Page 42 of Bring me Back

Mrs. Carr:No.

I had to chuckle at Mrs. Carr’s theatrics. Her reply was one worded, but I read it in the way she would’ve said it; a low rumbled whisper while she braced herself with her cardigan. She wasn’t a fan of what she called “pitting kids against kids” but without Daniel’s ideas, we wouldn’t have been able to carry her vision.

Daniel:It is what it is.

Of course he was going to reply like that. Daniel never fell into Mrs. Carr’s drama.

Daniel:Everything’s ready with the costumes for the Carnival, Hallie?

I twisted my lips. Daniel was always trying to get words out of me. Biting my lip and stifling a laugh, I couldn’t resist. I searched on my emojis, selecting the one with the woman shrugging.

Sent.

I opened a smile, thinking I was very clever. That was until the phone started to ring in my hands. He was calling.

Callingme.

Eyes wide, I had no idea what to do. Answer? Yes, I should answer, but talking on the phone weirdly felt more intimate than texting. I steadied my shaky hands, refusing to let it ring out.

“Hello?” I hoped I didn’t sound out of breath.

“Shrug?” he asked, his rich voice in my ear, so perfect I shivered.

“People always struggle to show their personality in text.”

He laughed, big and rich. I relaxed a little and sat on my bed, trying to avoid the costumes.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Organizing the costumes.”

“I’m going to chaperone,” he told me.

“Where?”

“The camp.” I could hear the frustration in his voice.

“Of course you are.” I frowned. “Who else would be?”

He grunted. “Yeah, that was what Helen said. We need to bring a teacher to sleep with the boys and a teacher for the girls.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see it. I moved to get comfortable, my back to the headboard. “How long you’ll be away?”

“Four days.” He sighed. “Four days of camp, teenagers and theater.”

I chuckled. “Stop being dramatic. This is good.”

“Good?” he scoffed. “You should go then. Will I tell Helen you’re interested?”

“No!” I couldn’t stop from wincing. “I don’t exactly inspire authority, you know? Teenagers need discipline.”

“Maybe you do. You’re quite serious.”

“Can you see me scolding someone?”

He laughed. “No. But I couldn’t see myself being a teacher until I started.”

I closed my eyes, trying to imagine. The first time I saw Daniel, he was a teacher stalking the halls, lost in thought. Big, muscly and handsome. They never had to tell me he was the woodwork teacher. He was built for the role. His hands were big and powerful, his worn jeans fit him perfectly. He moved like a man, he smelled like a man and the women fell to his feet.

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