Page 31 of Fall Wherever They May

Tucker looks down at himself and straightens out his clip-on tie. “Do I look good?”

“Yeah, man. Fit is drip.” He hands Tucker what I assume is hot chocolate. “Did I say that right?”

“You’re catching on.” Tucker pats Cal’s back.

I chuckle under my breath and watch their interaction while I place everything back into the folder, then stroll over to join the boys at the door. Before we leave, he walks over to the coffee table and sets down the coffee for River, then rejoins us outside. Cal hurries around me and opens the front passenger door of the truck.

“Callan Miles.” I scold and whisper. “Friends don’t open doors for each other.” I frown at him in confusion when he offers his hand, then bypass his offer and boost myself up into his truck.

His face lights up; I wish he would smile like this more often. “Friends who have little boys around that need to be taught how to treat a lady do.” He retorts.

Callan closes my door, then makes sure Tucker is buckled in. Once everyone is situated and we’ve started driving, Tucker calls for my attention. I turn in my seat to look at him.

“You look really pretty today, Momma.” My lips contort into a smile, and my heart soars at his sweet words. When I turn back around in my seat, I catch Cal wink at Tucker.

“Thank you.”

We sit in front of the headmistress’ long walnut desk in her office as she shuffles through the documents I’ve brought with me. It smells of the old, musty books that line her bookcase behind her desk. The clock on the wall to the right gives a click, click, click, click, like it’s counting down our doom as she looks over Tucker’s entrance exam that he completed fifteen minutes ago. Ms. Kadence, the headmistress, is beautiful and polished. Her rich, dark brown hair is cut into a cute bob that complements her high cheekbones and big blue eyes.

“Mr. & Mrs. Taylor.” Ms. Kadence begins.

“Oh, this isn’t . . .” I shake my head. “It’s Mr. Miles. He’s a friend of ours.” I say, and her lips spread into a wide smile showing off her perfectly straight teeth.

“My apologies.” She turns her head from me and addresses Cal. “Everything looks good here; would you like a tour of the school?” I’m not good at masking my facial expressions. My brows pull down in confusion. Quickly, I mask my irritation and smile. It’s not hard to tell that Tucker is my son; we look just alike. I told her Cal was a friend of ours. I mean, if Cal was his father, wouldn’t I have introduced him as such? Why is she addressing him instead of me? Passing it off as a misunderstanding, I let it go.

After she hands me my documents, we begin our tour. I can’t help but notice she seems to put a little more sway in her hips when she walks. Well, more than what I would consider tobe normal. Her red dress is fitting—sexy yet still classy. She’s certainly alluring.

She shows us the computer lab, library, and music room—addressing Cal the entire time and ignoring me. Me . . . Tucker’s mother. She keeps placing her hand on Cal’s forearm or grazing her hand across his shoulder and giggling like a little fucking schoolgirl, and I. Don’t. Like. It. I don’t know why I don’t like it, but it’s starting to really piss me off. I can’t explain it. Maybe because she is doing it in front of Tucker? I don’t know. Cal is beginning to look uncomfortable by the time we pass the art room. Finally, I’ve had enough.

“Ms. Kadence, Mr. Miles is my friend, not Tucker’s father, so if you don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you would address me.”

Cal’s eyebrows meet his hairline. I’m sure he can tell I’m at my wits end with this lady. She is completely unprofessional, not that I have any room to talk after checking him out this morning, but still . . .

“Yes, ma’am.” She nods.

Ten minutes later, it’s as if she didn’t hear me at all, because contradictory to her acknowledgment, she carries on in the exact same manner and disregards what I just told her. We’re on the playground when I see her slip him her business card from my periphery; I lose it. I completely lose my mind.

I turn and waltz up to her. “This meeting is concluded. I don’t really think we have anything left in this institution that we need to see further. May I make a suggestion?” I don’t wait for a response. “Maybe next time someone comes to look at your facility, you keep your hands, your eyes, and any other objects to yourself. You know? Something I’m sure you teach here in the kindergarten classrooms.” I pluck the card from Cal’s fingers, grab her hand, and shove it into her palm. “We won’t be needing this; Tucker won’t be attending here.”

“Tucker! Let’s go.” My voice booms, coming out a little louder than intended. Tucker races down from the jungle gym and catches up with us.

“On to the next place, Bud.” I make sure to correct my tone to be sweet and my voice low. I just made an ass out of myself in front of Cal. His face is beaming. I want to slap that smile off of his stupid, handsome face.

When we’re back at the truck, he opens my door once again and makes a repeat of settling Tucker in the back.

“So.” He scratches his neck and starts the truck. “That was . . . interesting. Care to share what that was about?”

“Not particularly, but I will if you insist.”

And he laughs. He fucking laughs! With his head tilted back, he gives a full-on belly laugh. I look out of the window stewing with my elbow propped on the door and my cheek resting on my fist. Tucker begins to laugh. I try like hell to fight my smile. My lips are tugging hard, and I’m forcing them back into a thin line, but then a laugh bursts out of me.

“I kind of missed you there for a minute, Firecracker.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Cal

I don’t know what got into Aspen today, but I have to say, being on her side of things and watching her unleash on someone other than me was entertaining. She’s been nice to me the past few days, and honestly, I was starting to miss her smart mouth. The headmistress was obviously flirting with me, and the way she kept touching me and giving me all her attention was making me very uncomfortable. Something about Aspen’s protectiveness, made me feel a way I can’t describe. I’m not Tuck’s father, but even if I were, Ms. Kadence should have been addressing both of us. Aspen doesn’t mask her emotions very well, and I could tell she was upset about being disregarded, so by the time we were on the playground, I was already about to call the tour off before she stepped in.

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