Page 42 of Returning to Everton

“Man, that’s crazy. I don’t know how you deal with her all the time. I can normally keep my cool with her, but her snark was just too much today. God, I hope her daughter isn’t in my class this year. I'll have to deal with her every day,” I groan.

“Has the school told you what grade you’re teaching this year? I know they like to bounce you around since you’re such a great teacher and you can teach any level,” he comments.

“No, I haven’t heard yet. School starts in a few weeks, so I should hear something soon. I don’t know what’s taking them so long to tell me,” I shake my head. “So, you think Britney is getting all obsessive again because Rowen is back?” I ask.

“I honestly don’t know Dec. That’s the only thing I can think of though,” he shrugs.

“How does Rowen feel about her?” I ask. “Is this going to end up being a big thing?”

He chuckles mirthlessly. “Oh yeah. I guarantee it’s going to be a big thing, and not because of Rowe. She knows how Britney is. She may not like her, but unlike Britney, Rowen won’t start shit. She might just finish it though. One can only hope. I honestly don’t know what it’ll take to get Britney to back off,” he says.

I pull up to the playground parking lot. “Well, that’s a problem for another day. Let’s go have some fun watching these kids play. You know Violet has never been to a magical playground before. I’m kinda excited to get to witness her first time,” I tell him.

We get out and walk over to the entrance of the park, where Rowen, Violet, and Nate are waiting for us.

17

Declan

Rowen smiles when she sees us approach. I’m not sure if she’s more happy to see me, Hudson, or the bag of goodies in my hand, but I’ll take that smile any way I can get it.

“Hey Rowen, hope you don’t mind me bringing Hudson along. I had to save him from the bakery,” I tell her, trying to leave out all the drama.

“Of course, I don’t mind,” she says, then walks up and gives Hudson a hug that I am definitely envious of. Nate sees the expression on my face as Rowen continues to hug Hudson and smirks at me.

When she’s finally done hugging Hudson, she saunters over to me. “So, what did you bring me to get back in my good graces?”

I pull out the coffee cake and show it to her. She gasps and tries to snatch it out of my hand. I’m quick though, and I hold it up so she can’t reach it.

“I don’t know Rowen. What’s in it for me? I like coffee cake, I wouldn’t mind eating this myself,” I tease her.

Her jaw drops as she looks up at me. “Well, I was going to give you a hug like I gave Hudson, but if you’re going to use my only weakness against me, I might just go give someone else a hug instead,” she threatens.

I absolutely believe she wouldn’t give me a hug if I carry this charade on much longer, so I quickly hand her the cake. She takes it with a huge smile.

“That’s what I thought,” she sticks her cute little tongue out at me.

I stand there waiting but my hug doesn’t come. “Hey, where’s my hug? I gave you the coffee cake. I should be rewarded,” I pout.

She giggles then wraps her arms around me, and god does it feel good to have this little pixie in my arms. I hold her close and run my fingers through her hair.

“Thank you for my coffee cake Declan,” she says into my chest.

“Anytime Rowen,” I squeeze her to me one more time then back away. “Did you drive or walk? You want to put it in the car?” I ask.

“Oh no,” she shakes her head with wide eyes. “I’m eating this now. It’s not going to make it home,” she refutes.

Everyone laughs at that. It seems Hudson wasn’t exaggerating when he said she loves coffee cake. “Alright,” I turn to Violet and Logan. “Y’all ready to play on the magical playground?” I ask.

Violet gasps. “It’s a magical playground?! Why didn’t anyone tell me?” she exclaims.

“Well,Ididn’t know,” Rowen claims. “Blame the guys for not telling you, Bug.”

Violet turns her attention to us. She crosses her little arms and stomps her foot. “Well? Why didn’t anyone tell me?” she demands.

I speak up, since I was the first to know about her wanting to go to the park and kept it from her. “I’m sorry Violet. I wanted to see your reaction to the park without expecting it to be anything special,” I confess. She huffs at me so I try to placate her. “I brought you cookies if that makes up for it.”

“Cookies?! What kind of cookies?” she asks excitedly. Looks like she can be bought off with food just like Logan, and apparently her mother. I smirk and take the box out of the bag and open it for her to see.

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