Page 2 of Fall for You (Flirting with Forever 4)

Yes, yes. I’ll tell you all the sordid details of what’s going on later.

Piper rolls her eyes to the ceiling. “Honestly, conferences are my least favorite part of teaching. I can’t stand parents who think their kids are either angels or smarter than everyone else.”

I hold up a finger, happy to have the conversation moving in a different direction. “Or worse, they assume we are responsible for bad behavior.” I shake my head. “I swear, if I ever have kids, I will not be like that. And I won’t be one of those parents who behaves badly either. You can hold me to it.” I hold out a finger to Piper for a pinkie swear.

“Ditto.” Piper chuckles as she links fingers with me. “Speaking of parents behaving badly, I finally told my parents about the co-department chair decision.”

Sophia’s eyes get wide. “Oh, man. How’d that go?”

Piper shrugs. “Not great. Damon and I are happy, and that’s all that matters to me. Of course, my parents reined in their objections about it with Damon right there with me when I told them in person.” Her cheeks take on a rosy hue and her eyes go a little dreamy.

“Aw, she really does love him.” If Zoey were an ice cube, she’d have just melted into a puddle on the floor.

I smile. “I would have paid to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.”

“You can say that again.” Madison meets my eyes and laughs behind her hand. “I imagine they didn’t know what to think when you brought your co-chair home to them.”

Hadleigh nods, a smirk lighting up her face. “I knew he’d be so good for you. Damn studly beast of a man.” She cracks up and the rest of us follow.

A few minutes later, we’re talking more about our upcoming parent-teacher conference day when Madison holds up a hand to get our attention. “Hey, how about we order pizza and have it delivered for lunch on conference day? They are giving us a whole hour and a half break. I can place the order while you all are finishing up with your morning conferences. We can meet in the library at one, and I’ll have a yummy lunch already waiting for you.”

We all nod eagerly and with that decided, Zoey perks up. “It’s my turn to choose a book for next time. I think you all are going to love this one.” She gives a little giggle and pulls her e-reader out of her bag. Still trying not to head into full-fledged laughter, she turns it on and pulls up the cover of the book. “Falling for the Pterodactyl.”

“What in the name of all that’s holy is that?” Hadleigh shrieks with laughter.

Oh my God, I didn’t think it could get worse than the two-dicked blue lover from outer space.

Zoey shakes, her body practically convulsing with her mirth. “I—I don’t know. I found it on Amazon.”

Madison groans. “At this point, I think we are all just trying to outdo each other with the insanity.”

“Truth.” Sophia waves her hand in front of her face, trying to calm herself. “Okay, fine. Up next is a little dino lovin’.” She stops to laugh. “So, where do you want to meet next time?”

Zoey, who is normally so quiet and not at all an instigator, flashes me a wicked smile. “How about the cider mill?”

Oh yes, let’s. Right back to the scene of my crimes. I’m sure they are thinking maybe they’ll find out more about what it is I’ve been up to if we go there. Not that I don’t want to see Liam again. Because I do. He’s hot and sweet … and oh my gosh. I glance around at the delighted looks on everyone’s faces, and my face flushes pink. How long have I been sitting here thinking about him while they’ve been staring at me waiting for my reaction?

I nod, raking my teeth over my lower lip. “Sounds good.”

Hadleigh grins. “Awesome. I can’t wait to go back to the cider mill and talk about dino porn.”

We dissolve into another puddle of laughter and that’s how Mom finds us a full five minutes and several jokes later. Damn, I love these women.

Chapter 2

Liam

“Olivia, wait a sec, would you?” My fifteen-year-old daughter is poised to take off like a shot to her room the second she and her mother walk in the door.

She pauses, brown eyes full of curiosity, questioning what the holdup is. “What’s up?”

My gaze travels over her face, and I see the slightest bit of apprehension showing through her usual devil-may-care teenage attitude.

Becky tilts her head to the side. “What’s going on, Liam? Is this something you need me for? I’ve got to get back. I’ve got a lot of work to do on that big case I’m trying next week.” My ex-wife is a high-powered defense attorney in Boston. Wanting to drop Olivia off and bolt back to work is typical Becky. This is part of the reason why our marriage fell apart and she knows it. At my grimace, a flicker of apology passes through her eyes.

I press my lips together. “Actually, I think you need to hear this.” I run a hand through my hair. “Olivia is failing her biology class. I received an e-mail from her teacher this morning.” I lift a brow as I gaze at my daughter, waiting for her confirmation that she’s aware of her standing.

“Olivia! Seriously.” Becky stares at our daughter like she’s grown a third head—which I’m guessing Olivia did not learn how to do in biology class.

---