“Easier? Yes. Cost-effective? No. Mr. Wilaby owns the hotel, and he’s offered us rooms at cost.”
Avery gritted her teeth. It wasn’t often that she complained about the benefits the wealthy enjoyed, but there were times when the differences between her and someone like Walker stood out so boldly she wanted to stomp her foot and scream that life wasn’t fair. If she had wanted to go last minute, she wouldn’t have been able to offera hotelas an incentive. What was this, Monopoly?You’ve landed on the field trip. Give up one hotel and, as a bonus, ruin Avery’s weekend.The savings would give them a cushion for next year’s trip as they worked to find another sponsor, but still.
“Are you feeling all right?” The principal leaned closer, the peppermint smell of his arthritis cream burning her eyes.
“I’m fine. I was just thinking through the steps.” She plucked the pages from his grasp. “I’ll get right on this.”
“Thank you.” He turned, and she knew that was her cue to get out the door.
“What did he want?” whispered Claire. Her eyes darted over Avery’s shoulder to make sure the coast was clear.
Avery explained the change in plans. “Can you believe that guy?You don’t have room for me. That’s okay; I have a hotel.”
Claire considered her for a moment. “He seemed devoted to Savannah. I guess he’s doing this for her.”
Avery snorted. “Sure. Appeal to my reasonable side.”
“Wait! You have a reasonable side?”
Avery eyed the latte, seriously needing some kind of latte help to get through this morning.
“Don’t touch my drink,” Claire warned.
“Stop reading my mind.”
Claire held up a thin finger. “I will after I say this.”
Avery threw her hands in front of her face as if she were bracing for impact. “Go.”
“I think the reason you don’t want him there is because you’re afraid you might like him.” She smirked.
“Bull crap. The reason I don’t want him there is because he’s created a mountain of work for me. I have to update the itineraries and reprint them all. Do you have the link to the document on the portal? I have to change the online contact information for the parents.” The school prided themselves on their commitment to communicating with the families. Claire had been in charge of writing the letter this year. Avery hadn’t even looked at it yet.
“Nice way to change the subject. I’ll email it to you.”
“Thank you.” She smiled sarcastically. With a shake of her head, she picked up the phone to call the new hotel and confirm their reservation before canceling the first one. The whole time she verified names and the number of beds in a room with the poor hotel clerk who’d picked up the phone, Claire’s statement about Ben being committed to his daughter rolled around in the back of Avery’s head. If she had the ability to barter with a hotel for her son’s happiness—even for one weekend—she’d do it. Especially when that kid was as down-to-earth as Savannah. The girl was adorable nine ways from Sunday.
By the time lunch rolled around, Avery’s sense of injustice had lessened to a dull roar. Walker’s hotel was pretty sweet digs—the kids were going to love it. She was already picturing Landon’s face when they walked into the lobby. He’d play it cool, but once they were in their room, he’d be jumping on the bed.
She wouldn’t have that if it wasn’t for Walker.
So … fine. She could be gracious. But that didn’t mean she had to be Walker’s best friend on this trip. They would pass in the halls and maybe on the hike, and that was it. She could handle seeing his handsome face and sculpted chest for a couple days.
Like him? Ha! She could barely stand him.
Chapter Twelve
Ben
The bus ride, even on a luxurious transportation vehicle such as the one the school chartered for this excursion, was not an experience Ben wanted to duplicate. Savannah’s hand had been wrapped around his arm for the majority of the ride, gripping his sleeve with trepidation. She was having trouble fitting in.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything was going to be okay; but after overhearing the girls seated in front of them talk about everything from kissing boys to the latest tops designed by some French guy, he wasn’t so sure. Savannah wasn’t into all that stuff—yet. Thank goodness. Sure, she’d had a crush on a kid in her old school, but it was all giggles and not talking to each other. The girls in front of him had more experience kissing than Ben had at fifteen. He was seriously doubting his decision to enroll her at Royal Belfast. If the weekend didn’t prove his assumptions wrong, then he would pull her Monday morning.
The only other parent on the trip he knew was Avery. She’d sat in the front of the bus with the administrators. Her son had gotten on with his friends, claiming several rows of seats between them, plugging in their headphones, and zoning out.
The bus pulled into the parking lot at a park and the principal got on the speaker. “Welcome to our picnic dinner. We have baskets packed, and your groups are assigned a color. If you’re a group leader, please come get your basket. Everyone else, please find your group leader. All baskets are packed according to special dietary needs.”
Ben thumbed through the thick welcome packet he’d been given before they left the school. “We’re the blue group.” He smirked. “Do you think they’ll let us bang on pipes and drums?”
