“Actually, I was thinking you’ve earned the time off.Teaching is tough.”
She narrowed her eyes at me like she didn’t believe me.
“My friend’s brother is a teacher.It’s not easy.Tanner teaches middle school.He’s told us about the long days, the extra planning, the summer training and classes.It’s not as simple as showing up and playing with kids all day.Not that that’s easy either.”
“I’m an elementary school teacher.”
“You still have lesson plans and milestones and a shitload of kids to manage.I can barely handle one, and you keep twenty in line.”
Her mouth twisted into a grin before she covered it by taking a sip of her coffee.
I followed suit, looking out at the water, our backs to Ashlyn’s house.
“I accept your apology,” she said after a minute.
I looked over at her, smiling as I did.“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So what are your plans for the summer?”
“Convince Ashlyn she deserves better than Rob,” Reegan said with a snarl.
“She deserves so much more than that asshole.”
Reegan’s brows shot up.“You know him?”
I nodded.“Small town.Everyone pretty much knows everyone.”
“And you’re not a fan?”
“No.I’m not.Ashlyn is kind and friendly.Rob is only looking for what he can get from someone.He’s always been like that.”
“Always?”
“We went to high school together.He would convince the smartest girl he was interested in her, copy her homework, then disappear and date someone popular.Until it was time for another exam or project or something.He hasn’t changed.”
Reegan shook her head.“Ash is a sucker for a project.She loves a man she can fix.”
“What about you?Do you need to fix a man?”Did my voice drop?Fuck, I was flirting with her.I mean, no shock, but damn.
She turned to me with a teasing smile and shook her head slowly.“I’m a teacher.I train them when they’re eight, not thirty-eight.If I have to fix a man who’s a grown fucking adult, he’s not the right one for me.”
A smile lifted my lips.“I don’t know many teachers who swear.”
“If the situation calls for it, I’m not going to hold back.I spend enough of my day keeping all my emotions locked up tight.When I’m not in a classroom, I am not interested in being around anyone who can’t handle the real me.”
“I like the real you, Reegan.”
She snorted.“You didn’t yesterday.”
“You caught me off guard.”
She raised her eyebrows.“And now we’re totally good?”
I nodded.“We are.We’re just two people enjoying a cup of coffee together.”
She grinned and tipped her mug to her lips.She licked them, catching a drop of light brown liquid on the corner of her mouth.“Not anymore.Mine is gone, and I am guessing you need to get on with your day since you don’t have the summer off.”
