Page 3 of Thinking It Over

“Superb,” she said. “Just head to the visitors’ reception to sign in, and they’ll point you in the right direction.”

“Will do. Thanks. I’ll see you then.”

The line went dead, and I pulled it from my ear, staring at the device wide-eyed. For over a year I’d been looking for a position as a teacher, and there had been absolutely nothing. Crescent High was one of the first places I’d checked out. Admittedly, I bugged them at the beginning and the end of every term, letting them know my availability, but I was desperate to return to the classroom. I only had a year’s experience under my belt, having been unable to carry on with my position due to Dad’s heart attack and passing.

“Hey, everything all right?”

Davis’s voice made me jump. I recovered quickly as I bobbed my head, a grin forming on my face. “I have an interview at Crescent High tomorrow.”

His grin was immediate. “That’s great. What’s the position?”

I snapped my mouth shut, then shrugged, realizing Ihad zero idea what the position was or how long it was for. I’d been too excited at being called for specifics. They had my details on file and, as far as I was aware, hadn’t advertised for a position.

Davis laughed. “Don’t stress it. I’m sure you’ll find out tomorrow.” He opened the refrigerator door, turning away from me. “Whatever it is, they’ll be lucky to have you.”

A knot formed in my gut. “Shit, if I get a position, I don’t know when it will start or anything. Will you be okay?” Worry gnawed at me, despite Davis’s smile and obvious happiness for me. The last thing I wanted was to let Davis down. Not only was he a great boss, but he’d also become a good friend. It didn’t matter that he was in a completely different stage of his life; he was someone I trusted and counted on. And he’d made my return to Kirkby a damn sight easier.

Kirkby had changed a lot from when I’d left at eighteen, just five years ago. And admittedly, in ways I hadn’t even dared hoped for.

In my wildest dreams, I’d never have imagined this little white-picket-fenced town had begun to be so open and accepting. Hell, one of the local bars even had a legit rainbow flag in the window.

“Absolutely,” he answered.

“You sure?” I asked. Hope carried my words. Iwanted nothing more than to return to teaching, but I didn’t want to let anyone down.

“Hey.” Davis turned to face me. His kind eyes, filled with what I could only describe as genuine happiness, focused my way. “This is great news. You’ll nail the interview, and while we’ll all miss you around here, this is a great thing, right?”

I grinned, my shoulders losing some of their tension. “It is, right?”

“It sure is,” he agreed. A ring from the small bell on the counter sounded, and I looked at the door, seeing one of the regulars.

“I’ll go get that.” I left the kitchen, a wide grin on my face and desperate for the day to be over so I could nail this job and feel like I was finally living again.

TWO

AUSTIN

I closed my eyes.It was only for a second, but it helped ease the pounding of my head. This migraine would not defeat me. There wasn’t enough time to give in. With Jim out sick, the board wanting an answer about the new classrooms, and my ex badgering me about wanting to see Penny this weekend—despite it not being the asshole’s turn—I was relieved as hell it was Friday.

I just needed someone to cover Jim’s long-term sick leave, and then I’d be able to tackle the mountain of paperwork on my desk, and then finally, halle-freakin’-lujah, I’d be able to go home, take Penny for a walk, and inhale a bottle of red wine.

Maybe that would help with this annoying migraine that had been lingering for the past four days.

The ring of my phone had me groaning. Reluctantly,I opened my eyes and glared at the offending device. I picked it up and swallowed my snark. “Hey, Barb,” I greeted. The last thing I wanted to do was annoy her. She ran this place like clockwork…melike clockwork. It was why I was the one to bring her coffee every morning rather than the other way around.

“Your ten o’clock is here.”

“Thanks. Send him in in two minutes, please.”

“Will do.”

I placed the receiver down and pulled up Jasper Taylor’s resumé. Even though the young teacher didn’t have that much experience, his education was impressive and the references from his past position were glowing. I’d usually call bull when a reference looked this good, but it was from Jamie Brice, who I knew well from the many leadership conferences I’d attended over the years. She was a straight shooter, so I hoped like hell this—I looked at the man’s name again—Jasper interviewed well. I needed a replacement for Jim ASAP. And with Jim’s classes being largely the seniors, I needed more than a sub. Jasper’s degree in English and literature combined with his teaching degree made him just the person for the job from the pool of resumés we had on file.

A quick arch of my neck from left to right helped my shoulders ease a fraction. I then took a gulp from my bottle of water and glanced at the time. There was a knock on my door a second later.

“Please come in,” I said as I stood, ready to welcome Jason. No, that didn’t sound right, J-something, but it was too late to check now.

He appeared in the doorway, brown-haired, brown-eyed, and looking so damn young it was crazy to think just seventeen years ago or so, I’d looked as fresh and eager as he did.

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