I narrow my eyes as I stare him down, wishing I could stand here and listen in on the meeting with the other parents, but I know they won’t let me. All I can do is check in with Holly later and see if any action has been taken. If nothing has been done, they can expect me to show back up again.
“Fix this before it keeps spiraling out of control. I don’t want to get a call like this again,” I state, my glare sweeping over the boys. When they’ve turned pale, I step out into the hallway to see Oliver clinging to Alyssa’s waist. “Hey, buddy. I’m sorry.”
Alyssa rests her hand on top of Oliver’s head. “He’s being really brave.”
Oliver looks up at her and actually smiles a little.
Warmth simmers deep in my chest as I watch the brief exchange. It’s nice seeing him smile again. “Let’s get out of here. How about we grab some hot cocoa before I take you home, Ollie?”
Oliver nods as his smile brightens. He detaches from Alyssa’s side and leads us down the hallway, eager to leave. I can’t blame him.
Alyssa and I walk side by side, sharing a quick look with each other. There are questions in her eyes, and I do feel compelled to answer them since I dragged her here without any sort of explanation. Plus, she comforted Oliver while I was handling business.
She deserves to know why I completely skipped out of a meeting to come here.
Once I help Oliver into the backseat and get him buckled up securely, I shut the door and motion for Alyssa to step off to the side with me so that Oliver can’t hear us. “I’m sure all of this caught you off guard. Thank you for staying with him while I was talking to the principal.”
“You mean chewing him out?” Amusement glints in her eyes for a second before her face turns serious. “You were right to light a fire under him. They can’t just slap bullies on the wrist and expect them to behave.”
Thank you.
“He’s been bullied by this group since the start of the school year. Not many kids his age are already wearing glasses, so they tease him about it,” I explain, keeping my voice low.
Alyssa nods and chews on her bottom lip for a moment before speaking again. “Is he your…son?”
I crack a small grin and shake his head. “My nephew. My sister Holly’s kid. I mean, he’s pretty much like a son, though.”
Alyssa smiles in understanding. “Well, I’m glad he has you in his corner. I bet you scared those little punks to death.”
A smirk crosses my face. “I hope so. Trust me, they don’t want me to come back. I don’t mess around when it comes to family.”
Alyssa’s face softens a little. “Me either.”
We share a small smile with one another, and the stony walls I built around me start to crack. I’m glad she was here with me, even if this is a very personal situation. There’s no judgment in her eyes.
Only understanding.
Just how alike are we beneath the masks that we wear?
Chapter nine
Alyssa
Jensen Riley has a heart.
I never thought I would say those words.
I press my teeth into my bottom lip to stop the smile that keeps trying to fight its way onto my face. Before the school incident, I thought he was just another rich narcissist, but that’s obviously not the case.
The way he acted with his nephew…it honestly made me feel a little warm and fuzzy inside. There’s just something about seeing tough guys with kids and how it totally changes their whole demeanor.
He wasn’t the hard ass boss giving demands.
He was the uncle asking his nephew what he wanted for Christmas. The uncle carrying his nephew on his shoulders just to make him laugh instead of cry.
That’s a side of Jensen that I never thought existed.
Now, I haven’t forgotten the grumpy side of him that gets on my nerves, but that day showed me that there is more to him than he lets on.