Page 8 of Regaining Integrity

Ridge must follow my attention because he chuckles. “Because Ms. Reece didn’t pay attention to you like most women do?”

“That—”

“Mom says you rely too much on your looks and need a personality transplant, and then you would find a woman to marry.” He interjects.

“Your mom isn’t wrong,” I confirm and start the truck. “And it’s also strange because you’re being responsible, and here, I was going to swing by to get us some ice cream before we head home.”

“That works for me.” He shrugs again.

I can’t help but laugh at the little shit. “But about your teacher…” His groan is louder than my engine. “Does she have a first name?”

“Angie,” he answers right away. “I’m getting a large chocolate-covered cone. I’ll have it eaten before we get home so you won’t get in trouble with Mom or Grandma.”

“I’m not scared of the women in our lives, kid.”

“But youarescared of Patience and Mom will call her to get ideas,” he shoots back.

I do my best to resist the urge to shiver. “I’ll take my chances. Is Ms. Reece—Angie single?”

“Uncle Chase.” He tilts his head at me with an expression every teenager gets when talking to an adult who knows nothing according to them. “Do I look like I would know that?”

Where did my sweet nephew go? My partner in crime?

Ignoring his question, I decide to treat him with something that’ll benefit me in the opportunity to see his teacher again. “I’ll pick you up from now on, sound good?”

Chapter Four

Angelica

Don’t watch.

Don’t look back as they drive away, Angelica Reece.

With every ounce of willpower I possess, I do my bestnotto turn around, wave like the idiot I tend to be, and let my heart get away with itself in the hopes something may happen now that Chase is home.

Never going to happen. You’re beyond your ridiculous high school crush.

Taking the deepest inhale my lungs will allow, it staggers as I release it as the truck rattles and heads for the exit of the parking lot. Only then do I turn around to see it disappear down the hill and acknowledge the unwelcomed feeling fluttering in and around me at the encounter.

How can I make heads of this?

He’s back and as delicious as ever.

“Oh, Angie, how will I be able to handle this?” The students fizzle out around me, cars leaving the parking lot, only the teachers’ vehicles remain scattered around and I’m so lost in my own mind I don’t even hear the clacking of heels against the concrete sidewalk behind me.

“WasthatChase Thorne?”

Dear God, smite me now.

Looking down at my heels, knowing they aren’t of the same pricey caliber as the ones worn by the woman behind me, I wait for the ground to open and swallow me.

I can handle seeing Chase again after all these years, but seeing the one person who truly made my life a living hell for years right after seeing Chase? I can’t.

I just can’t do it.

I may be forced to work in the same building as that woman, but I do everything I can to stay as far away from her as possible. Thankfully, we teach different subjects and grades.

“Watch where you’re going, nerd.” I wince to myself, my long hair acting like a shield for my face from the brutality I’m constantly under fire from by Cera Long. Though she pronounces her name as Cara despite how it’s spelled, making her look like an idiot, so I do my best not to let her get to me.

---