Page 8 of It Just Feels Right

As I come down the steps, my dad is waiting at the bottom. The look he’s giving me is knowing, and I’m sure he’s wondering what I was doing, but I don’t care. I wait until I’m standing next to him. “Make sure she takes some Tylenol for her head. Call if she needs anything.” I put my hand on his shoulder and squeeze him affectionately. “Love you, Dad. Talk to you soon.”

I get to the door before he stops me. “Son.”

I knew he wouldn’t let me off the hook so easily. That’s just not who he is. “Yeah, Dad?”

He comes closer, and I notice that Brandi is still sitting on the couch with her full attention focused on the television. My dad’s voice is hushed. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

I shrug. “What do you want to know?”

I wait, holding my breath. It’s obvious that I’m interested in Cassie. He’d have to be blind to not notice it, and of course, I’m worried he’s going to try and forbid it or tell me all the reasons why it’s a bad idea. But he surprises me. “Don’t hurt her.”

I shake my head. Did I just hear him right? “Did you just tell me not to hurt her?”

He lifts his head and looks me in the eye. “That’s exactly what I said. Cassie is special.”

I nod. Even though I just met her, I already know that. “I know she is, Dad.”

He shifts his feet and positions himself between me and the door, stopping me from leaving. He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m serious. I see that look in your eye. I’m telling you, she’s special. Don’t start something that you don’t plan on finishing. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

I don’t even blink. I search his eyes, and I don’t know what to say to him to convince him, so I say the first thing that comes to mind. “She reminds me a little bit of Mom.”

He looks shocked for just a second, and so I continue. “She took on two men bigger than her because she didn’t want them fighting. She cares about others more than herself. She was worried about her friend having to leave to take her home. She cares about her job, her sister. And I just met her tonight, Dad. Trust me, I know she’s special.”

He must realize that I’m being sincere because he moves to the side. “Okay. Have a good night, son, and don’t be a stranger.”

I walk out into the night. “See you soon, Dad.”

Because sure enough, I’ll be spending some more time here.

CHAPTER 5

CASSIE

I feel like hell,and I know I look it too.

I tossed and turned most of the night, replaying in my mind the moment Baker walked into the Whiskey Whistler until he walked out of my bedroom. One thing I discovered was that the attraction I felt wasn’t just one-sided. He was definitely more vocal about it and didn’t act as if he was going to back down. But who knows, in the light of day, he could completely change his mind. Plus, I have so many questions. One being, did he know who I was the whole time?

But I can’t worry about it now.

No, now I need to worry about getting into my class and avoiding Mrs. Daniels. With my head down, I walk briskly into the building. I have to walk right past the office, and I normally wave and say hello tothe school secretary, but today I’m looking straight ahead, hoping to avoid everyone.

I get two steps past the door to the office and my shoulders start to release from their tensed position when I hear my name being bellowed. “Miss Waters. Can I see you please?”

I tremble as panic hits me. I want to run in the opposite direction, but I know I’m just putting off the inevitable. I hold my papers and folders closer to my chest, shake my head so my hair falls over my forehead, paste a smile to my face, and then walk into the office. “Hi, Mrs. Turner.” I nod at the secretary, and she gives me a sympathetic look. Shoot, they know. I knew they would find out, but who would have thought they would know at seven o’clock the very next morning? I walk into Mrs. Daniels’ office. “You wanted to see me?”

Her eyes go straight to my forehead. I know she can’t see it. Not only is my hair covering it but I piled on the makeup this morning. The swelling is completely gone, and the bruise is hidden underneath layers of concealer. Mrs. Daniels isn’t fooled, though. She comes around her desk and stops in front of me. “Do you have something you need to tell me about last night?”

I open my mouth but don’t get a word out because she immediately starts talking again. “Miss Waters, do I need to remind you that we have a code of conduct here? We don’t just ignore it when we hear about our teachers running around in bars, drinking and getting into brawls.”

I remind myself that I want to keep this job. There are three schools in this town, elementary, middle, and high, and if I get fired from one, I won’t be able to work at any. And I really don’t want to go to Jasper to work at a school there. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m well aware of the code of conduct, and that’s why yes, I met a friend last night, but I did not drink, and I definitely did not get into a brawl.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “I heard otherwise.”

I let out a breath and start to explain. “There were two men that started to fight. I was just trying to stop them, and that’s it.”

She’s staring at me as if she can literally see right through me. I don’t know if she’s waiting on me to change my story or what so I pace my breathing and keep looking right back at her.

She tilts her chin up at me. “You do know that we will find out the truth.”

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