They said their goodbyes. As soon as they were out of hearing distance, she rounded on Claire. “Why would you do that?”
“Because he’s cute and there are sparks between you two.”
“Yeah, which he doused with a mouthful of water in my face.”
“You’re obsessing.”
“You would too.”
“Well, stop it and start laughing. It was funny. Admit it.”
Avery threw up her hands in surrender. “Fine. It’s kind of funny.”
Claire snickered.
Avery rolled her eyes. “I’m going to find my son and get out of here.” She got to her feet, dragging a large bag of rubber duckies behind her. She thrust the bag at Claire. “You’re in charge of putting these away.”
Claire laughed. “Okay. Okay. I owe you that. But then we’re even. No holding this field trip over my head.”
“I won’t have to hold it over you, because he’s not going. I’ll make sure of it.” Avery rubbed her palms together. There were certain perks to being the secretary, and making sure she didn’t have to spend the weekend with her awkward blind date in tow was one of them.
Chapter Eleven
Avery
Avery made it into the office early on Monday thanks to a lot of prep on Sunday. She’d zoned out while she washed and ironed clothes, replaying that moment when Walker had lost it on their date. Each time, it got a little funnier and she was able to let go of her embarrassment. She had a great story, the kind she could send in for one of those online contests. Maybe she’d look into that. She could use the Amazon gift card—or whatever the prize was—for spring break.
Landon always wanted to go somewhere big over spring break like his friends—the Magic Lamp Parks were at the top on his list—but she didn’t have the funds to set them up for a week. She might be able to do one day, though, if she packed a cooler with all their food and they didn’t stay overnight. Even though tuition was free, she worked just to afford all the other stuff that went with going to an elite private school. At the end of the month, she had little to show for her hours in the office except a bright kid—which was priceless. She’d do all of it all over again for him.
Seattle’s weather was on her side this morning, overcast but not rainy. She’d brought her rain jacket just in case and hung it on the coat rack by the principal’s door.
“You would not believe my morning.” Claire dropped her purse on her desk with achink.
“Did you rob a candy machine?” Avery joked.
“No. The guy at JoeBucks only had quarters.” She set a jumbo-sized cup on the desk.
Avery’s eyebrows climbed her forehead. “If you drink that, I’ll have to take you to the emergency room for a heart attack.” Claire only drank small amounts of coffee when it was absolutely necessary because she was super sensitive to caffeine—like “couldn’t even eat a chocolate Easter bunny” sensitive.
“This was my consolation prize for being the lucky lady who got seventeen dollars and twenty-five cents in change.” She groaned and fell into her chair. “He counted it three times.”
Avery was still laughing at the image of Claire tapping her foot while the cashier lost count and started over when they were both called into the principal’s office.
Principal Brown leaned back in his chair, his hands laced behind his head. “Which of you did the attendance report this month?”
Claire lifted her fingers. Her beautiful, smooth face wrinkled as she cringed. “I did.” The report had to be hand-checked. Over two hundred students.
“Okay, you’ve been punished enough.” His heavily flushed cheeks lifted. “Avery, I need you on a special project this morning.”
Avery squared her shoulders. “What’s that?”
“We’ve had a generous donation from the Wilaby family, and we’re going to need to change hotels for the field trip this weekend.”
Chills brushed over Avery’s arms. Her whole purpose this morning was to get here in time to make sure Walker wasn’t going on the trip. “I don’t understand.”
Principal Brown got up and came around the desk, picking up two sheets of paper on his way. “This is the list of rooms, names, and assignments, along with the phone number for the original hotel. We’re going to have to change them all over to this new hotel.”
“I’m sorry, but why can’t we add a room to the other hotel to accommodate Mr. Wilaby and his daughter? It seems like that would be easier.”
