Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
But eventually, the day was over, the kids were picked up, and Ava and I were tidying the classroom. She loved when I gave her something to do, and currently, she was meticulously wiping down each table with Lysol wipes while humming along to a Mia Love album she’d begged me to put on the speaker.
I, on the other hand, was staring blankly at my laptop screen with my heart thundering in my chest.
I was officially out of my element, and I needed help.
But as a woman whose closest friends were her mother and grandmother — who decidedly would not be good confidants for this particular subject — I had to get a little creative.
Fortunately for me, there was a wonderful little corner of the interwebs called Reddit.
And right there in my classroom under a vague username and with a little courage from a glazed donut, I posted my first thread.
Help: I’m falling for my boss.
• • •
Ava and I arrived home to a surprise in the form of Maven and Livia in the kitchen with Chef Patel.
Ava ran full-speed at them, hugging each and spouting on animatedly about our day — especially the Donuts with Dad event. I watched with a tired smile as the three adult women tried to keep up.
Eventually, Ava was out of breath, and I ruffled her hair before Arushi was setting her up with a snack at the dining table. I told her she could have twenty minutes of screen time — this strange girl could never get enough of hockey highlights on YouTube — and once she was set up with the iPad, I sank into one of the empty barstools at the kitchen island.
“And how’s our favorite teacher?” Maven asked with a smile that told me she already knew.
I laid my head on my arms with a groan. “Let’s just say any day that involves that much sugar is a tough one.”
Livia chuckled. “I don’t know how you do it. The only kid I can stand to be around is that one right there,” she said, pointing toward Ava in the next room over. “And even that has its limits.”
“What about when I have kids?” Maven asked, crossing her arms.
“Oh, I suppose I can put up with them. So long as you let me spoil them rotten.”
“And so long as you keep them away from your toys,” Maven shot back.
Arushi raised a brow at that from where she was doing the dishes, and then she nodded at me, her dark brown eyes as warm as ever. “Want me to make you anything? Will said he was going to go to the driving range for a while, and when he’s there, it’s usually hours.”
“Ooohhh, bad man,” Maven said. “I know it’s bye week, but he could get in real trouble for that.”
“Something tells me that man doesn’t worry about trouble,” Livia said. “And something tells me you could use a margarita,” she added with a nod toward me.
I sat back up with a sigh. “I’m fine. Just…”
My words faded. I’d created my post on Reddit, but so far, had no comments. Looking around at the three women who had become new friends to me, I wondered if I could somehow get their advice without admitting who I was needing advice about.
“Okay,” Maven said, her manicured nail pointing right at me. “I know that look. It’s not those kids who’ve got you all flustered.”
Livia gasped. “It’s a man!”
Chef leaned in. “A man? Um… would we know this man?”
Maven and Livia both blanched at each other before grabbing ahold of my arms like I was about to spill the biggest secret in the world.
“Okay, first of all, you three are nuts,” I said on a laugh. “Secondly… you know Will. Do you honestly think he’s the one I’m in my head about?”
Maven flattened her lips at that. “Hmm… okay. Probably not. That man is about as warm as an ice cube.”
“But you didn’t deny that it’s not a man,” Livia pointed out. “Spill.”
Arushi narrowed her eyes at me like she didn’t believe Will was out of the question.
So, I thought fast, and told the best white lie I’d ever created in my life.
In my story, there was a teacher at school. Noah. And Noah was kind of stand-offish, kind of grumpy, but had recently opened up to me. I’d also caught him looking at me in ways that felt… well, like he wanted to lick me from head to toe.
Livia loved that little tidbit.
I proceeded to add that Noah was recently divorced, that there were complications since we worked together, and that I wasn’t sure if I was reading too much into things.
There.
That should do it.
When I finished, Maven let out a whistle. “Well, that is kind of complicated. I mean, a coworker is one thing, especially if there are no official rules against it at your school. But a divorced man?” She shook her head. “He might still be hung up on his ex.”