Page 21 of Beneficial Misfortune

I go to tell him no, but he cuts me off.

“I don’t want you to miss out on something that we usually do, ya know? And besides, how often do you get out? I feel like all you do is work and take care of the Lawson girl.”

I pull a face at the way he says it, unable to help myself.

The Lawson girl… she has a name, and I know he knows it. Everybody does. Not to mention, I don’t like his tone or the way he’s trying to make this sound like it’s for me, not him, when we both know it is.

We turn the corner, and I see someone standing near my door.

“Um, maybe. I’ll have to see what I have planned for the weekend and let you know,” I tell him, even though it’s a lie. I know I don’t have any plans, and from the sound of it, he knows it, too, but I can handle him later.

“Oh, seriously?” he says, sounding a bit thrown that I’m even considering the idea. Honestly, I am, too, but right now, I just don’t have the energy to deal with him.

“Well, how about I check in with you tomorrow? Can you let me know? I can always come to pick you up for the night, so you don’t have to take the subway or pay for an Uber.” He sounds hopeful, but that’s never going to happen.

Instead of saying that, I simply tell him we’ll see, as I finally make it to my door to see who was here so early.

Oliver?

“Another Lawson?” Trevor mumbles with a huff.

“I’ll message you later, yeah?”

Without giving me a chance to respond, he turns and heads back the way he just came, and I take a moment to breathe, letting my eyes fall closed as I recenter myself.

How is a grown man harder to deal with than twenty kindergarteners?

“Long day already?”

I’d completely forgotten that Oliver was there until he speaks and startles me.

“Ms. Kat!” Addison bellows before slamming into me and making me stagger back a step, and I hear Oliver chuckle. What is it about these Lawson men and their looks? They might be striking naturally, but when they smile.

Damn, it’s hot in here.

Turning my attention away from Oliver is harder than it should be, but I manage. I pry Addison’s grip from around my waist before dropping down to wrap my arms around her. Thankfully, the dress code is a little more relaxed for the summer program, and today, I wore capris to try to beat the heat. I doubt it will help much, but it gives me more room to move around.

“Good morning, Addy. You're here early today, aren’t you?” I ask, though the question isn’t really meant for her. I’m sure she doesn’t even realize what time it is.

Oliver is dressed down today as well, kind of. The last time I saw him, he was in a suit. Today, he's wearing dark dress pants, a gray sweater with a button-up and a tie that peeks out at the neckline. It’s by no means casual, but it’s much less dressed up than the suit.

I look to him for an answer regarding their early arrival, and he reaches up to rub at the back of his neck, looking down at his expensive shoes.

“Sorry, that’s my fault. Nathan had to go to work early today and asked if I could drop her off. I wasn’t aware that the school program started an hour later than regular hours.”

Oh man, something about the blush and glasses gives him a boyish quality that he didn’t have the first time we met. He seemed much more serious last time.

“It’s no problem,” I tell him, releasing Addison and pushing to my feet. “She’s welcome to spend the extra hour with me.”

I feel his eyes on my back as I walk to the classroom door and unlock it. Addison barrels in, running to put her things away and work on her art project we’ve been doing on days she stays late. We’re working on salt paintings, and much to her dismay, they needed time to dry before we could actually paint them.

“You’re sure?” Oliver asks, and I hear the skepticism in his tone. I get it. I’m sure most might not want to have students when they aren’t being paid for it or might need the time to get things ready for the day. But my lessons have been planned since before the program even started, and Addison is easy to handle. Even if I had work to do, she wouldn’t be a hindrance.

“Yeah, as long as it’s okay with Addison,” I say, turning to her.

She’s so focused on getting her watercolors ready she doesn’t even hear me, and I shake my head and laugh before going over to get her attention.

“Hey, Addy,” I wait for her to look up so I know she’s listening. “Would you like to hang out with me for the extra hour and paint, or do you want to stand out in the hall with Oliver?”

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