It’s impressive. This mental gymnastics. All to keep thinking the worst of me.
“I was never with her. Never talked to her, saw her, or thought of her for a second after that night until this conversation. And” —I pause, staring at Brie for one loaded moment— “I wouldn’t have her.”
Brie frowns, likethisis the most confusing part of all, before hardening her face again. “Because she’s not good enough for you? Figures.”
Hands still in my pockets, I tilt toward her and enunciate so she doesn’t miss a word. “Because I’m not interested in her.”
She inhales sharply. Her pupils dilate and that plump lower lip juts out. It would be so easy to capture between my teeth. I have to tighten every muscle in my body to stop myself.
“So!” Tess claps her hands once.
Brie and I jerk away from each other. We blink back into reality, and after one more loaded look, we fall into our seats.
“I like your tie,” Tess says.
I look down. Bluey stares back.
“Thanks.”
This is my favorite tie because kids go crazy forBluey, I get at least triple the high-fives when I wear it. I wear these goofy ties to appear more approachable to the kids. I dole out high-fives like candy, I show up to a gym class at least once a week to challenge the class to a race against me, and I have a special secret box for kids to leave messages for me if they’re ever too scared to talk. Once, a kindergartener left a drawing that prompted us to learn his older step-brother was bullying him.
The point is, I take this job seriously. But I haven’t been acting like it lately.
I look around. We’re still the only teachers in the lounge, and I heave out a shuttering sigh.
Fuck. I can’t keep doing this. I got carried away. Again. Completely unprofessional in a professional setting. I shouldn’t have even allowed myself to come down here.
Brie is back to dutifully ignoring me, which is for the best.
“Next week’s spirit week,” Tess says, completely oblivious to my internal scolding. “Do you have any intel on when Funny Bunny will make an appearance?”
When the BRES mascot makes his appearance duringspirit week is a surprise to everyone except the person in the suit.
Spoiler: it’s me. I’m Funny Bunny.
“Nice try,” I tell her, screwing the top on my thermos and standing up. “It’s a surprise.”
CHAPTER 20
SAWYER
“You look like shit,”Will says when I climb out of my truck.
“Feel like it too.” I glance up at the large Colonial I grew up in.
My brother pats my shoulder. “It won’t be so bad. Last month, things were civil. It’s getting better.”
I look down as we walk up the stone pathway to the front door, not bothering to argue. The truth is, can things really be considered civil if I dissociate the whole time? Sure, it means there are no arguments that way, butcivil? Not likely.
“It’s fine,” I tell him. “The way I look and feel, for once, doesn’t have anything to do with this dinner.”
Will’s hand stops halfway to the doorbell. “What is it, then?”
Scratching my jaw, I look up at the magnolia tree I used to get yelled at for climbing as a kid because it might have affected the landscaping.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Will fold his arms over his chest. We may not have seen a lot of each othergrowing up with our age difference, but Will and I have become close since I moved back to Blue Ridge. He can read me too well.
“It’s the Casey girl, isn’t it.”
