Page 38 of Single Teddy
Whatever it was, it was nagging at the back of my head and the pit of my stomach. As if it couldn’t stand the thought of anything bad happening to Wesley.
Which wasn’t such an unfamiliar feeling in my line of work, but still, this was…this was too strong and too visceral.
“And why the hell not?” he asked in a defiant tone that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
“Because,” I started, but I had to stop and swallow before I continued, “You’ll be putting a Grade-A target on your back. And if he’s connected like we think he is, it won’t end well.”
His lips twitched between frustration and fear, and I squeezed his hand tighter to offer some comfort, if any.
“And what do you propose we do? Nothing? I can’t do that. I can’t pretend those boys aren’t in danger.”
“And we’re not asking you to. We just need to think about our next steps very carefully. For everyone’s sake,” Joey said, and Wesley’s only reply was a deep, understanding sigh.
“All right. Then let’s put our heads together and figure this shit out now. I don’t want those boys to spend any more nights at that house than they have to.”
Joey looked at me, and I looked at Wesley.
“What?” he asked. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. And if you’re about to use the whole Navy SEAL superhuman excuse, you can shove it where the sun don’t shine.”
It was my turn to smile at him.
Even though I hated that he was involved now. Even though it wasn’t safe for him and he couldn’t protect himself the same way Joey and I could. Even though it was bad, I couldn’t stop smiling.
This was the kind of teacher I wanted to have fighting for my nephew. Always.
Yeah, that was why. That was why there was a tightening in my stomach and my throat was so dry I felt parched. And that was why my chest felt so warm it could just about explode.
It was just Wesley being a good teacher and a good person.
Yeah.
That was all it was. No doubt.
TWELVE
WESLEY
Afew days later, there was still no update from either Teddy or Joey, and I was on the verge of just walking into the police station myself and reporting this whole situation.
The only thing that stopped me was that I didn’t want to get Teddy in trouble. And I didn’t want anything to happen to the twins because of my foolishness or rushing.
But I was reaching the end of my tether. More so because I’d had to lie to the principal and Monica about the visit and how it had gone. And for the rest of the week, I had to act like the boys’ tardiness was no issue.
I was starting to think they had become more meek, but maybe that was me projecting my worries and fears on them.
It was probably why sleep had evaded me all week, and why I got up before the sun on Saturday. I went through my routine anyway, then spent some time in the garden gathering flowersand by the time I was done, the sky was a beautiful shade of orange that made me feel a little better.
I wanted to trust Teddy. I did trust him, but my protective teacher instincts were screaming at me to do more. That there was more I could do even if I had no clue about drug dealers, crime syndicates, and undercover operations.
I sighed and entered the school with my bike in tow, leaving it in the classroom before I grabbed all the craft boxes and took them to the gym, which was already all decked out for the Harvest Festival.
In order to keep my mind from reeling, if that was even possible, I started setting up all the stations, and before long, other teachers joined me. By the time the kids showed up for lunch, it was all ready and glorious.
The craft section was at the back, the bleachers were fully equipped with buffet food and drinks, the middle of the gym was blocked out for the show later on, and the rest of the space was open for the dozens of parents who were attending.
He showed up with Bear just as the lunch line was dwindling, and I waved at them both as if nothing had happened. As if everything was normal.
Even though I was frustrated with him—with his whole team, to be honest—I couldn’t deny how stunning he looked despite everything. I didn’t think it was possible for this man to look bad, not even if caught with his mouth open, wolfing down food like he was a little later.
