Page 4 of Beneficial Misfortune

Grabbing my purse, I shut off the lights, and Addison and I make our way back out into the hall where Trevor still stands talking to Oliver.

Poor guy. Though he doesn’t seem as put off by Trevor, maybe minorly annoyed that he’s talking his ear off. I guess he might not be so bad if he’s not trying to get in your pants, must be nice.

“Excuse me,” I say, clearing my throat in an attempt to politely interrupt.

Oliver seems happy to turn his attention back to me, and, of course, Trevor has no issue with it.

“Thanks for waiting,” I say with a smile, and he nods. “You're all set, though I know Addison and you both mentioned her brother was supposed to pick her up today. Just so you're aware, only yourself and a Rose are listed as approved for pickups,” I tell him, hoping to save them some trouble should he try to pick her up tomorrow.

Oliver sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose and muttering something about him being a dumbass.

“Oh! You said a bad word, Oli!” Addison shouts, sounding all too happy about it, and I look down at her in question.

“Yes, yes. I’ll add my money to the ice cream jar when we get home,” he says with a laugh, and the tension from a moment ago melts away.

“Thank you, Miss…” he says, and I realize I haven’t even introduced myself.

Wow, way to make a great impression, Kat.

“Katherine, but the kids call me Kat,” I tell him, and he nods.

“I’ll let my uncle know that needs to be sorted out.”

Turning to Addison, he reaches out a hand to her, and while she seems somewhat reluctant to go, she does, nonetheless. With one more quick hug, she releases me before taking his offered hand with a smile.

She might have been hoping for her brother today, but there's no denying she’s fond of Oliver as well, based on the smile on her face.

“Hey, Kat, I was just headed out,” Trevor says, taking a step closer to me. Without thinking, I take a step back. He, of course, doesn’t notice or doesn’t care, but Oliver does.

He’d been ready to leave a second ago, but now he stops, leaning down to whisper something in Addison’s ear that has her face lighting up a second before she’s running back to me.

“Ms Kat, will you walk with me!” she shouts, excitedly bouncing in place, her eyes begging me to say yes.

How can I resist, especially when my other option is Trevor?

I agree, and she squeals, grabbing my hand and all but dragging me back to Oliver with her.

“Sorry, Trevor. Next time,” I call back to him as she pulls me along, not bothering to even look back at him.

I can feel his eyes follow me down the hall all the way to the end before we turn the corner, and I finally let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“Thank you,” I say, turning to Oliver as we walk on either side of Addison, who has one of our hands in each of her small ones.

“No problem, I could see you were uncomfortable,” he says without looking my way, but that’s fine. I get the feeling he’s not much of a people person.

We walk in silence through the rest of the school as Addison hums some happy tune, oblivious to the fact that she was just used to rescue me.

If she wasn’t my favorite before, she definitely is now.

The sun is hot, shining down at full force in the blazing heat the second we walk out the door. It’s a drastic change from the almost chilly school, but I welcome it. I love the sun and the way it warms everything it touches, even if it’s a little too hot sometimes. I’ll take the heat over the cold any day.

“You know, if he’s giving you a problem, you can always report him to the principal,” Oliver says, still not looking my way, instead looking out at the afternoon traffic as if it’s the most interesting thing he’s ever seen.

“He’s annoying, but so far, it’s nothing I can’t handle. I just didn’t have the patience for him today, is all,” I tell him, and now he does turn to look at me.

His eyes roam my face as if searching for something. After a minute, he shakes his head and turns away, squeezing Addy’s hand.

“Come on, let’s get home,” he says, and with one last hug, she follows her cousin into the limo that’s waiting on them.

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