Page 19 of Love Me Fierce

“Thanks,” I say, and head for the door.

“He’ll be suspended for the rest of the week, plus Saturday detention.”

A fucking week?

“Understood,” I manage before stepping into the hallway. To the left is a door that’s now slightly ajar, giving me a chance to read the gold placard labeled with NURSE. In three strides I’m tapping my knuckles on the door and peering in. Two surprises hit me at once. The first is Logan with a fat lip and an ice pack across his cheek, and the other is the object of his attention.

Vivian.

She’s so pretty my chest aches.

Today, she’s dressed in dark blue chinos and a striped sweater, her honey-brown hair tied back in that French braid that swishes between her shoulder blades. When she turns to see me standing in the doorway, her storm-gray eyes go still for a fraction of a second. My heart beats so hard into my throat I’m afraid to open my mouth in case it leaps out.

It seems to take her a second to find her words. “Deputy.”

Fuck, was I staring? I refocus on Logan. “Hey, champ. You okay?”

He gives me a quick nod, his lips pressing tight.

Vivian peels off her blue nitrile gloves and throws them away along with the packaging of what looks like antiseptic cream and gauze. “Ice it again when you get home.”

Logan’s soft gaze flicks to her, then away. It’s so fast I almost don’t catch it. “Okay.”

I offer my hand to help him up, and he takes it. Though I get the feeling he doesn’t want to. I pull Logan into a hug. I expect him to resist, but he heaves a sigh into my chest and hugs me back. When I release him, he gives the now-limp ice pack to Vivian then steps past me to grab his backpack.

“I thought you worked at Finn River Pediatrics?” I wince inwardly at my direct tone—I sound like I’m interrogating her. I blame that little dig from the principal about my parenting shortcomings. It has me on edge. Or maybe it’s the kindness Vivian’s showing my son. Or how good she looks today. Or every day.

Fuck! It’s a wonder I can form complete sentences right now.

“I mean, I didn’t expect to see you here,” I manage.

This isn’t much better, but at least I’m not gaping at her like a fish out of water.

Vivian gives me a flat look. “The school nurse position’s been vacant for a while, so a crew of four of us are rotating in until they fill it.”

“Got it.”

One of her eyebrows arches up. “Anything else I can clear up for you?”

Could we start over, maybe work out a few of our aggressions, then you can tell me what’s really going on?

“Um, Dad?” Logan says from behind me. “Can we go?”

I shake my head to crush this ridiculous idea.Aggressions? Would that even work?

“Yeah, bud.” I need to get out of here.

Logan and I walk past the principal’s closed door and the secretary then through the big glass doors. We’re halfway across the parking lot when Logan says, “Sorry, Dad.”

I wrap my arm across his shoulders. It’s not like he’s grown overnight, but if he keeps sprouting, I won’t be able to hug him like this much longer.

“I should have used my words,” he continues.

At my SUV, I unlock the doors, and he slips into the passenger seat.

“You’re going to have to come to the station with me,” I say once I’m behind the wheel.

“I know. I have homework I can do.”

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