“You’re asking for trouble, Micah,” I elude, holding his stare because one of us is going to get burned in this process, and I have a feeling it’s going to be me.
“One date outside the city can’t hurt.”
Canonedate outside of the city hurt?
I mean…what’s seven and a half months before I can date this man without losing my job?
“And I’ll be extra careful,” he tacks on, making a cross across his heart for good measure.
Yeah.
But can I be?
6
SIENNA
“The goat bit me, Miss Vesper!”
Kyle Lewis holds his index finger with his other hand and looks up at me like I’m supposed to go slaughter the poor animal for such a travesty.
Even though I’ve already told him twice to keep his hands out of the animal pen.
His hazel eyes glimmer in tears, but he’s more scared than hurt. The animal didn’t break any skin, and Kyle is that one kid who’s always trying to fuck around and find out.
My class had a field trip today to an apple orchard that had a plethora of animals that all my kids want to pet, poke, and let out of their pens. Kyle over here is just one of four victims of child abuse from a farm animal that I’ve had to hear about today.
“Kyle,” I state with a bit of sternness. “Didn’t I tell you to keep your fingers out of there?”
He quickly drops his hands as though what he wasn’t just talking about ever happened. “I’m okay!”
Then he promptly pivots and takes off, bouncing around in a gray sweatshirt and beanie as he goes to join his friends in watching the pigs eat.
“He was lookin’ for a kiss to make it all better, Miss Vesper.”
I don’t register the voice at first as I pivot around. The orchard is bare because it’s during the week and everyone is at work, but I didn’t see any men walking around out here.
But the one now.
Micah.
With his hands shoved in his pockets, this is the second time he’s dropped out of thin air…or crawled out from the ground.
Dicey tattoos illustrate those veiny arms underneath a light blue tee and jean jacket that makes it appear like he could work here.
Lifting hay.
Riding a tractor.
Fixing a fence.
I was never into farmers, but I’d make an exception if it were Micah. I’d get to watch him peel his shirt off on a hot summer day to cool down.
Which is exactly what I have to do.
“What are you doing here?” I ask in a whisper, looking around to find Miss Thompson and Miss Riken talking amongst themselves like the two gossip mongrels they are.
“I’m chaperoning.”
