Page 103 of The Player Penalty
“You were awake for that?”
“I’m working undercover. He never saw me coming.”
“That’s your superpower.” I put an arm around her so she snuggles in closer. “If he wants to try again, then so do I.”
“Sometimes you think all you have is a chunk of glass until you look closer and realize it’s a precious diamond. You’re hisdiamond, Julian Murphy. He sees you. Now, wake me when we land.”
“Sure. Are you coming home with me tonight? Please say yes.”
“Always.”
And forever.
37-Lily
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
I chuckle at Ms. Terry’s question. “Internship hours are supposed to be fun times with our students, not grading math assignments. It’s safe to say any future career plans do not involve me teaching algebra.” Or any other math. Teaching the younger students is a blast while grading math homework is a chore. “At least the scoring is to help students learn. I’d hate for my red ink to dictate their grades.”
Ms. Terry watches me work from where she sits. Although my rotation in her classroom ended after the previous school year, I often still spend time with her once the day ends.
“We’re starting a preschool program next year,” she says.
That casual comment causes me to drop my pen. “What? Is it official?”
She lifts a shoulder. “Official announcements will come out later this year, with early registration starting right after. We plan to offer two, three, and five-day programs to start. Of course, the number of teachers we hire depends on enrollment, so it’s too soon to tell, but I thought you might find the news interesting.”
“My internship ends at the end of this semester,” I start. After that, it’s more school or beginning a job search. Nepotismmeans a job atRMSwill always be available, even if it isn’t what I want. My time in the math department also makes clear I prefer working with younger children, plus I’d be involved from the beginning. “What are the job qualifications?”
“You meet them,” Ms. Terry says. She knew the preschool program would spark my interest; her all-knowing smile only proves it. “I hope this means you’ll consider it. If not that, then the world always needs another art teacher.”
“A worthy backup plan,” I say. A preschool class is much better.
∞∞∞
I slip into the garage after finding Julian’s office empty. He’s at the other end, huddled over technical equipment, with my father and the engineers. None of them notice me, which is fine. They’re busy doing final prep work on his newest car before it’s loaded onto the hauler in the morning.
The green smoothie on his desk will be warm when he leaves the garage. It’s playoff season, and Julian, like everyone else, has been prepping non-stop. As soon as one race ends, he’s focusing on the next.
Last week, I asked Julian which drivers he’d prefer to race in the final four. The question made sense to me since some were weaker than others, right? Julian didn’t hesitate with his answer, telling me he’d prefer none of them. I didn’t understand at first, but I realized he meant there were no weaker drivers at this level.
I sneak through the office door and run head-first into Maddie. “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t see you coming.” Because I was oblivious to everyone but Julian.
“Not a problem.” Maddie crooks her head to the side as her features turn serious. “Actually, you’re someone I hoped to speak to today.”
“What’s wrong?” I’m no longer an employee, so it isn’t a discipline problem. Julian’s contract was renewed for the next three years, and it wasn’t Dad’s birthday. “What happened?”
“Oh, nothing is wrong. My apologies for alarming you. That should have been phrased better. It’s a job offer.”
I stiffen beside her. We’re in the middle of a hallway where anyone could come along and hear me refuse. “What kind of offer?”
“It’s not full-time, which might be a problem. Still, once we came up with the idea, you were the first person I thought of.”
We wander back towards Julian’s office, where I sit, legs crossed, in my usual chair. “Does this mean it isn’t an accounting job?” The sour taste of grading math papers still sits on my tongue. A job with numbers is the wrong job for me.
“Not even close.” Maddie takes the chair opposite mine. “Sarah and I had this idea a couple of years ago, but we’ve never pulled it off. Your summer school field trip was such a success; it seemed like you were the ideal person.”
It’s not summer school. “Tell me more.”
