Page 5 of Single Teddy
Custody status: Single Custody
I scanned the rest of the info and got to the notes from his previous school.
Creative. Loves to draw. A bit closed off. Attachment struggles.
The more I read about the kid, the more excited I was to meet him. I loved a challenge, and there was nothing more rewarding than gaining the trust of a kid who didn’t trust easily.
I turned the page to read his previous school report when a piece of paper caught my attention as it floated from the wall down to the floor as if performing an intricate dance. Before I could even push my chair back to deal with it, the whole world flag display followed suit in one aggressive splat.
“Dammit,” I muttered, set the file down and got to work putting it all back up.
I was just finishing securing the flag banner where it ended by the front door when there was a knock and a hello.
I’d gotten so enthralled in my solitude that the intrusion took me by surprise, and I jumped, lost my footing on the chair, and tumbled backward.
My voice got caught in my throat as a pair of hands grabbed me before I cracked my head open on the floor. I looked up at the bluest, most gorgeous eyes I’d ever seen.
“Hi,” I said with a croaking voice.
“You must be Mr. Crawford.”
The blond beauty before me looked more like a mirage than a real-life human being and whatever brain cells I had left jumped ship.
“The one and only,” I muttered.
Was this a dream?
Had I actually fallen and knocked myself into a coma?
Yeah, that must be it. There was no other way this giant, muscled man with the most perfect skin, glorious icy eyes, and silky blond hair that begged to be stroked was real. Especially when hespoke so softly, so gently that it almost sounded like an ethereal secret that had the power to change your life.
He was a walking wet dream. And I didn’t want to wake up from it.
“Are you okay?” he asked, and I’d almost started dancing to the tune of his voice when I spotted a little man beside him.
This was not a wet dream. This was real life. And I was being held by a real man, no matter how unreal he seemed.
“I…um…yes,” I stammered and tried to balance myself upright, only to lose my footing again, but the blond dream put his hands around my arm and my back, steadying me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked me, and I had to give it my all to sound like a normal human being and return to reality.
“I’m good. Thank you. I was just startled.” I pulled back with grounded steps and straightened my clothes and glasses.
Had I forgotten to lock the door somehow or had this dream man managed to break it open with his huge muscles? It honestly wouldn’t surprise me considering how big he was and how underfunded the school was.
“Are you a student of mine?” I asked, looking at him again.
The dream man smirked and shook his head. “I’m not, but little Bear here is.” He put his hand on top of the young boy’s head and ruffled his hair.
The heat rose and gathered around my cheeks, but I refused to entertain my embarrassment.
“Yeah, sorry. That’s what I meant. Hi, Bear.” I turned to the young boy and offered him my hand. “I’m Mr. Crawford. I’m really pleased to meet you and have you in my class.”
The boy glued himself to his dad and looked at me with reservation. His eyes were the same bright blue as his dad’s, his messy hair the same blond.
“Sorry, he’s a bit shy,” the dad said, and I pulled my hand back.
Right. Attachment struggles. I forgot.
