“So…do we just go to whatever room calls to us or…” Lincoln appeared at my elbow. His question was for the both of us, but his eyes stayed on Celeste as he spoke. She met his curious gaze with a shy smile. An outsider wouldn’t know by looking at her how hard this was for her. Her fingers were curled in tight fists at her side to keep from shaking.
“Naomi knows the rules,” Celeste explained in a surprisingly steady voice. Days manning the counter did wonders to warm her up for social interactions. The effect never lasted long—unfortunately—but she took advantage of it whenever she could.
“She’ll show you where you need to be, according to the chart.” Celeste looked at me for the last part. “It’s important you stay exactly where the chart puts you because it helps keep us organized. My parents run a tight ship. They don’t like explaining to parents why their kid is being tutored by one person when the chart says it’s supposed to be another.”
She gave me a bright smile, which I returned in a flash ten times brighter.
“Okay…” Lincoln didn’t know what was being said between us. But he was willing to stick around because he clearly wanted something else. “I don’t see your name on the chart. Celeste, right? The Ables’ only daughter.”
Celeste’s smile fell. Mine almost did too. Had I told him that? No. I never talked about Celeste to people because she hated people. I protected her from them as much as I could.
“That’s correct,” she said, carefully.
Lincoln smiled at her. “I thought so. Ran into your dad the other day at the house.”
“Did you now?” Celeste eyed me, sending silent pleas for help. I shrugged because she was doing fine. Good even. And she was right. Sometimes she needed a little extra push.
“Yeah. He seems like a cool dude,” Lincoln continued and shifted weight from one foot to the other, seemingly nervously. Wait. He was nervous? I spent a decent amount of time around this guy and had yet to see him nervous. Lincoln wasn’t the type.
I glanced over to his friends, who were uncharacteristically holding back from joining us. When I sent them a look, they all tried to appear oblivious to what was going on.
“He’s nervous?” I mouthed, which got me a nod and grin from Sam, a behind-the-hand chuckle from Henrik, and a lackluster brow raise—didn’t expect anything more—from Finn.
I turned back to the conversation at hand with renewed interest and investment.
“Sure, I guess my dad’s a…cool dude?” Celeste shrugged.
“He is.” Lincoln cleared his throat. “But, anyway, your name’s not on here and there’s room in…”
“Third-grade biology,” I read off. “Woah, and would you look at that? Lincoln, you’re the only one assigned to that room.”
“Am I now?” He studied the sheet, clicking his tongue in mock disappointment. “Such a lonely endeavor, enriching minds on one’s own.”
Celeste looked unimpressed with both of us. “I’m not tutoring this weekend. Besides, we have a floater for situations like this.”
Lincoln’s shoulders sagged. “That so?”
“Hm, is it —” I stopped short when she glared at me. I knew her limit. A little teasing here or there didn’t hurt. But I never liked to push Celeste too far. “That’s right, the floater. Besides, counter duty is important. Especially at this time of day. So busy.”
My words seemed to echo through the near-empty halls.
“It is,” she agreed with a smile. “Also, time is of the essence at this time of day.”
She winced at her phrasing. I swallowed a laugh before adding, “We should get to our classrooms. Before we know it, the kids will be too antsy to focus on us.”
“Right, of course.” Lincoln tapped on the counter like he was trying to think of something more to say.
“Come on.” I squeezed his shoulder and then said loud enough for the other guys to hear, “I’ll set you guys up.”
Celeste sent me a ‘thank you’ look as I gestured for the guys to start down the hallway.
“How did the extra push feel?” I teased in a whisper.
“Karmic,” she said with an amused smile. “Good luck with yours.”
Good luck, indeed. I was going to need it.
Chapter Eighteen
