Page 55 of What We Keep
I was replying before I could even think.
Me: Of course. Do I just show up at the school and pick him up?
Big Guy: Yep. I’ll call and make sure you’re on the approved pickup list.
Me: Are you okay?
Big Guy: Equipment issue. There’s no way in the universe I’ll make it on time. All of us are tied up here, and my mom drove to Anchorage to pick up some stuff from Costco.
Me: I’ll go right now.
I glanced around to see several curious gazes on me, just as Luna thrust the donuts at me. “Here you go. They’re warm.”
“Thank you. I have to hurry. Apparently, I’m picking Tommy up at school and taking him to the doctor.”
“That seems like more than a situationship,” Luna said with a sly smile.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Elsa
My cheeks were burning up as I started driving after I made a quick call to my boss to tell her I was taking Tommy to an appointment. I couldn’t get over what Tate had said back at the café.
“Haven had a crush on me?” I whispered to myself in the car. “You can’t think about this now,” I ordered myself as I skidded to a stop in the parking lot at the school.
I didn’t know the rules, but I figured I was supposed to go in through the main entrance. I smiled as I walked in because it was the same school I had attended, although it had definitely been upgraded.
When I got to the reception area, Mrs. Wilson glanced up, tipping her head to the side. She looked mostly the same, with just more silver in her hair.
“Mrs. Wilson?” I squeaked.
Her brows hitched up. “That’s me. Elsa Whitney?”
“It’s me.” I felt silly as I smiled at her.
She had always been so sweet to me. I had been, without a doubt, awkward in school. I’d always felt a little out of place. Mostly because, although Alaska was loosey-goosey when it came to the range of people who lived here, the whole off-the-grid lifestyle was fairly far to one side of that range.
“I just want you to know I have all my vaccines.” I patted my upper arms with my hands.
She chuckled. “Good to know, sweetheart.”
I remembered my parents arguing about that. My dad had wanted my mom to get an exemption, and she had refused.
“I already got a call from Haven Silver, and I understand you’re here to pick up Tommy Silver,” she added.
I tried to pretend I wasn’t blushing. “I’m renting a room out at Heartfire Falls,” I offered by way of explanation.
“Honey, you don’t need to explain. You’re on the pickup list. Tommy’s very excited. He thinks the doctor will be more fun with you.” She shook her head with a bemused smile.
I snorted a laugh. “We’ll see how it goes.”
A moment later, she made sure Tommy had his homework in his backpack, and off we went.
“What’s this doctor’s appointment for?” I asked.
Tommy let out a put-upon sigh. “It’s my annual appointment. Dad says I have to go. I already had to go to the lab yesterday and they took my blood. That’s more fun than this part.”
“It is?” I was genuinely curious.
