Page 123 of Here and Now
Everett sighs heavily and it’s clear this is really bothering him. “A little. She said hi. I said hi. Hazel went absolutely nuts and hugged her like she was her long-lost sister.”
“She kind of is.”
“Yeah, yeah, but then I stood there, pissed and hurt and shit that I shouldn’t feel. It’s been like fifteen years since we spoke. I don’t know why I care.”
I know why he does, but it’s not my place to enlighten him. He loves her. He will always love her. She was his first everything, and the two of them made promises to each other and she broke them. Well, as much as young lovers do.
He wanted a future with her, and she went off and left him. Then his parents got in their accident, his father passed and his mother has struggled with the effects of the accident, leaving Everett as her primary caretaker.
Since then, he hasn’t let himself even consider dating when his primary focus is his family.
He glances up at me. “Did you look online to see what has her living back here?”
I shake my head.
“I’d like to beat her asshole soon-to-be ex-husband with his own arms.”
I chuckle. “I’m going to assume it’s bad.”
Everett stands and shakes his head. “Dude, they made the internet for a reason.”
“Dude, I don’t look up my employees’ personal lives. She promised she’d give me one full school year. She’s incredibly qualified, and we’ve known her since we were kids. Giving her the job was a no-brainer, and giving her her privacy was also one. If she wants to tell me, she will.”
Thinking that would mollify him was my first mistake. “You should’ve told me she was back. She fucking lives next door. I can’t avoid her.”
“Well, I’m sorry you think that. It’s been, as you said, many years. I didn’t realize it would set you off.” I stand. “Now, I need to do principal things, and that doesn’t include standing here, listening to you.” I grab my favorite mug, take a sip, and place it down. “I’ll walk you out.”
“I forgive you—well, I will after I kick your ass at practice,” Everett says.
“You can try.”
Everett leaves, and Mrs. Hendrix is at her desk, smiling at me with mischief in her eyes.
“You’re fired.”
“Please, you’d fall apart without me.”
I wish it wasn’t true. “Probation then.”
She grins. “I’ve been on probation since the day I started.”
“I’m learning the error of my ways.”
Her hand motion is dismissive, and then she juts her chin toward the two students sitting in the chairs.
Great.
“Hawk? Blaire?” I call their names and both look over. “Let’s go inside and see what trouble we’re in, shall we?”
Today is really going to hell in a handbasket.
“I’m really nervous,” Penelope admits in the car.
“It’s going to be great. I promise. Gran will love you.”
She already does. Eloise has told her just how much she adores Penelope. Gran called me two days ago, informing me that I would be going to her house today—with Penelope and Kai. Then I had a two-hour-long lecture about how old she is and the fact that I don’t even consider her tender emotions, making me no longer her favorite.
I’m going to remedy that.
