Page 12 of Always Been Yours

“That’s not all. There is a small tech company located in Portland that buys old computers from schools. With the older hardware, the school could still get a hundred dollars, at least, for each one.” I don’t think he’s taken a full breath since he started. “And there’s another tech start-up, this one is in Seattle, that helps schools pay for the software. That could potentially allow us to splurge a little.”

“Grady…” Even if I wanted to argue with him, I can’t think of a reason to, as much as I hate the fact that I didn’t find this information. This was so incredibly kind and thoughtful. But… “It’s too late. I can’t remember all of this and readjust my presentation.” I take a deep breath and look toward the doors that people have slowly started to file through. “They are going to call us in.”

His face falls and I can see the rebuttal forming on his tongue.

“Why don’t you do the presentation together?” Selena asks, a little too innocently. “They approved time for two speakers, but it was all you anyway, Viv.”

“Selena…” I can feel myself starting to hyperventilate.

This wasnotthe plan.

“Vivi,” Grady says quietly. “You can keep to the original plan if that’s what you want.” After so many years he still knows me. It isn’t fair. “What do you want to do?”

I close my eyes, take a deep breath and count to ten.

This is not about me. It’s about the kids and the school. Not my nerves.

I open my eyes and give Selena a small nod. I meet Grady’s gaze. “No, it’s better with the information you gathered. Thank you for that. I’ll start. You said you looked at the presentation? Follow my lead and I’ll give the microphone over to you toward the end, when I’m talking about the charities I found. It will make the most sense.Deal?”

I can see the triumph blazing in his eyes, so I remind myself again that this is not about me. I school my expression into cool detachment.

From him, from my anxieties, from the dress that suddenly feels too tight, from everything that’s not about getting up in front of the committee to present.

“Deal.” He smirks and sticks his hand toward me.

I swat it away and turn toward the doors. “Don’t make me regret this, Grady Miller.”

Selena’s airy laugh follows me to my seat, but it’s Grady’s searing gaze that has the hair on the back of my neck standing up.

Grady

Well…

The committee meeting went great, but I can’t say that Vivi doesn’t regret her last-minute choice to make me the other speaker.

She did amazing up there from the very beginning. I don’t know what she was so nervous about. All eight of them looked interested in her solution and she was able to answer the few questions they had at the end. They loved her idea to host a winter fair at the end of the semester. I don’t know if my contribution helped sway them necessarily, but they were interested in having more opportunities for grants to come through. Somehow, the little mastermind finessed the committee to agree to the terms that every school organization and sport has to participate since the computers will be utilized by all of the students. From what mymom has said about some of the coaches they won’t be happy about that.

I like the idea of my team fundraising and volunteering in the community. It’s important for them to learn about mutual support and the need to give back. I’m hoping my assistant coach Knox, will have the same feelings toward it. We’ve yet to meet.

I glance down at her without turning my head. We’re waiting for my mom outside while she talks to some of the other teachers, and it feels eerily like we’re kids waiting to be picked up again. I followed Vivi out here to try to talk to her but when I felt the anger radiating off of her, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

When her eyes flash up to me, I immediately look away but not fast enough to miss the fire blazing behind her pupils. Not the kind of heat when I saw her in her classroom unfortunately.

No, this is a fire from hell. One I’m sure she’s imagining I’m currently burning in.

Even the devil on my shoulder is cowering.

“Look, Vivi,” I turn toward her. She narrows her eyes and I flinch back. I didn’t think it was possible for her to hate me more, but she can, and she does. The optimistic part of my brain tries to remind me that it’s better than her being cold and indifferent. I throw my arms to the side, and she crosses hers in response. “I didn’t know that they were going to come to that conclusion.”

I’m not lying. How was I supposed to know that the committee would assign Vivi and I to manage this projecttogether? Not even in my wildest dreams—or maybe nightmares—did I predict this.

There was a short-lived moment of hope when they first announced their decision, but it died as soon as I smiled down at the fuming troll doll next to me. Vivi has never delegated well, and it appears that’s another thing that hasn’t changed.

She doesn’t say anything. Her eyes just continue to burn holes through my head.

“I’m really, really sorry. I don’t want to ruin this for you. We… we canfind someone else to fill my role or… or I can sign a legal binding agreement that says you’re fully in charge, and I’m your mere peasant to do as you say.”

She tilts her head and thinks it over.

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