Close my eyes and pretend I didn’t see anything, interrupt them, leave and go home? None of these are reasonable options. And then it happens, Cam puts his arm around Lilly’s shoulder. She leans on him as they walk into the school.

I don’t move for what feels like several minutes, and then I finally get out of my car. My priority is my students, and I’m going to be completely present for them. If I keep my focus on those seventeen children, I’ll be able to deal with Cam and Lilly and their past or whatever it is. It’s clear I need too.

My desperate need for coffee is the only reason I go to the staff lounge, and it’s just my luck that Ms. Wilcox is there. Crap. I should’ve stopped at Starbucks on my way to work.

“Morning, Britney,” I say politely.

“Hi, Serena,” she says. “How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

She doesn’t say anything for a few seconds.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” She stops and clears her throat. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior over the past few months. I felt rejected and upset, and I didn’t know how to handle it.”

I hold up my hand. “You don’t need to apologize. I’m sorry for the way everything happened.”

“It’s a whole different situation now that other people are here,” she says, lowering her voice.

Obviously, she’s referring to Lilly, but I’m still not going to discuss this with her.

“Yeah, I guess so,” I say. “Anyway, I hope we’re good.”

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