Page 21 of Disorderly

“Congratulations.”

Jason grinned. “Thanks. That’s what happens when you marry someone more than ten years younger than you. You get to become a father again when you’re in your late forties.”

John chuckled as he grabbed Jason and dragged him to the door. “Stop scaring him. Children are always a blessing. Even when you tear your hair out at their antics like our oldest boys.”

And with that parting remark, the door closed behind them, leaving Katy and I staring at each other.

I wondered about Jason’s comment about the age gap. Had he suspected there was something between Katy and me? Was that his way of letting me know that if something were to ever happen between us that it wouldn’t bother him?

“Sorry for interrupting.” Katy pulled me from the brain spiral I’d entered as she slid her hand into mine. My chest puffed at the feeling. It never failed to make me feel ten feet tall when she displayed her full trust in me. And maybe one day, the hand holding wouldn’t be platonic. Maybe one day she’d feel the same way I felt about her.

“You didn’t.” I squeezed her hand as I pulled her back to my office. “They were just leaving.” I took her backpack off her shoulders and placed it on one of the chairs. “Now tell me what I won’t believe.”

She chuckled, but then stopped just as suddenly. “I can’t believe I’m laughing because it’s not a laughing matter. It’s extremely annoying.” She plopped into the empty chair. Not wanting to have a desk between us, I leaned against my desk, resting my ass on the edge. “The senior girls are all trying to befriend me again. They want me to have parties or sleepovers at my house, suggesting that we could possibly borrow the pool at your house.”

Shock flooded my system. Girls actually did that. And what was with her use of the word again? Had she had this problem before? I needed to know. “Again? What do you mean? Did they do this to you last year?”

She shook her head. “Nah. Last year they knew better. And I didn’t see much of Peter since he’s never been my teacher. But his first year, as a student teacher, while I was in Junior High, I had all these High School seniors wanting to become my friend since he was closer to their age. Plus, I also took the bus and tried to hide from most people. But now that I’m a cheerleader and see him more in the halls because the grade eleven and twelve classes share halls, they’re being reminded that we know each other.”

Once she mentioned it, I remembered how Peter had complained to me about how the girls were picking on her because she knew him. He’d put a stop to it somehow, but obviously whatever he’d done wasn’t in effect anymore. I wondered if he was aware of what she was going through again. If not, I probably should tell him, but right now, I didn’t want to think about him. I wanted to spend my time with her talking about other things. Besides, it wasn’t a problem I could solve right now. But I could solve the problem of the stress it created.

“Since your mom got called into work early and Peter has a staff meeting tonight, how about we ditch this place early, go out for supper, and then relax in the hot tub. I’ll even help you with any homework you have.”

Her eyes lit up, losing some of their stress and worry. “That sounds amazing.”

“Good.” I winked at her as I held out my hand. “Then let’s go.”

And when she took my hand, grinning at me, all my stress and worries about the business fled. Tonight would be a great night. For both of us. I’d make sure of it.

Chapter Fifteen

Peter

“We’re downby one touchdown. We can do this.” Zach, AKA Ezekial, the head of the alumni committee, attempted to pump up the group. Today was the annual charity touch football game between staff/alumni and the boys football team.

I grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from my face and neck. The past couple of years that I played, the temperatures had been more seasonal, running around ten degrees Celsius, but today we were in the final day of a late season heat wave with temperature hitting a downright balmy twenty-two. Add in the lack of a breeze and running up and down the field for the last hour and I needed a cool shower. It didn’t help that Katy sat in the front row wearing a tight V necked t-shirt, revealing a hint of her cleavage. With her sitting on display like that, I couldn’t keep my focus on the game.

Not that she was on display when you considered that she wore more than the girls around her who took the opportunity to pull out their summer wear and flaunt what they could of the dress code rules, knowing that today would be a little more lax.

But she was too pretty, too naïve to be sitting there looking like that. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t as naïve as I wanted her to be—those assholes at the waterpark ruined that—but she didn’t deserve to have all these idiots panting over her. She was too young to be thinking about guys that way. And yes, I knew she was sixteen, almost seventeen, and I had been doing a lot more with girls by her age, but still, she was my little Katy-bear. She didn’t need to be looked at like she was some sex symbol.

“Peter, you with us?” Zach smirked. “Or are we keeping you from something important? A hot date or two tonight?” While most of the guys chuckled, I gave Jarrod an exasperated look. We’d been short a couple of players so I talked him into playing, telling him he could bill it as community relations since many parents and townspeople came to watch the game and to participate in the fair-type of atmosphere.

“Sure I have a hot date tonight… with a stack of grade eleven and twelve quizzes that need marking. Don’t you wish you had my life?”

“How the mighty have fallen.” Zach may have meant to say it quietly, maybe even in his head, but he failed. I watched as the other guys snuck glances at me, but I ignored them all. When you lived in a small town, you got used to the way gossip spread faster than ice cracking on the lake during a heat wave. It was why I’d taken the chance and ran to Winnipeg when the opportunity presented itself. And if my mother hadn’t passed away suddenly, leaving my father a shell of himself, I doubted I would have moved back. Although I thanked God everyday that I did come back. While there had been plenty in Winnipeg to keep me occupied, I would have grown bored with it. And until I moved back, I hadn’t realized just how much I’d missed Jason and Katy.

“Coming with me to the party tonight, Katy?” Mason broke away from his teammates to crouch in front of her. From his position, I could only imagine the view he had of her. A view that he didn’t deserve to have. No one did. I curled my hands into fists and to my shame, they weren’t the only things that were hard.

I turned away, not wanting to watch Mason flirt with her. It was bad enough that I had to witness it in the school hallways, I didn’t need to see it here on the field.

“Mase, keep your head in the game and quit flirting. We finally have a chance of beating the alums.” With the coach breaking up Mason little side play, a sigh of relief eased the tension within me. Win or lose, the game was soon done, and I’d be free to head home with Jarrod where I could avoid watching guys flirt with her. And maybe she’d even grace us with her presence where I didn’t have to wear my teacher’s mask with our interactions.

The ref blew the whistle, forcing us back onto the field in our line. As I jogged into place, Jarrod brushed against me. “Your stalker is closing in on Kitty-Kat.”

I glanced over my shoulder and sure enough Krissy slid into the empty seat beside Katy. Fuck. I needed to nip that in the bud, but nothing seemed to work. She was becoming bolder everyday. I’d already spoken to the principal about it, but other than CYA, there wasn’t much I could do until she crossed the line.

Zach, as our QB, called for the ball. I took off running towards the end zone with Jarrod. At the twenty-yard line, I zigged to the right while he went to the left. The ball flew towards me. I jumped, catching the ball before Jake could get to me. I landed and took off. Jake was fast, I’d give him that. For a guy who spent more time on the back of a horse than anything else, he sure could put on the speed when he wanted to. I ran flat out, wanting to get us into a potential win position. Or at least a tie. This wouldn’t be the year we lost no matter how good the boys’ team was.

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