Page 23 of Wanting You

And was now the time to even ask that?

He decided it wasn’t.

Glancing around the classroom, he asked, “So, what are you doing here today? It looks like the room is ready. If you need the time to be with your mother, then you should be there.”

“That was my plan, but everyone told me I needed to be here today because I got too upset last night while we were sitting with her. I guess this was supposed to distract me.” Then she looked around. “I’m not sure it’s going to work.”

“Well, maybe not, but I know something that might.”

She looked at him warily, but didn’t say anything.

“I’d like it if you came and checked out my classroom. I just put some finishing touches on it right before you got here and I’d really like your input.”

“Tanner…”

“I know, I know…I was rude and secretive every time you tried to see what I was doing, but…” He paused and tried to figure out the best way to say this. “The thing is, I’m used to doing everything on my own. If I ever shared what I was thinking or doing, opponents would use it against me.”

“We’re not opponents,” she told him, her voice so soft it was practically a whisper. “We’re coworkers.”

“I know that here,” he said, pointing to his head. “But I’ve spent a lot of years as a competitive athlete. Some things are going to take time. It’s not personal.”

“It felt personal,” she murmured.

“I’m trying to make things right, Chloe. If you want to know the truth, I’m a little intimidated by you.”

And the crazy thing was, he wasn’t lying.

With a small snort, she got to her feet and moved to look out the window. “You know, I can handle your arrogance, Tanner. I don’t like it, but I can handle it. But don’t patronize me. It’s just insulting.”

Wow, clearly he’d made a huge first impression and it wasn’t the least bit favorable.

He stood and followed her. “I’m not, but I get why you don’t believe me.” Pausing for a moment until she looked at him, he continued. “Look at it from my point of view. I’m a brand new teacher and the only other teacher in my grade has been Teacher of the Year for the last two years! I mean…what chance to do I have of beating you out?”

Her eyes went wide. “Oh my God! You did not just say that!”

“Wait…say what? I’m not sure what I said that was so bad.”

“The only thing you’re worried about is being the best! You’re not really worried about it because you want to make an impression on your students, but just for your own self! That’s awful! How could you possibly want to be a teacher? It makes zero sense!”

Okay, he was clearly messing up—again—and he wasn’t sure how to make things right.

“Whether or not you choose to believe me, I’ve always wanted to teach. Why? Because I had some great teachers when I was growing up and I’ve always enjoyed learning new things. Other than skiing, my favorite hobby is reading. I read all the damn time! One of the rooms in the house I’m renting is a library! My parents couldn’t believe how many books I have.”

“Oh.”

“I remember how excited I used to get learning new subjects in school and the thought of being able to maybe help others feel that way? It freaking thrills me! I would have started teaching sooner, but I was still competing and I couldn’t do both.”

“So why’d you stop?”

“Competing?”

She nodded.

“Like I said, I was feeling a bit past my prime and I wanted to go out on top. I had never heard of Sweetbriar Ridge before getting the email from Principal Kincaid, but I’m psyched to be here because now I get to teach and I’m close enough to a resort so I can ski on the weekends. It’s the best of both worlds.”

For several moments, neither spoke, but he heard Chloe’s soft sigh.

“Look, I think we just need to accept that our personalities aren’t particularly compatible. I don’t look at my position here like it’s some sort of competition and I have a feeling that’s the only way you’re going to see it. Obviously we’re going to have to work together—not only because we’re both teachers, but because we’re both teaching the same grade. There are several units we’ll be working on together and I’m already dreading it because you’re going to bully me to get your way and not listen to the fact that we have a perfectly fine curriculum that works.”

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