“Yes,” said Erin, nodding solemnly and trying to look like she understood the French-sounding phrase he had just uttered. “That.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said Andy, helping himself to another biscuit.
She watched him take a hearty bite. “But I do have to go in to work tomorrow.”
He swallowed. “And I don’t even know what you do for a living! Tell me all about it while I refill your glass.” He retrieved the cider and topped up both glasses.
“I’m a teacher,” she said.
“Oh, wow. Of small children? Miniature mortals?”
“Yes, the miniature ones. School’s not actually in session right now, but I got moved to a different grade level, so I was going to go in and get some of my stuff moved to my new classroom.”
“You want a hand?” He sipped from his glass.
“I’m … not sure I could explain you. And if my boxes started carrying themselves through the school, well—it might attract attention.”
“True, true.”
“And you could use the time to think up lots and lots of ideas for revenge on Mark. You know, make a long list. Really long.”
“There’s the wickedness I was looking for. I can see it now. And I like it,” he said, looking her up and down with approval.
Her stomach did a little flip. She might be out of her depth, but she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to enjoy the swim.
7
Erin drove to school feeling as if something heavy had been lifted off her shoulders that she’d been carrying for a long time without ever noticing the weight—until it was gone.
She’d found Andy in the kitchen when she emerged from the bedroom in the morning. He’d greeted her warmly, handed her a cup of coffee, and returned to the table where he’d already amassed a pile of pens and stacks of scribbled-on paper.
As she turned into the school parking lot, she reflected on the fact that he’d taken what she’d said quite seriously. It was a heady sensation to be listened to. Out of habit, she flipped down the driver’s side sunshade and checked her appearance. She couldn’t help smiling at her own reflection.
What was happening to her?
Erin closed the mirror and stepped out of the car into the summer sunlight. It was already hot and would get hotter.
There were barely any cars in the parking lot. Most teachers, Erin included, took as much advantage as they could of their time away from school. It was too easy to burn out if you didn’t take time to recharge.
Her footsteps echoed in the empty outdoor hallways. She unlocked her old classroom door and stepped into the musty air of the closed-up room. There was so much to move: boxes, computers, books, and stacks upon stacks of files.
She sighed, which turned into a cough thanks to the dust, and decided to see if the school library was unlocked. She could snag a big rolling cart if she was lucky.
It looked dark inside, which wasn’t promising, and the door didn’t budge despite a hard tug. She peered through the window and banged hopefully on the door. Just as she was about to turn away, she heard a voice calling from the depths of the building.
“Hang on, I’m coming!”
A woman pushed open the door from the inside. She wore a black t-shirt with the words, “Come to the Dark Side, We Have Cookies,” emblazoned across the front over a pair of indigo jeans. Her frizzy hair escaped a messy bun held precariously in place by an old stick with a crystal stuck to the end. She looked over her stylish tortoiseshell glasses at Erin. “What are you doing here?”
“Hey, Raya,” said Erin. “I just came in to start moving my classroom.”
“Fair enough. Need a cart?”
“Yeah, a big cart would be great.”
Erin entered the library. Its soaring ceilings disappeared into darkness. A desk lamp and computer provided the only illumination. Erin’s eyes slowly adjusted as she followed Raya to a back room.
“So, what have you been up to this summer?” asked Raya. She turned on the back room lights.
