Page 28 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
She’d been dreaming of a trip like that for years. Her grandfather wasn’t one for traveling. He had a love affair with their small Florida town. And her mom didn’t enjoy anything that forced her to spend time with her daughter.
Half an hour later, Jack Gibson stormed through the office door, his eyes zeroing in on her in relief. She recognized the look on his face. He was in protect Hadley mode, her favorite.
“Papa.” She stood to face him.
“Sweetheart.” He pulled her into a hug. “You weren’t supposed to get caught.”
She laughed, his shirt muffling the sound. “It was because of one of the goats. He remembered me.”
He put a hand on each of her shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “That’s because my girl is unforgettable. Even to a goat.”
A grin spread across her face. “Well, Principal Morgan isn’t too happy with me at the moment.”
He leaned in. “That’s because he’s probably a stick in the mud.”
“Papa, no one says that. It makes you sound old.” He once told her to always tell him when he sounded old so he’d stay young forever.
He sent her a wink before walking to the desk and leaning against it, chatting up the secretaries.
Before long, he had them hanging on his every word.
Her grandfather was a charmer.
The bell signaling the end of class chimed and students flooded the hall outside the office.
Principal Morgan appeared, tearing Hadley’s attention away from her classmates.
“Mr. Gibson.” He held out a hand.
Her grandfather took it. “The name is Jack.” His eyes hardened. “But you can call me Mr. Gibson.”
Hadley couldn’t help but laugh at the shocked look on the principal’s face as he shut his office door.
She relaxed back in the chair, happy to at least be missing English.
“Psst, Hads,” Roman’s voice came from the hall.
She checked to make sure the secretaries were occupied before joining him. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Neither should you. I’m going to tell them I helped.” He tried to walk into the office, but she reached out to stop him.
“Don’t you dare. I have a rep going as a lone wolf. I can’t be seen receiving aid from Mr. Hockey himself.”
“Are you serious?”
“No, weirdo. I’m not serious. But you still can’t tell them. They’ll kick you off the hockey team. Principal Morgan is on the war path. I don’t have anything to lose.”
“What if they expel you?”
“They won’t.”
Roman huffed. “But how do you know that?”
“Because I do. Just go to class, okay. And if you see the others, tell them not to say a word.”
He looked so torn it was almost comical. “Is Jack coming?”
“He’s already here.” She shoved him down the hall. “Go.”
