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“Uh…” I’m so dang flustered. I’m fighting the urge to see if sweat has leaked through the pits of my floral dress.
His lips twitch. “You said Krew has told you so much about me.”
I said that?
Maybe I did, but I didn’t mean it. That’s what you say when you’re meeting someone. I wrack my brain trying to think of something,anything. I glance at Krew and his Stealers baseball shirt, which he’s worn at least three times since school started.
“He said you coach his baseball team, the Stealers.” I straighten, proud of myself that I actually came up with a good answer.
Tyler nods. “It’s a play on words…because youstealthe bases.”
“Cute.”
You know what’s actually cute? The way Tyler Dixon smiles. His lips curl up perfectly, revealing the tiniest of dimples on his left cheek. I didn’t see it the other night, but now, it’s all I can think about.
Then a dangerous gleam shoots out from his eyes. “I also feel like I know so much about you.”
I instantly hate everything hethinkshe knows about me, including the fact that I’m terrible at shaving around my kneecaps. “Oh, really?”
“Yeah, it sounds like you’re giving Krew alegup on his education.”
And now all I can think about is Tyler’s hands on my legs.
This is awful.
“I think you might finallyslapsome sense into the kid,” he says. His blue eyes sparkle like Christmas lights, and I know he’s loving this little exchange.
Diane eyes us in a disapproving way. “Tyler, can we move on to Krew’s academics?”
She knows he’s flirting with me.
Is he flirting with me?
It kind of feels like it.
“Sure. I just wantedMissJohnson”—the emphasis on theMisshas been noted—“to know how much I appreciate all she’s doing for Krew.”
The sincerity in his stare knocks me off balance. “Palpitation” is a stupid word, and yet, all I can focus on is my freaking heartpalpitations.My heart hasn’t beat like this in years.
I clear my throat and fiddle with the papers in front of me, spinning them around so everyone can see them. “Here are Krew’s test scores from the beginning of the year assessment.”
Tyler leans forward. “I’ve got to be honest, these test scores mean nothing to me.”
I point to the top section. “The first test was in reading comprehension.” I smile at Krew. “You did great. You scored above average on that test.” I lower my finger to the next paragraph. “He also scored high on language arts and vocabulary.”
“What about this one? His scores look lower.” Tyler points to the next part, and his fingers brush mine accidentally as they pass, causing me to jerk my hand back into my lap.
The finger brush means nothing.
I have stone cold, statue-like fingers that feelnothing,and I’m definitely not thinking about his hands on my legs again.
“That one is for math.” My voice sounds weird, but I continue on. “He’s still on grade level for mathematics. It isn’t anything to be concerned about. He’s doing great in every subject.”
“I would like to see all of his scores go up,” Diane says. “Especially in mathematics. Kristen was excellent at math. She’d want Krew’s scores much higher than this.”
“If Miss Johnson isn’t concerned, then I’m not either,” Tyler says.
Diane rolls her eyes. “Tyler, you’re never concerned about things that are important.”
