Page 120 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“They’re fine. The sitter is taking care of them.”

“What’s wrong with what you’re wearing?” Ryan frowns. “You don’t like it?”

Crap. Ryan bought me the set of sweatpants and cropped sweatshirt I’m wearing. The fabric is soft as butter, and I know it’s a designer set, because it fits like a glove.

“I love it. What I actually meant was it’d be nice to take a shower to wash the hospital off me.”

“You’ll need assistance to shower, love,” Jake pipes up. “And Mrs. Carpenter’s shower stall is too small. You can shower at our place.”

“Oh, that’s true.”

The elevator stops on their floor before I can say I need to get more clothes. I’ve been in the hospital for a week and, despite my best efforts to look pretty there, I feel rough. I need a post-surgery glow up. But if I say anything to them, they’re going to say I’m as hot as ever. I could look like a racoon who just woke up on a pile of trash, and they’d still believe I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. Not that I’m complaining my boys are like that, but I’m in deep need of preening.

“Welcome home, Junebug,” Jake says right before he opens the door wide.

I step inside and find a sea of familiar faces waiting for me, holding balloons and a huge banner that readsWelcome Home.

“Surprise!” they shout.

“Oh my God!” I press my hand over my chest.

My parents are there front and center, but so are my siblings. Plus Katrina, Beau, and their children, Melissa, Doug, Banksy, and Maya. The couple visited me at the hospital, and Maya apologized for her behavior. She was the only one from the WAGs group who showed her support.

I’m still taking it all in when Louis breaks from the group and runs to me, holding a big poster in his hand. “Welcome home, Miss Summers!”

The last time I saw him was during that traumatic event, and all the feelings from that moment come back to the surface. The fear, and the joy of having survived it.

“Louis... it’s so good to see you.”

“Can I give you a hug?” he asks.

“Of course,” I say through the lump in my throat.

“Let me take that from you, buddy.” Jake reaches for the poster Louis is holding.

I hug the sweet boy, shaking with emotion. I can’t hold back the tears. He steps back and then points at the poster he brought. “I got the entire class to make you a get-well-soon poster, Miss Summers. We can’t wait until you’re back.”

My heart constricts painfully. I thought that by now Principal Prescott would have announced I’m not returning. How am I going to break Louis’s heart?

Anne, Louis’s mother, joins us. “I and some of the other parents talked to Principal Prescott on your behalf. We want you back teaching our kids.”

“But... what about... you know?”

“We don’t care about that. What we care about is that our children have a teacher who goes above and beyond for them. You risked your life to protect my son, and I’ll be forever grateful.”

I wipe the tears from my cheeks. “I don’t know what to say.”

“So when are you coming back, Miss Summers?” Louis asks again.

“She doesn’t know yet, honey.” His mother takes his hand. “Come on. There are other people who would like to speak to Miss Summers. You can chat with her later.”

“Oh... okay.”

I let out a shaky breath, trying to dispel the overwhelming feelings.

My family approaches before I take more than few more steps inside the apartment. August opens his arms wide—almost as wide as his smile. “Only you, June. Only you.”

He doesn’t properly hug me on the account of my shoulder, but he kisses my wet cheeks, and steps back.

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