Page 9 of The Santa Rules
My eyes drop to his very naked ring finger. A throat clears behind him, and I see a line of parents forming. “Bella!” Amber’s voice calls out.
“I’m just gonna…” I hook a thumb over my shoulder and then turn and walk over to my desk, wishing I could crawl under it. Why do I have to be so awkward with this man?
Minutes later, Amber calls the meeting to order and introduces me as the faculty representative. I also have a kid at our K-12 school, but I don’t correct her. She moves meticulously through each agenda item, sneaking glances over the secretary’s shoulder, probably to make sure she’s taking sufficient notes.
When we get to the holiday section of the agenda, I watch as parents raise their hands to volunteer for parties, fundraisers, and other events.
“Unfortunately, the person organizing Santa’s Workshop had to drop out and we need someone that can fill in at the last minute since it’s only a month away,” Amber says, looking around the room.
“I can!” My hand shoots up. It happens so instantly, I’m not even sure why I’m doing it.
You’re doing it to prove to this grinch that you are not the total hot mess she thinks you are.
Amber plasters on a big fake smile, looking around for someone else to raise their hand, but no one does. “Actually, you’ll need a co-chair.”
“I’ll do it,” a deep voice says from the back, and I don’t even have to look to know it’s Hardy.
Three sets of eyes look at me, and I can hear their voices in my head.
Is that who I think it is?
Oh my God, you’re right! He is so cute!
Why are you volunteering for that?
I bite my lips as I give them a small smile.
“I guess that will work.” Amber’s voice is strained as she continues. “What’s your name, and who’s your student?”
“I’m Hardy, and I have a kindergartener named Avery.”
Oh shit.My eyes go wide, and I try to hide my surprise. How did I not know he had a kid in my class? Avery never did have a parent show up last month when we did parent-teacher conferences. And I’ve never had any trouble with her, so I haven’t needed to call home.
I smile and nod through the rest of the meeting, not really paying attention as my mind races with thoughts.
How the fuck am I going to pull off Santa’s Workshop?
Am I allowed to date a parent of a student in my class?
Would he even be interested?
The room has nearly cleared out by the time I refocus my thoughts.
Amber walks by my desk. “Let me know if you need any help with Santa’s Workshop. This is a really important event. The kids look forward to it all year. I just want to make sure you know how big a deal this is.”
I look at her and fake a smile. She comes off as a difficult person, but I know she means well—or at least I want to believe she does. But if her persistence comes from a place of caring, I wish she’d care a little less. “I know how importantthis event is. Christmas is my favorite holiday, I have tons of ideas for what we can do, and I won’t screw this up.”
“You better not.” She turns on her heel and click-clacks out of the room.
Hardy is still sitting at his table, picking at the wrapper on his water bottle. It’s clear the man doesn’t skip leg day, because there’s no other explanation for how he is holding up his body as he balances on the chair that looks comically tiny under him.
I stand from my desk and walk around the tables, picking up the leftover agendas, trying to straighten the place as much as I can while sneaking peeks at him out of the corner of my eye. He really is handsome, and I wonder if he noticed all the moms checking him out during the meeting. I know I did.
I turn my back to him, cleaning up the container of spilled crayons, silently cursing Amber with each one I pick up. I’m hyperfocused on my task, getting totally lost in the silence of the room as I sort the crayons by color.
“So, there’s something I want to ask you about.”
I jump. “Holy shit, I forgot you were here,” I say, shooting up as I turn to face him.
