“Can’t believe you thought she was your one,” Tank mutters and I flip him the bird making him laugh and I continue with Thunders bike and grunt, “Just fix that shit box yeah,” and he grunts back knowing he can’t lie and say it isn’t road worthy without getting a possible lawsuit because let’s face it, women are lying deceiving bitches and can’t be trusted.
Over the years, being a dad, while I fucking love Caleb to bits, has been hard, and watching the shit the brothers have been through, it just makes me want to close off, to keep focus on the club and my son, nothing else.
I’ll never claim someone, Cheryl ensured that I could never trust a woman, along with my own mother, for stepping out on Dad, all because he was busy with the club, which is why I won’t meet Ms. Robins.
I won’t let Caleb get false hope because it’s just him and me, no matter what he wants.
Chapter 2
Holly – Age Twenty Four
"Okay, class, that is it for today. Please clear your things and line up," I call as the warning bell rings. "Tomorrow, we’ll work on adding and subtracting big numbers, so bring your math books back in if you haven’t yet and don’t forget to give your permission slips to your parents or guardians and return them, or you won’t be able to go to the science museum next week with Mr. Saint and Ms. Sparrows," I tell my students with a content smile on my face.
“Yes, miss!” they all reply, getting up and doing as I ask and I smile, turn, and wipe down the board quickly while silently, I hope my cousin Matty has brought my car back from the garage—preferably with just the oil change I requested but knowing Matty, though, he probably told them to scrap it.
That is the first car I ever bought and even though I can afford a better second hand one, I love that car, it holds memories I don’t want to part with.
Shaking my head as the final bell rings, I turn and clap my hands once. “Alright, kiddos, line up,” I call and they all move and line up nicely by the door without protest and I can’t help but smile.
This is why I love teaching second grade, though I have only been doing it for nearly two years now after graduating college.
A classroom full of seven-year-olds, always on their best behavior—right in that sweet spot between wanting to run riot and having an attitude, it's the best in-between, especially when they're so goddamn innocent at this age.
During placements with college, I worked with several younger ones and I swear I felt like I wanted to pull my hair out with all the screaming and throwing things while going any higher than fourth grade made me want to run a mile, especially with the curriculum I’d have to teach.
I’m good at math, but not that good.
I quickly put on my coat as I walk to the door and smile at Caleb who is first in line not surprising me. His blue eyes sparkle as he grins at me and I open the door and walk out. The kids file out behind me just as across the hall, Mrs. Jones, who also teaches second grade, exits through the opposite door and gives me a sly smile like she’s better than me. I ignore her like I always do and continue walking toward the double doors.
The woman is in her late thirties and hates that Caleb chose my class and not hers.
Caleb Lee’s family is a part of the local MC and normally a brother as he calls them, usually picks him up, but mostly it’s his grandfather. Before I arrived a few months ago, after my previous school closed, Mrs. Jones was apparently eyeing his dad, which is bad since she’s married but anyway, she’s hated meever since, not that I care. I mean I haven’t even met the man, yet I’m her biggest enemy.
Oh well.
Confirming the kids are all still behind me and in line, I stop at the school gates seeing several people waiting for the kids and I smile at the parents before I raise my voice so the children can hear. “Okay, single file behind me, please. When I call your name, come forward, okay?” I instruct the class, ensuring they understand what to do next.
"Yes, Ms. Robins," they answer in unison and I try to hide my chuckle as I notice Mrs. Jones try to wrangle her kids, who have run out the gate toward their family, some running around the school yard.
Am I feeling a little smug? Yes, yes I am.
Smiling, I turn to the parents and begin calling out names, one by one beginning with, “Addie,” and she dashes past me toward her aunt, who opens her arms to catch her before her aunt waves at me, and I wave back and I continue calling each child as I notice their person who will be collecting them.
After I’ve called all fourteen of my students just as I get to my last one, Caleb's grandfather steps forward with a grin.
I turn to the two children standing beside me and say, “Hmm, I don’t see your grandfather anywhere, Caleb,” and Ice chuckles as I scan the area dramatically, pretending to search.
Caleb giggles and points, “Ms. Robins, he’s right there,” and I gasp, widening my eyes and pretending to just notice him.
“Oh yes, now I see,” I say with exasperation and he laughs. I nod my head and say, “Off you go, sweetheart.”
“Bye, Ms. Robins,” he says with a wave before he turns to the most precious person in my life, beside me, and says, “See you tomorrow, Lyra.”
“Bye, Caleb,” Lyra returns as she grabs my hand and I squeeze hers tightly, then watch as Caleb runs into his grandfather’s arms who catches him with a chuckle and I smile sadly.
Lyra will never have that.
“See you tomorrow, Holly,” Ice says and I wave, then look down to meet icy blue eyes like my own.
