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The boys pass the ball around the painted square. They throw up a few shots, missing most of them. Tyler does a good job of acting like he’s trying to defend them, but that they're too good for him. Then Krew throws the ball to me. Tyler shuffles to guard me and I turn my back to him, bouncing the ball. His body presses against my back, and his arms swipe for the ball. He’s all over me, bumping into me with his back, reaching into my space.
I’m not going to lie. I’m enjoying it.
“That’s a foul!” I call out playfully.
“What? Can’t you handle it?”
“You’re not supposed to touch me. Remember the rules?” I pick up the ball and run closer to the basket, trying to get away from him.
“Travel!” he says, following after me.
“What? Can’t you handle it?”
“Now look who’s cocky.”
He reaches for the ball, but I pick it up, holding it away from him. His hand wraps around my arm and the other pulls on my waist, trying to move me closer to him. We’re not even playing basketball anymore. We’re playing some flirty keep-away game where it seems like the goal is to get your body as close to the other person as you can, and I’m here for it. I break free from Tyler’s grasp and run to the basket, but both his hands close around my waist, pulling my back into him.
“Miss Johnson.” His words are breathy on my neck. “I don’t think you understand the rules of basketball.”
I turn my head so my lips are by his cheek. “I think you have a fouling problem.”
He smiles, and I can’t help it…my eyes drop to his lips.
A voice clears behind us. “Tyler, can I speak with you for a moment? That is, if you’re not too busy.”
My eyes skip to Diane Carter, and I wiggle out of Tyler’s grasp as fast as I can.
One brow raises. “The playground equipment we wanted is on backorder.”
“Sure.” Tyler says. “I was just playing basketball with Krew and his friends.”
“You weren’t playing basketball with us,” Krew groans. “You were only playing with Mrs. Johnson. You guys ruined the game.”
I glance around. All the boys are standing there watching us.
“Yeah, Mrs. Johnson is a ball hog,” Noah says.
“Miss Johnson, might I ask who is watching your students right now?”
“I am.” I shift my weight.
“We don’t want one of the kids to get hurt on the playground because we were being negligent.”
“Meg wasn’t being negligent,” Tyler says.
Oh, but I was.
The basketball game was dumb of me.
So very dumb.
* * *
After school,I open up an urgent email from Diane addressed to all of the employees.
Dear faculty and staff,
As you may know, the playground is being remodeled, and we have a crew of workers here at all times, trying to meet the pressing deadline.Please don’t socialize at recess with any of the workers, as we don’t want them to be distracted while they work. Remind your students to follow these same guidelines.
