Page 37 of Home Field Advantage
I level my stare in her direction before continuing. “My only focus is my job and my students. Today, I have a meeting with my new student’s parents, and since my day started on the wrong foot, I’m anxious about this meeting. Oh, and did I tell you what the student said to me that makes me not want to meet her father?”
“What?” they say in unison.
“She said—and I quote—my dad likes murder.”
Blair freezes, and Lily’s eyes go wide.
“Yeah. It’s going to be a fantastic day.”
“Sarcasm aside…” Lily chuckles. “What’s your plan?”
“Plan?”
She shrugs. “Are you planning to avoid him forever? Are you going to put together a welcome basket for him? What’s the plan here?”
“The murderer dad?”
Lily rolls her eyes. “No, Pop. Your new neighbor who has you all worked up.”
I scoff. “Absolutely not.”
Blair smirks. “What if he shows up at your door looking all hot and broody again?” She gasps. “And what if he has that smile when you open the door?”
Standing from the chair, I cross my arms over my chest. “Then I’ll hand him a frozen pizza, say welcome to Poplar Street, and call it a day.”
Lily sighs, letting her back fall against the wall. “Romance is dead.”
Blair hops off the counter, laughing. “It’s just getting started, Lil. And it’s all going down on Poplar Street.”
“I hate you both.”
“No, you don’t,” they say together.
Exhaling sharply, I round the counter again. “I have to get to work. Thank you for the lack of advice this morning. Forget I said anything.”
“We won’t.” Lily smiles, wiggling her fingers in a wave.
Leaving the bakery, I get in my car for the short drive to work.
Opening up to them wasn’t the best decision. It makes me more curious about Dallas and forces me to replay the entire morning.
What if I just said good morning?
What if I didn’t run inside like a coward?
What do I do if he actually knocks on my door one day?
I feel my cheeks heat at the thought of seeing him standing there the way he was on his deck. The vision of seeing the smile on his face makes my stomach swirl in a way I’m not familiar with.
Dammit.
Maybe Lily and Blair weren’t completely wrong.
CHAPTER 10
YOU MET MY FAVORITE TEACHER, HUH?
Poppy
