“I’ll pop in a couple afternoons, but I have that event I’m lead for as well as a few other jobs I’m helping out on.”
“Okay.” She didn’t know what else to say.
They stood there for an eternity, staring at each other, not saying anything. It was probably only a few seconds.
“Sooo…I’ll see you later?” she said.
“I’ll text you tonight.” He leaned forward and kissed her quickly before she could react. He lifted his eyebrows quickly. “Bye, Ab.”
“Bye.” She reflexively waved a hand as he turned and strutted away from her. He really did have a nice ass.
“Bye, Ms. Day,” a singsong voice said.
Abby looked to her left and saw two of the seniors from the student council walking toward the student parking lot. “Bye, girls. Drive carefully.”
The girls watched as Tinker’s bike roared to life and giggled at each other. Abby rolled her eyes and headed to her car. Who was she kidding—if Naomi or Lindsey had been there, she’d probably have squealed and giggled too.
Need an eraser room
Tinker couldn’t stop by the school until Thursday afternoon. He was due back at Leonidas to update Graham on the birthday party event but decided to stop by the school to invite Abby to a barbecue on Sunday. Who was he kidding? Even without an excuse, he’d started heading to the school after his meeting.
Messaging and talking to Abby on the phone every night wasn’t cutting it. He wanted to see her. He was more restless than usual, twitchy. It didn’t help that Angie kept giving him sly glances and muttering “mmm hmm” when she passed him.
Phillip, the front office assistant, grimaced when Tinker traded his license for the visitor’s pass. So Phillip hadn’t warmed up since their last meeting. Tinker made his way down the hall and spotted James in the atrium, holding up a sheet of plywood and patting his tool belt.
“Need a hand?” Tinker asked.
“Hey. Grab that tape measure over there on the toolbox.” James pointed to his right, holding the sheet vertical with his left.
Tinker snagged the tape measure and placed it in James’s hand.
“Hold this.” James wobbled the plywood and Tinker grabbed the edges.
Movement in a hallway drew his attention, and he smiled as Abby entered the atrium with a student. She was holding a sheaf of papers and pulled a pencil out of her bun to scribble a note as she walked.
“Hold it still, dingus. I can’t make clean measurements if you’re jerking the wood all over the place,” James said.
Tinker realized the sheet was leaning and moved it back into position.
James made several marks along the edge and released the tape measure, letting it retract with a snap. “Quit mooning and go talk to her. I know that’s why you’re here anyway.”
“I came to see if you needed any help. And I’m not mooning.”
“See those girls?” James pointed to the far side of the atrium. “Giggling over the floppy-haired kid over there? You might as well join them for all the help you’re giving me right now. Mooning.” He harrumphed to drive his point home.
“I’ll show you mooning,” Tinker said. Not that James was wrong. He felt more than a little ridiculous showing up at the school just to catch a glimpse of Abby.
“Better not. Showing your ass in a school will get you put on all sorts of lists.”
“Anyone tell you you’re a pain in the ass?” Tinker asked.
“The missus. All the time. Why do you think I’m here? She saw you.”
“What?” Tinker looked and found Abby waving at him with a look of surprise. “You got this?”
“I’ve had it, dunderhead. Go.”
“Cool. Later.” He let go of the wood and left James muttering to himself.
