Page 1 of Substitute for Love

Chapter 1: Avery

Monday August 25, 7:35 AM

Avery Williams questioned her sanity. Why had she agreed to be a substitute teacher again? She shook her head.

Driving on the desert roads of west Phoenix, she passed lines of stucco homes and desert trees. “Mr. Cactus, what am I even doing here?” she asked the big saguaro staring at her as she stopped at an intersection.

That cactus doesn’t even know.

She clearly wasn’t cut out for the job. Probably. Couldn’t even find the actual school building on her first try. Avery sighed and pulled into the second school parking lot of the morning and chided herself.

“Desert Scorpion High School is not the same thing as Desert Thunder High School.Duh, Avery.”

She cringed and gripped the steering wheel harder. Even though she had broken up with her ex and moved away, his daily phrase to her played on loop.

If Marshall were sitting right next to her right now, he’d be saying: “How could you get up in front of a classroom full of students if you can’t even find them? You should probably go home.”

She cleared her throat and held back a tear at the thought. Avery passed the first row of parking spots, all of them full, then stopped. Closing her eyes, she willed her thoughts of Marshall to disappear. They’d broken up. She was moving on.Think happy thoughts, Avery. You got this.Leaving him was the best decision she had ever made.

Avery opened her eyes and continued around the corner, down the next row of parking spaces, also full of cars. To be fair, she hadn’t lived in the Phoenix valley since she’d left for college ten years ago. Back in the day, this area was cotton fields. The neighborhood surrounding her, and the school, were brand new.

When she was eighteen, this town had been different. She had been different. Wide-eyed. Dreaming of becoming a famous author or at least having a job where she could read all day.

Her phone rang. Claire, her best friend from high school. They weren’t as close since Avery left for college, but she had hoped to reconnect now that she was back in Phoenix. Avery put her on speaker while she navigated the third row of parking spaces, hoping an open spot would magically appear. Music blared in the background of the call.

“Avery. Where are you?”

Back in the day, they had told each other everything. Claire always wanted her to come visit, but Avery was so busy with college, working, her love-interest who eventually became her boyfriend. And when she visited home she’d spend all her time helping Mom.

So yeah, Avery hadn’t told her about her subbing venture yet. She was going to, eventually. But Avery was hoping to get through the first day alive before she spilled the beans. Honestly, she had hoped this gig didn’t last long enough to even warrant mentioning it to anyone.

She sighed into the phone. “Where am I, Claire? Do you mean physically or emotionally?” Avery smiled for a moment. Yes, physically she was here, somehow. Emotionally, she was all over the place. She tried to give herself some grace. Avery certainly would do the same for Claire. She grabbed her water bottle to take a sip.

Claire chuckled. “Both. Me? So glad you asked. I’m at the stinkin’ gym, wondering where Avery girl’s at. You’re finally back in town, and you’re supposed to be spotting me so I don’t have to ask the creepy gym guy with short shorts and floofy hair. He looks like Richard Simmons.”

Avery spit out her water, droplets spraying on the steering wheel and the front of her shirt. “Oh my gosh, you have to take a picture. I mean,ifit’s okay with the owner.”

“I’ll ask.” Claire paused, then pretended to speak to herself. “Yeah, it’s fine.” Claire being the owner of her own gym stung Avery a little, seeing how different their lives had turned out. She was happy for Claire. Cute, petite, blond, boy-crazy Claire. Opposite of Avery in so many ways. Avery never imagined leaving home to go to college would get her nowhere.

Navigating the parking lot, Avery wasn’t sure where to head next. Head home? No way. She could never abandon the school like that. Or worry Mom again.

Avery circled her trusty old Toyota, groaning as she gripped the steering wheel. The clock was ticking, and there were no more spots in the staff parking area. No more spots period. She exited the parking lot and found a side street by the neighborhood of stucco homes.

“But really, where are you?” Claire insisted.

Avery pulled into a spot in front of a house as close to the school as possible and shut off her car. “I’m at one of the newer high schools. Desert Scorpion.”

“Doing what?” Claire asked. “Looking for love? I heard janitors are super muscular.”

“Har, har. You know I’ve sworn off men since, well, you know. Breaking up with what’s-his-name.”

“Yeah I know,” Claire said dutifully. “I still don’t know what happened between you. We were supposed to be sisters-in-law. But it’s okay.”

Avery cleared her throat, pushing the thoughts of Marshall away. Even the mere thought of her ex made her ill. But she was moving on—physically, mentally, emotionally, and now professionally.

“Anyway,” Avery continued, “I decided to give substitute teaching a try. So here I am, ready to fill in for high school language and literature. At least it’s not math.” She grabbed her phone, purse, and water bottle and hoofed it toward the school. Thankfully the bit of water on her shirt was already drying.

Silence on the other end of the phone. “Claire? Are you still there?”

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