Page 83 of Just This Once

A terrible sinking feeling threatened to drown me. “I thought I was doing the right thing...”

Principal Cartwright softened. “I understand that, and I do believe it’s our right to protect all children. However, you do also need all the facts first.”

“Is Robbie okay?” I couldn’t believe what I had done.

“I’m sorry, but there isn’t any more information I can provide. The investigation is ongoing.”

Defeated, my shoulders slumped. “I understand. Thank you, sir.”

“Best of luck in your future, Miss Ward.”

I didn’t even hear his lackluster goodbye as I hung up the phone. My tongue was dry and thick.

How could this have happened?

A job at the junior high was my opportunity to put down roots and finally stay planted. My vision blurred as I looked around the small bakery, feeling everything slip from my grasp.

We were so close to having it all.

There was nothing.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Bluebird Books, I had scoured every school website and job posting search engine foranythingthat was within reasonable driving distance to Outtatowner. Classroom teachers, content specialists, teacher tech support, curriculum development,anythingin education that my teaching certificate would qualify me for, and I still came up empty-handed.

Frustrated, I slammed my laptop closed.I thought there was a teacher shortage, for fuck’s sake!

I hated admitting defeat, but there was no denying that I’d gambled and lost. Outtatowner was supposed to be my big do-over, and instead it was turning out to be yet another flop.

A hand at the center of my back drew my attention and had me sitting straighter. Rachel smiled down at me and set a fresh cup of coffee beside me before sliding onto the chair to my right. “No luck?”

I frowned down at the coffee and shook my head. “Not yet.”

She tucked her legs and sipped her frothy latte. “I can’t believe that spineless prick Cartwright didn’t stand up for you. A principal is supposed to have his teachers’ backs. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I smiled weakly, appreciating her support. “He had every right to hire someone else. And this CPS case is a total mess. Poor kid doesn’t even get to celebrate his tae kwon do victorybecause I couldn’t slow down for one minute—I just barreled ahead. Plus, I went against a direct order to leave Robbie and his need for shoes alone, and he totally called me out on it.”

“Butyoudidn’t do it,” she offered.

I shrugged. “No, instead the guy I was secretly sleeping with made an over-the-top big deal about it and proved to my principal I was more than willing to go around my boss to do whatever I wanted.”

“I think it’s romantic that Whip tried to help.” Her eyes went wistful, and she sipped her coffee.

Me too.

“Unfortunately romance doesn’t earn the trust of your supervisor. I think he just couldn’t look pasttwofuckups.” I sighed and let the coffee warm my hands. “Whip’s at work. He doesn’t know yet that I didn’t get the job.”

Her brow furrowed. “You didn’t want to tell him? He could help you mope.”

I offered a wry, half-hearted laugh. “Not yet.” I toyed with my lip. “I was hoping I could temper the news with an exciting job prospect but...” I gestured vaguely at my computer. “Nothing.”

She leaned into me. “Please don’t give up. This is only day one, and I can’t bear the thought of you moving away. There’s still plenty of time left before school starts up in the fall. Something will come up, I know it.”

“I hope so,” I answered, despite not quite believing with the same confidence she had.

“You want to grab a drink tonight? Brooklyn and I are going to a bar a few towns over to listen to an eighties cover band.”

I shook my head. “No thanks. I’m sticking around the bookstore for a while. I want to keep looking. The Bluebirds are also meeting tonight, and I want to thank them for all they did for me.”

Rachel’s face fell. “You make it sound like a goodbye.”

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