Page 77 of That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe
“Not the kind of trouble where you end up at the sheriff’s station. But, yeah. Big trouble in here.” Three points at his head. “And in here.” He taps his chest. “I’d do things different if I could, but I’m a history teacher.” He chuckles. “I’ve got way too much proof that you can’t change the past.”
Whoa. Does Three mean us? Is he saying he wishes he could change what happened?
“Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it,” Sully says. “That’s what you always told us.”
“You remember that, huh?”
“Yeah. You’re a great teacher.”
“Well you’re a great student, and Cami’s a great girl. Great girls like her are worth a little extra effort. Or alotof extra effort.”
My esophagus squeezes, and I can barely breathe. Three must be talking about me, but I don’t want to hope. I can’t handle another rejection. So I start inching backward toward the door praying he won’t discover me.
He gathers up the paint cans and drops them into a custodial bucket. “Next time, just find a grand gesture with less vandalism and more … romance.”
Sully nods. “Like a grilled cheese sandwich?”
Three guffaws, dragging a hand along the back of his neck. “Exactly like a grilled cheese sandwich.”
I suck in a breath, and Three turns, spotting me in the doorway. “Well, hello there.” A smile angles across his face. “Aren’t you supposed to be waiting in the hallway away from the paint fumes?”
“I was.” I gulp. “I just ducked in here to check on how you two were doing.” I wave my phone in the air. “And to tell you Ryan texted. The house is going to be approved.”
His brows fly up. “Congratulations.”
“We just have to get those repairs done. I meanyouhave to get the repairs done.” I shove my phone back in my pocket. “If you still want to.”
“Of course I want to.” Three tips his chin. “And your timing’s perfect, because we just finished up.”
Sully steps to the side, acknowledging the lockers. “What do you think?”
“They look brand new.” I fiddle with the zipper on my coat, trying to focus on the lockers and not on what Three was saying about the past. “I can’t tell they were ever spray painted.”
“Good.” Sully stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Hopefully no one else ever has to know.”
“Yeah, about that.” Three scratches his chin. “Somebodydidreport the break in to the sheriff, and you were brought down to the station.”
“But you and Ms. Hathaway were the only ones there.”
“You know how small this town is.” Three snorts. “Word’s definitely gonna get around. So you might want to tell your parents first.”
Sully cringes. “What do I say?”
“Tell them you had whatseemedlike a good idea at the time.” Three nods toward the lockers. “And that you’ve already repaired the damage. They’ll appreciate your honesty.”
“What if they don’t?”
“Eventually, the truth will come out. Better they hear it from you first.” He bumps Sully’s shoulder with a fist. “Cheer up, kid. It’s almost Christmas. Your mom and dad aren’t gonna kill you.”
I clear my throat to get their attention. “There’s another issue you’re forgetting.” Three and Sully both turn to me. “Cami’s probably going to find out about this too. So if you really want to surprise her …”
Three blows out a breath. “Sara’s right.”
Sully’s eyes go wide. “I gotta go.”
“Yourcar here?” Three asks.
“Yeah.” Sully starts jogging toward the hallway. “I just need a new plan!”
