Page 6 of Beneficial Misfortune

It’s not until I pull the card that I realize how frazzled he has me. I know what’s on this card. I just looked at it yesterday.

Crap.

Bringing the card with me, I head back out into the hall where Addison is telling Nathaniel about every aspect of her day with a smile. His eyes are no longer on me, instead watching her with a smirk that changes his whole face.

I let out a sigh of relief now that I’m free of his gaze, and just like that, his eyes snap back to me.

“Um, unfortunately, you aren’t listed on her card,” I tell him before I lose my nerve, holding the card up for him to see.

“But we can go—” Reaching out, he snatches the card from my hand and examines it. He reads over the approved list and medical information before flipping it back to the front, and I’m about this close to snatching it back.

I don’t want to think this guy is just some creep, but the information on that card is private, and I don’t want it to fall into anyone’s hands.

Before I can decide what to do, he holds the card back out to me, and I take it with a frown.

“I’m her father,” he says, nodding down at the card.

Oh shit, no way.

I look down at the card in my hand, and right there at the top, his name sits on the line next to father’s information.

Fantastic.

“Oh, God. I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize,” I tell him, feeling stupid.

I hadn’t even thought to check the parent's side because I’d been expecting her brother.

He smiles at me, and anything else I might have been about to say is forgotten.

“It’s no problem. I’m glad to see you're concerned about keeping Addison safe,” he says, gazing down at her with a look that tells me how important she is to him.

“I must say it is unusual for someone to be unaware of who I am, though,” he tells me, and somehow doesn’t sound like a pretentious ass about it. It’s not as if he’s gloating, just simply stating a fact, and it only makes me feel sillier.

“Sorry, I’m new to the school. I haven’t had a chance to get to know all the parents yet, and usually Rose picks her up, with the exception of Oliver yesterday.”

His smile melts away at the mention of Rose, and I regret bringing her up.

Crap, hopefully, they aren’t in the midst of a messy divorce or something. That would explain why Addison isn’t fond of her, but I also don’t want to be the reason to upset him.

“Yes, that reminds me. I need to update that card,” he says, nodding to the card I still hold.

“Oh, you can do that in the main office. It’s just down the hall and to your left, about three doors down on the right.” I point as I talk, and he watches me as if soaking in the information.

I can’t say I blame him. This school is so big it took me about a week before I stopped getting lost.

“Thank you,” he says with a nod. “It was nice to meet you.”

They make it about three steps before Addison wiggles out of his arms and comes flying back toward me.

I have just enough time to crouch down before she’s flinging herself into my arms hard enough that I rock back, almost losing my balance.

“Have a great weekend, Addy,” I tell her, soothing her hair back as she peers up at me with a smile.

“You too, Ms. Kat. I’ll see you Monday!” she yells, hurrying back to her father and taking his hand to pull him down the hall.

I can’t help but laugh as I watch them go, Addison’s tiny self pulling him behind her as she talks a mile a minute. It’s ridiculous, really, but also adorable.

I turn away, heading back into my classroom before I can get caught watching them like a creep. It’s not until I go to grab my purse that I realize I still have Addison’s card in my hand.

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