Ms. Emily and I stare. I don’t know what she’s looking at but I assume it’s the way his muscles flex in his neck as he works. Lord knows it’s caught my attention.
I’m back to wanting to dropkick her again.
“Okay,” he sighs, blowing out a puff of fog as he talks, “try it now.”
I slide the key in, and sure enough, it turns like butter.
“Thank you,” I say turning back toward him as Ms. Emily retrieves the kids from the bus. “I… appreciate you coming out here. Who knows how long we’d be waiting otherwise? I need to buy one of these for myself.”
“They make smaller ones for this purpose. I’ll see if I can find one at the hardware store today and drop it off with your dad for you.”
“No, that’s okay. I can check on my own. I just—”
A biting wind blows between us.
“I’ve gotta make a stop anyway. It’s not a big deal.” He nods and turns back toward his truck, and for some reason, I follow behind like some sad little puppy who’s desperate not to be left behind.
“Hey, umm,” my stomach twists as the words I know I shouldn’t say come spilling out again, “I don’t want this.”
“Good.” He nods once. “You shouldn’t want this.”
“I don’t.” I swallow hard and close the space between us. “Ineedthis.”
A long second passes, and then without another thought, his hands are in my hair, his fingertips against my cheek, his lips against mine with a growl.
I’m not sure how long it goes on, but I know I forget where I am. I know I forget that it’s well below freezing. I know I forget the school is monitored, and that there are a line of kids who live for pointing out things everywhere.
“Oh… Ms. Katherine iskissing.”
I smile and turn back toward the row of kids, but I’m standing face to face with Ms. Emily, whose painted red lips are hanging open.
She whispers something to the principal, and I already know they know what they know. How could they not know? This is a town with around a thousand people. That and I alreadytold her that Duke was my dad’s best friend, not to mention he’s clearly a lot older than me.
None of this scene is going to go over well.
“Fuck. I’m sorry. Shit. I shouldn’t have said fuck,” Duke whispers low, his hand on my back. “I think we’re in this now, Kitten.”
Principal Hayes, the guy whose cabin Duke renovated with my dad a couple of years ago, stalks toward us, and I know I’m about to get an earful. He’s a nice guy, but he’s also extremely old-fashioned. Old-fashioned and very proper.
“Ms. Katherine, you’re putting on quite the show this morning, aren’t you?”
“Sorry. I was just thanking Duke here for bringing the heat.”
“He sure has brought some heat,” Principal Hayes scoffs. “I didn’t realize you two were dating.”
I glance back at Duke and then back toward the principal as I gather what to say or how to say it, but Duke steps in before I get a chance.
“Is that something that needs to be disclosed?”
Principal Hayes steps back and tightens his heavy down jacket tighter as though he’s not used to being questioned. “No, I suppose not. It’s just that I didn’t realize Wade was so relaxed about his daughter dating his business partner. You’re quite a bit older than Ms. Katherine.”
“That’s none of your business is it, Hayes?” Duke’s tone says he’s ready for a fight.
Not good!
The principal continues. “I have a feeling Wade doesn’t know about this, does he?”
Okay, nowI’mangry. “I’m sorry, Principal Hayes. Does any of this affect my job?”
