Page 8 of Beneficial Misfortune

Nathaniel’s been picking Addison up every day since our first meeting. She no longer has an issue and is more than happy to see her father every day, which leads me to believe that Rose was, in fact, the issue.

He’s always the last to pick up, but he explained he has to come from the office to get her and often hits traffic. It’s not a big deal, and knowing that, Addison and I make the most of our time together, closing up the classroom for the day or playing games like I spy or rock, paper, scissors.

The week is smooth until Friday.

A note from the office earlier in the day let me know Nathaniel would be running late. Waiting for him was pretty normal, and he’d never sent a note before, so I assumed that meant he would be later than usual. Instead of having Addison get ready with the rest of the kids, I gave her a coloring sheet to do and explained that her daddy would be a little late. She didn’t seem to mind and was more than happy to color him a picture.

I get the other kids off with their parents and head back into the room to wait with Addison, only for Trevor to come waltzing in about five minutes later.

“Hey, Red, a few of us are going out for drinks tonight. Figured I’d see if you wanted to come with us,” he says loudly, without so much as giving me a moment to respond to his greeting.

I dart my eyes to Addison, but she doesn't even look up at him, and I sigh in relief.

Teachers are people, obviously, but I don’t love the idea of my students hearing things like that.

“Oh, shit, sorry. Didn’t realize you still had one,” he says, having the decency to look sheepish, not that it matters as he swears.

“Ooooh, you said a bad word!” Addison sing-songs because, of course, she wouldn’t miss that.

I glare at him, and he rubs the back of his neck, looking from her to me before muttering an apology, and she goes back to her coloring.

Trevor walks up to my desk, unable to take a hint. I abandon my lesson planning to stand, not enjoying the feeling of him looming over me.

“So what do you say?” he asks, leaning into my personal space and looking more hopeful than he has a right to.

This isn’t the first time he’s invited me out, and I turn him down every time. I’d hoped he would stop asking eventually, but that would seem to be too much to ask.

“Sorry, Trevor, I don’t really enjoy the bar scene,” I tell him, packing up my stuff to try and appear busy. I don’t know when Nathaniel will be here, and I had hoped to use this time to be productive, but it seems that’s no longer an option.

“Oh, come on, Kat, you never go out with us,” he whines, and I feel my patience begin to slip. I’m not usually an angry person, but he’s getting on my last nerve right now.

“I don’t know why you would want me to go, anyway. It seems most of the staff doesn’t even like me,” I snap, realizing too late how that sounds. Not only do I sound like a bitch, but I sound like I care what they think, when really I don’t.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I try again.

“I’m going to pass. I have some things to do this weekend. Maybe next time,” I tell him, even though I know it’s a damn lie.

I wouldn’t go out with him if he were the last guy in New York. Something about him reminds me so much of Carter, and while it might not be fair to him, that makes him a hard no in my book.

Bracing his hands on top of my desk, he leans in even closer, and it takes everything in me not to take a step back. As uncomfortable as I might be with him this close, this is my classroom, and I won’t give him that power over me.

“Don’t be like that. They like you just fine. They're just jealous,” he says with a laugh, shaking his head. “Ignore them. They will see nothing happening with you and Mr. Money Bags and get over it, eventually.”

“Who?” I ask stupidly, not following what he’s saying.

“Me,” a deep voice says from the doorway, and Trevor bolts upright, spinning around and coming face to face with Nathaniel.

“Oh, um, I’m sorry, Mr. Lawson, sir. I was just trying to explain why Kat was having issues with the other staff. I didn’t mean anything by it,” he stammers, sounding shaken, and I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips.

Serves him right for being a gossip, but also, it’s nice to see him on this side of it. He so often makes me uncomfortable.

I peek around Trevor’s back to get a glimpse of Nathaniel, and I can see why Trevor’s about two seconds from shitting himself.

If I thought he looked unapproachable before, it's worse now. His cold blue eyes narrow as he looks Trevor over like something he might peel from the bottom of his shoe.

He’s not even looking at me, and I still feel the chill.

“Daddy!” Addison’s shout pulls his gaze from Trevor, who lets out a sigh of relief, sagging against my desk.

---