“Orders got mixed up, somehow.” I checked to make sure I didn’t have anything in my teeth and popped my lips.Perfect.“Okay, guess I should go meet my buddy teacher, huh?”
“Assistant Principal Dave does encourage us to be leaders and reach out to newcomers. We are aMountainFamily,” she said, mocking our boss by putting her hands on his hips. APD, as we called him, had a no-nonsense attitude more reminiscent of a military general than an elementary school assistant principal.
But he was the best advocate for his teachers.
“Wish me luck,” I said, dabbing a tiny bit of lotion on my hands and rubbing it in.
“Come to my room when you’re done. Helen wants us to have an in-depthplanningmeeting on the first day back. Kill me. I need ten margaritas already.” She brushed by me and strode into the hallway. Her smile caused me to sweat just a little as she studied the room next to me.
I sighed and gave her a small wave, wiping my palms on my dress. Wearing bright and crazy patterns was something I’d starting as a teenager in an effort to stand. The vibrant colors hid glue, boogers, and leftover craft materials well, and like the lipstick, they made me feel bold. Plus, I wanted kids to see me as someone positive. They all came from home lives that were so different from mine, that being a consistently upbeat adult in their life could make all the difference. It was one of my professional goals—as was having more of a presence at the school.
APD wanted me to step up and be more of a leader on campus this year, and that would start by welcoming my buddy to our team. The buddy system provided a stepping stone into leadership and had helped new teachers at our school feel welcomed and part of the family. With a strong knock on his classroom door, I waited. After a few beats he got up from his desk and strode to the entrance, opening the creaky wooden door and showing me his face.
Oh my God.
Him.
I narrowed my eyes as a bolt of recognition lit me up. Sweaty palms, racing heartbeat. There was no way.Hecouldn’t be a teacher. Here. At my school. He belonged at a firehouse or posing for photos or…places where he could be shirtless for everyone to enjoy. Christopher stood at his full height, one eyebrow raised and no evidence of a smile.
I sucked in a breath and willed my pulse to settle.
Be cool. Be cool, Gilly.
He looked better than I remembered. His navy polo fit his arms and chest in a mouthwatering way, and his curly brown hair was styled just right, like I’d run my fingers through it over and over. And his legs. My mouth felt like I’d swallowed a spoonful of baby powder it was so dry. Legs were a weakness. Strong and meaty with muscles.
Damn. This isn’t being cool.
I cleared my throat and regretted not bringing extra tea because my mouth was dry as a desert. It wasn’t every day an incredible, body-altering one-night stand showed up at my work and was assigned to teach next door to me. His gaze moved from my red flats, up my legs and to my face, without showing an ounce of recognition. Wait. What?
Does he…not…remember me?
He’d had quite a few drinks that night, but I hadn’t thought he was drunk enough to forget me entirely. The overwhelming attraction turned to humiliation and anger quick. Like a snap of the fingers.
“Can I help you?” His voice was as deep and seductive as it had been during our night together. His lips twisted into a scowl, like he was annoyed with me, which made no sense. At all.
I held out my hand, because manners were preached to me growing up, and forced a sweet smile that hid the plethora of insecurities rushing through me. “Hey, uh, I’m your neighbor and buddy teacher for the year. Gilly Carter.”
“Interesting name,” he said in a calm, even tone that solidified he did not remember me whatsoever. I always used a fake name when I went out, and while Genie wasn’t that far off from Gilly, it felt like a slap to the face. A total KO to any self-confidence.
“Yup.” I nodded to him, regret and shame flooding my thoughts. We’d had a great time. A couple drinks, one night in bed, and an easy good-bye. Did it matter if he remembered me? I played with the ring on my middle finger, swirling it around over and over.
Yes.It did.
He stared, the slight tic of his left eye making me feel like I was bothering him somehow, which made zero sense.
I rubbed my lips together and shoved all the negative emotions down. Here I was, a leader, a mentor, a good teacher. It didn’t matter that my face was so unforgettable.
“I wanted to see how you were settling into Mountain Elementary. Is there anything I can help with or any questions you have?” My ability to sound normal was exemplary. He had no idea my hands were balled into fists in my pockets.
His gaze moved over my shoulder for a beat before clicked his tongue. “Nope. I’m good. Not a first-year teacher, so don’t really need all thebuddy-buddystuff.”
“Ha, yeah, I get it.”I did not.“Well, I’m next door if you need anything.”
He didn’t say a word before he went back to his desk, dismissing me with nothing more than complete silence. It was foolish to say my feelings were hurt, but they were. I tapped his doorframe twice before leaving and heading down the hall to the second-grade wing, wondering if he had a twin brother because the guy I’d had a great night with was fun and wonderful…not grumpy or an asshole.
I stopped by Larissa’s room to analyze what the hell just happened, but she wasn’t back from Helen’s, so I went back to my room. As soon as I got into the first-grade hallway, I found Christopher leaving my room. He carried the box of supplies I had to return. “Uh,whatare you doing?”
“This is mine. Why the hell you have it, I have no idea.” His jaw tightened, like he was chewing gum, and he shook his head with so much disappointment and anger, my stomach twisted into knots.
