Page 18 of Sweet Surrender

“Well, you definitely won’t find me flashing any money around,” Becca said. Lesson plans weren’t the only reason shedidn’t want to go out to eat. Trying to make student loan payments on top of rent and groceries was difficult, even with her new salary.

“You don’t have to tell us that,” Angela chuckled. “I feel like I’m living the life if I add toppings to my pizza.”

“We all work for the public school,” Allie agreed, smiling. “None of us make enough to flash. But it’s worth it. The kids are so amazing, and it’s good to give back to this community.”

“And some of the parents aren’t so bad either,” Angela teased.

The mention of parents made Becca think of her own, and she scolded herself for being so forgetful.

“Oh shoot,” Becca said. “I told my mom I’d text her to let her know the day went okay.”

“Go get your phone,” Allie said, waving her on. “We’ll clean this up and see you back up there.”

“Thanks so much,” Becca said, dashing off.

She jogged up the stairs, hoping Mom wasn’t too worried yet. With five kids and a handful of grandkids, her mother had plenty to occupy her time, but she had specifically asked Becca to message today after school.

Becca smiled at the idea of her mother still taking time to worry about and celebrate each member of the family, no matter how big or small the situation.

She reached the cloakroom and slipped inside, grabbing her coat and sliding her phone out.

Me:

Hi, Mama! Sorry I didn’t message you right after school. I was invited to join the choir, so I’m at practice now. The kids were amazing, and I think I already made a friend or two. I promise a real report tomorrow!

Becca was excited to tell her mother all about her first day. Although she would probably leave out the unreasonably gorgeous parent she’d met that morning. She’d found her thoughts going back to him more than once throughout the day. Becca had no idea why he was such a distraction to her, but she needed to focus on her job, and was glad that she probably wouldn’t see much of him.

She was just returning the phone to her pocket when she heard someone else step into the small space.

“Hi,” a low voice said as she turned around and found herself face to face with Zane Lawrence.

The big cowboy stood there, looking at her with that same expression he’d been wearing this morning before he introduced himself. He was holding three coats, two of which she recognized as belonging to the boys.

How can any one man be so handsome?

“Oh, hi, Mr. Lawrence,” she said, horrified that she had gotten hung up on his handsome face for the second time in a day. “I can help with those.”

She reached out for the boys’ coats and their fingers brushed. A little tingle went down her spine, as if the universe were trying to tell her something important.

“Thanks,” he said quietly.

She hung up the boys’ coats while he did his own.

“They’re so small,” she heard herself saying.

He looked over at her, as if in question.

“It’s just funny that their coats are so small when they have such big personalities,” she said, smiling and wondering if he was going to think that was a silly thing to say.

But he chuckled and nodded.

“I think the same thing myself all the time,” he said. “They definitely seem to take up a lot more space than that when they’re in them.”

“Cal is so smart,” she couldn’t help telling him. “And Nick is so protective of his brother. I loved seeing them on the playground together. I mean, not when Cal got hurt...”

“I get it,” he said, saving her from her awkwardness. “They have a really strong bond.”

“They do,” she agreed.

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