Page 46 of Endless Southern Love

My heart does a double tap and I’m already picking up my tools. “Is she okay?”

“Yes, I believe she’s fine. She’s in my office. Would you like to speak with her?”

“Yes.” What kind of question is that? Of course, I want to speak to my daughter. I hear Lemon say, “Your dad would like to talk to you.”

“Hi, Daddy.”

“Hey. How’s my girl?”

“My head hurts.”

“Ms. Walsh said there was an accident. Are you okay?”

“My head hurts. Will you come get me?”

“Of course, I will. Make sure you put some ice on the part that hurts. I’ll be there soon. I’m at Ms. Linda’s.”

“Okay.”

Lemon takes a deep breath. I don’t know if she realizes how close she is to her phone, but I can hear her breathing, and I like that I fluster her. It means she likes me.

“Hello.” Lemon is definitely breathless, and I’m torn between being excited I’ve caused this and anxious to get to my daughter. What a mixed bag of emotions. Still, I can’t miss an opportunity to flirt with her.

“You’re being too professional, Ms. Walsh.”

“It’s part of my job.”

“I’m going to head there and see how she’s doing.”

“She’ll be in my office.”

“Not the nurse’s office?”

“No, mine.” She hangs up before I can question why my daughter is in the principal’s office and not the nurse’s.

I climb the steps to Ms. Linda’s and knock on the door.

“Come in dear.”

“I’m heading over to the school,” I tell her. “Something happened and Goldie wants me to pick her up. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Oh no, was she in the fight?”

My blood boils instantly. Goldie has had trouble making friends and just the other day she told me how she had a new friend named Rosie. “What fight?”

“Two boys decided to duke it out in the cafeteria. Not sure who they belong to.”

“Not sure, but I’ll let you know.” I rush to my truck, start it up, and head toward the school without bothering to put my seatbelt on. If Sheriff Parker wants to give me a ticket, so be it. Hell, he can follow me to the school with lights and sirens for all I care. Although, that would royally piss Lemon off.

I park in my normal spot, kill the engine, and rush inside. I’m heaving pretty good when I get to the office. I don’t bother to say to Jean and head straight toward Lemon’s closed door.

“Stop,” Jean says. “Come here, Wade.”

“Ms. Walsh called?—”

She waves me over. “I know she called you but come here. You need to see this.”

I go behind the large desk and walk toward Jean’s desk. From there, I can see into Lemon’s office. It takes me a moment to really absorb what I’m seeing. When it finally hits me, my eyes water.

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