Chapter One
Everyone hadthat one thing that set their heart racing. For some, it was sporting events. For others, it was bookstores or quirky coffee shops. My brother loved the nightlife, and my best friend craved to be on the football field.
For me, I never felt more myself than when I was prepping my classroom. It was my stage, my home, myplacewhere not one of the twenty-four first graders cared that my grandparents had left me millions of dollars.
Winning Teacher of the Year for our district last year had filled me with a sense of pride that I carried around with me like an accessory, like I was doing the right thing at the right time. It was intoxicating, and I hummed as I unloaded the box of new supplies from my car and hauled it into my classroom. It smelled the same. Crayons and glue and markers. A very specific smell, and I breathed it in while eyeing the glass award on the corner of my desk.
I set the box down on my desk, anxious to open it. It was taped shut, and the words CARTER MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY were written on the top with bold black letters. I treated myself every summer to buying materials for the year. Glitter, crafts, fun scissors, activity books. I’d splurged and got a Cricut to decorate the walls with all sorts of designs. The bounce balls and standing desks weren’t arriving until next week, but I knew the students would be excited to try flexible seating.
It was better than Christmas morning when I opened new supplies. “Come to Mama,” I said, using a letter opener to slice open the top part of the box. The smooth sound echoed in the room, and I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face when I pulled back the flaps.
I paused, my mouth stretching into a frown.
Blue folders, generic crayons, glue, and some sort of organizational file system stared back at me. I checked the box again, and it was my name, but this was not my stuff. I dug around until I found the receipt with the items ordered and frowned when I pulled it out.
Forty items ordered.
That was incorrect. I ordered triple that amount.
Annoyed that I couldn’t prep my room as planned, I called the teacher shop and tried to explain it was the wrong box. It took ten minutes before anyone admitted there had been a mix-up.
“So how do I get my original order?” I said, plopping down in my computer chair and spinning around. “That’s all I want.”
“Uh, you might have to place it again. Someone picked yours up already, I’m so sorry,” the woman said, her voice shaking a bit. “I’m seeing here two orders from Mountain Elementary were indicated, and—wait…hold on.”
I tensed, the muscles in my neck tightening when she clicked her tongue. “What is it?”
“There were two orders with the name Carter and Mountain Elementary. Is there someone else with the last name Carter there?”
“Uh, no.” I frowned and tried to picture our staff. Maybe one got married or changed their last name? We did have two new staff members joining our school, but the chances of them having the last name Carter seemed too coincidental. I would’ve heard about it before now. “I’ll ask around, but in the meantime, could you repeatmyorder and let me know when I can get it?”
“Right, yes, of course.” She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry about the mix-up, ma’am.”
“It’s fine,” I said through clenched teeth. I’d spent hours over the summer coming up with a new seating chart system and a reward chart with color-coded stickers. I sighed and said good-bye as Larissa Lopes, my work-wife and best teaching friend, walked in with raised brows and a wicked smile. “My girl,” I said, getting up and pulling her into a hug. “Mexico looks good on you.”
“Gil,Gilly,” she said, her voice all low and weird.
“What?” I pulled back from our embrace, and she raised her eyebrows up and down a few times. “What are you doing? I haven’t seen you in a month, and this is how you welcome me?”
“Have you seen the newest first-grade teacher joining your team?”
“No, but unless he’s famous or an exact carbon copy of my dream man, Chris Hemsworth, I don’t see what the fuss is about.”
“Uh.” She paused, biting her lip and giggling. “He’s a bit like him, yeah. He’shot.Like stupid hot.”
My face warmed a bit, which was insane because I hadn’t met the man. “Are you sure he’smynew buddy teacher?”
“Oh shit. You’re doing buddies this year?” She tossed her head back and laughed, clapping her hands and making her million bangle bracelets cling together. “Gil, you are going to struggle with a capital S. Wait until you see him.”
We were not in high school, and it was just fine having an attractive man be on the team. Sure, it was rare to have men teach in an elementary school, let alone look anything like Chris Hemsworth, but it could happen. “Well, might as well put on lipstick when I go next door, huh?”
She eyed the box and looked inside while I found my favorite red matte lipstick from the top of my drawer. My mom never wore a lot of makeup but instilled the power held by a bold color. It made people pay attention to her mouth, and in the process, what she said. She was five feet tall and a powerhouse.
The additional color on my lips gave me a little of the confidence I needed. I’d been experiencing a dry spell. Nothing since the hookup I’dthoughtwent well, only to find out he’d ghosted me.
I was either a one-night standora way for a someone to get money. The bitter memory of my brother’s ex clouded my mood, and I cleared my throat. I spent enough time lettingherpiss me off, and I forced my attention back on Larissa.
“Why’d you order boring stuff? This isn’t you,” Larissa said, pulling out a pack of pale-yellow Post-it notes. “You have a personality change when I was gone or what?”
