She headed back to her office, her heels echoing softly down the corridor. She wore them sometimes in an attempt to get an extra inch or two, but it didn’t really work. Max’s dad was gone when she got back, and Adele was in her own office, focused like a laser on her laptop screen.
Settling at her desk, Clara glanced over her schedule of guidance meetings. Soon enough, her first student knocked on the door, and a nervous looking third year entered with a folder clutched to her chest.
‘Hi, Freya. In you come.’ Clara got up from her desk and took one of the comfy seats, indicating Freya should do the same. ‘How are you today?’ Clara offered her an encouraging smile, helping her feel at ease as they talked through her subject choices in prep for the following school year, which started before the summer holidays, in June once the exams were finished. Clara enjoyed these one-on-one sessions, getting to know the pupils and helping them untangle their worries.
Freya seemed more confident after their chat. When Clara said goodbye to her, her next appointment wasn’t there yet, and her mind wandered for a second, drifting back to her earlier conversation with Sam. He’d mentioned Somerset before, and every time he did, it sounded like a nice place. But what about that wedding? She felt his pain about not wanting to go alone.
An idea popped up almost on its own. I could offer to go to the wedding with him– just as a friend. If he wanted her to.She blinked. Was that completely mad? Would he think it was a terrible idea? Perhaps it was completely overstepping.
Clara’s next pupil was on his way down, and she forced her mind back on track. Come lunchtime however, she’d made up her mind to at least ask Sam. He hadn’t been in the staffroom at break again – maybe she should let him be. Was she being really annoying? Maybe this would make things worse, and she would wish she’d kept her mouth shut. That was how it had always been with football-first Fergie. Clara would make what she thought was a bright suggestion only for him to tear it down and leave her wishing she’d said nothing.
She hovered by the work surface in the staffroom, idly stirring her coffee and keeping an eye on the door. She didn’t take a seat with the others. Where was Sam?
Just as she was considering going to his room, the door opened, and he came in, checking his phone. When he saw her, he slipped it into his back pocket with that easy half-smile that did inconvenient things to her pulse.
He was wearing one of his dark shirts again – sleeves rolled up, collar open just enough to suggest he hadn’t planned to look that good. Lissa had called him a hottie, and Clara had laughed at the time. Now… well, Lissa might’ve been onto something. Not the obvious, male model way like Kerr – Sam’s appeal was quieter, like a song that got under your skin after the third listen.
Not that it mattered. Not that she was listening.
‘You ok?’ he asked quietly.
‘Yeah. I thought maybe you weren’t coming down.’
‘I was talking to Isaac,’ he said, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘Max has been getting to him. But he’s relieved not to have him next session. That joy falls to me.’
Clara touched his arm, meaning it as reassurance, though her fingers noticed more than they should’ve – warmth, solid musclebeneath the fabric. ‘You’ll be great. Max will respect you more. He seems to respond better to, um… older teachers.’
His eyebrow lifted.
‘Not old,’ she blurted. ‘Just older than Isaac or Kerr. In a good way.’
Sam laughed. ‘Don’t worry, I know what you meant. And trust me, I feel ancient some days.’
‘You’re definitely not that.’ She glanced around, checking no one was nearby, then lowered her voice. ‘Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.’
‘Oh?’ His mouth quirked. ‘What have I done now?’
‘Nothing bad.’ She grinned. ‘It’s about that wedding you’re going to.’
‘Right…’ He folded his arms.
‘Well,’ she said, words tumbling faster now, ‘if you wanted, I could come with you. As your plus-one. Not that you need me to, obviously. It just – might make the drive less dull. And, you know, moral support and all that.’
He blinked, surprise flickering into that slow grin again. ‘Did Lissa put you up to this?’
‘No!’ she said quickly, then winced. ‘I mean, I know she joked about it, but I’m serious.’
‘You’d actually come?’
‘Of course. That’s what friends do.’ Her voice came out lighter than she felt, and her cheeks had gone annoyingly warm.
He looked at her for a moment, that kind, careful way of his. ‘That’s really good of you. It’s just… a long way to go. Probably too far for Skye.’
‘That’s fine. I’m sure my sister or my parents will take her.’ She smiled, meaning it. ‘I’ll check with them, and if it works for you, I’d love to come. We could make it a road trip.’
His hand brushed along his jaw, eyes still on her. ‘I don’t doubt we would have a good time.’
She nudged him, half to hide the flutter under her ribs. ‘Exactly. We can chat all the way… or do some karaoke.’
