Page 20 of Unbreakable Love

“She was,” Faye said, pouting. “She was loads of fun, but then this moron had to go and knock her up and now she stays home all the time.”

Easton rolled his eyes. “She’s still fun. She’s just growing a whole new human inside of her and she’s tired.” He turned to me again. “Be careful with this one. That’s the only warning you get from me.”

He wadded up his napkin and tossed it into the basket several feet away and started gathering his lunch. “Now I’m going to leave you so you can talk about me behind my back.”

Faye chuckled. “Don’t worry, Easton. Anything I have to say to you, I’ll say it to your face. Give Sabrina my love, okay?”

He gave her a two-finger salute. “See you around. Take care, Penelope, and good luck this week.”

As soon as he was gone, I turned back to Faye. “I can’t tell if you guys get along or if he secretly hates you.”

“Please.” She huffed. “Everyone loves me.”

Of course they did. I couldn’t blame them. “And Sabrina?”

She shook her head. “All of that night was Sabrina’s idea. She’s a riot. They moved here from Colorado Springs for his teaching job, but she comes from an Air Force family. She says she had to spend her entire life being so perfect that she felt her first true blast of freedom as soon as they left the city. Easton loves her in a way I’ve never seen before, and she’s a blast. As soon as she feels better, I have no doubt she’ll be hanging out at Tom’s. She’ll probably be causing mayhem even when she’s nine months pregnant.”

Well, wasn’t that a sight to imagine.

“I can’t wait to see it.”

The intercom sounded and a loud beep blared in the room. “Miss Pesco?”

It was the principal.

“Yes?”

“We just got a phone call. There’s been a change of plans in pick-ups for your student Josephine Kelley. Her father will be getting her today instead of her riding the bus.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Reece. I’ll note it and make sure she knows.”

“Wonderful. Have a great afternoon.”

The room silenced, all except the flustered beating of my heart at the thought of Gavin coming to pick up Josie. Maybe seeing him.

“I know that look and that sweet little blush on your cheeks,” Faye crooned, swirling her pointer finger in a circle at my face. “What’d you say about nothing happening between you two?”

“Shut up.” I chomped down at my sandwich while Faye laughed.

Lovely. Simply lovely.

As luck—or a world’s sick joke—would have it, the art teacher who was on pick-up duty in the car rider lane ended up getting hit with the flu late in the afternoon, so Mrs. Reece asked me to cover for it.

Which meant I was outside as all the cars pulled up, last names on a brightly colored piece of cardboard paper in their passenger window and students were ushered into the cars. I was given the task of calling out last names on a radio, so the students were alerted when their parents were close. It kept the line moving quickly and efficiently, but as the number of students waiting dwindled, Josie was still there, sticking close to me with her nose scrunched up.

“Why couldn’t I go to my grandma’s today?”

“I don’t know, sweetie. But I’m sure your dad will be here soon.”

“He always works late, and he comes and picks me up when he’s off work and we have dinner at my grandma and grandpa’s most of the time.”

“Maybe your dad got off work early today and wanted to see you.”

“Maybe.” Her bottom lip pushed out into a pout. “But I wanted to see Goldie today.”

Ahh… so that was why she was so unhappy. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time to see her and play with her soon.”

“Maybe, but sometimes life is such a bummer.”

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