Page 38 of Back to Willow

“If we go to the same one,” I pressed.

“Well, if we can’t go to the same one, we’ll choose the ones that are closest.” He grinned. “We’ll make it work.”

“Sure, Casanova. With all the girls falling at your feet, you’d forget me in less than a month.”

I freed my face from his hands and tugged at one so we could start walking. Instead, his hand tightened the hold on me, pulling me back against his chest, awakening the dormant butterflies in my stomach.

“Baby, I could never forget you; not even if fifty years had passed by.”

“It’s safe for you to go home now.” Shilah’s words startle me out of my memories.

I stop cleaning the counter and look back at her quizzically. I had told her I’d stay until closing time to make it up to her.

“Look.” She points at the booth where Dylan and Professor Adell are, and I gasp in shock.

Sure enough, he’s sitting by Professor Adell’s side, instead of across the table from him, with his head leaning on the side of his chest while one big bulky arm is wrapped around my kid’s shoulders and the other holds a small pocketbook on the table. My professor’s attention is focused on it, seemingly reading.

Are they reading together?

Without thinking, I approach them, only to be stopped by movement. The book is closed gently on top of the table, and Professor Adell rotates his head, looking at me and shushing me. My eyes widen, and I get even closer to confirm my suspicions.

Dylan is snoring softly, nestled into his side.

“When he learned I’m a Portuguese and Literature teacher, he asked me to help him with his reading,” he whispers. “He told me he wants to start first grade knowing how to read, and after a few minutes of me reading to him, he fell asleep.”

Oh my god.

“Thank you so much for looking after him. This won’t happen again. I know he can be a handful sometimes,” I mutter, embarrassed. “I’m done already, so I’m just going to change quickly, and I’ll be back to pick him up. Is that okay?”

“Sure, don’t worry.” He nods before opening his book back up.

Without another word, I head to the staff room with a frown etched onto my face.

This man is giving me whiplash.

He was nothing but awful to me since the beginning, and now, he's being nice and helping me out?

All I can think about is…why?

When everything’s properly folded inside my locker and I check I have everything in my purse, I head back outside, ready to pick up Dylan and carry him to the car, but to my big surprise—once again tonight—Professor Adell is already standing up with a sleeping Dylan in his arms and his big jacket over his small body.

Dylan’s chubby face is flushed and squashed against his left shoulder while my professor’s arms hold him from under his bum. He is waiting casually close to the exit, talking softly with Shilah as if my kid weighs nothing. Something in my chest warms and my stomach flips.

For a second, the feeling has me hesitating. But not understanding why, I quickly shrug it off and walk toward them. All conversation ceases the moment I arrive next to them, and Shilah quickly kisses me on the cheek before going behind the counter again.

“Ahm, I–I can take him from here,” I stutter.

Smooth, Willow, real smooth.

“Nonsense, I’ll follow you and put him in the car if you’re okay with it. He’s a big guy.” He gives me a small tight-lipped smile.

I freeze.

He smiled.He smiles.

The corners of his eyes crinkle just a tad, and it rejuvenates him for at least five years. The man is handsome, even more so with a tiny smile on his face. I can only imagine how much younger he'll look with a full laugh.

“Shall we?” He breaks me out of my trance.

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