Page 10 of It Just Feels Right

Baker nudges me toward the door. “Well, we’re going to head out of here. I know you’ve had a busy day, so we’ll let you get to it. Thanks again for meeting with me, Krista.”

I wave over my shoulder. “Good night, Mrs. Daniels.”

She calls back in a giggly tone, “Night, Baker. Have a good night, Miss Waters. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I almost trip over my own feet on my way out of the office. We get down the hall before I can form a sentence. “What just happened back there? What did you do to her?”

CHAPTER 6

BAKER

I laughand point in the different directions of the four-way hallway. “Which way to your classroom?”

She points to the left, and I walk by her side, my hand on her hip. “I didn’t do anything to her, by the way. Mrs. Daniels has always liked me.”

“And you decided today is the day you wanted to come and talk to her about the dunking booth?”

My hand tightens. “No, I came today to clear up any misunderstandings about last night.”

“You mean she called you?”

I shake my head. “No, I called her.”

She stops outside a classroom. “Is that the only misunderstanding you wanted to clear up?”

I peer down at her, and my heart constricts in my chest. I thought about her all night, trying to figure out this obsessive attraction I have for her. Even now, I can’t explain it, but I know I can’t just let her go. “You mean last night… with me and you?”

She nods, holding her breath. She looks worried and tense, and that’s not how I want her to feel when she’s with me. I want her to feel safe above all else.

“This you?” I ask, pointing at her door.

She nods, and I put my hand on her lower back. “Yeah, let’s talk about last night's misunderstandings.”

We walk into my classroom, and she stops abruptly. “Colby! What are you doing in here?”

He jumps out of his seat and stands facing us. His face goes white when he sees me standing next to Cassie. “Miss Waters! I thought you left already.”

Cassie pulls away from me and walks toward him. “What are you doing here, Colby?”

He shrugs. “My mom was late picking me up, so I thought I’d sleep a little until she got here.” He pulls his phone from his pocket. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be in here. I’ll go… my mom… She should be here soon. I’ll go wait by the front doors.”

Cassie stops him from leaving. I’m watching them closely, trying to figure out the situation. I know Colby. For the most part, he’s a good kid. But there are issues at home. Cassie is speaking to him softly. “Colby, it’s okay. I’m fine if you’re in here, you just have to let me know. You can wait here.”

The kid looks at me again and shakes his head. “No, that’s okay. I’m going to go. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Something is not right. I know Colby’s been having trouble at home, but there’s obviously more to it. Cassie must realize it too. “I’m going to leave soon, and if you’re still here, I’ll run you home, okay?”

He nods his head. “Okay, bye, Miss Waters. Bye, Officer Johnson.”

“See you, Colby,” I call after him.

Cassie looks worried, and I ask her, “You’re worried about him, aren’t you?”

She nods immediately. “Yeah, I understand it’s just him and his mom, but there’s more to it. I just don’t know what I can do to help him.”

I can’t tell her everything I know about the mom. If Cassie is worried now, she’d be even more worriedthen. I try to reassure her. “I’ll check on him when I leave here before I go to the station.”

“Okay, thank you.” She moves to the other side of her classroom and leans against her desk. I hate that she’s putting distance between us, and that’s obviously what she’s trying to do. She tilts her head to the side. “Can I ask you something?”

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