“That’s funny, because of course you wouldn’t, but yeah.”
“You’d think I’d know. I teach third graders every single day and have for years. I should have figured that out before now.”
“Don’t worry about it. I guess I was just a really good actor.”
“And I was a sore loser.”
“You were hurt, and you were lashing out.”
“But I didn’t have to carry it on for two decades.”
“That’s a good point. But I helped you. I competed as well.”
“You weren’t nearly as into it as I was.”
“Maybe not, because… I think I always secretly wanted the best for you, you know? I guess I never really got over the crush I had on you.” He shook his head. “Not that I would ever have admitted that to myself.”
“This means we’re burying the hatchet once and for all?”
“Absolutely. I wish we’d done it years ago. I enjoy working with you. And I think we work well together.”
“Same.”
They stared at each other for a bit before he moved away, and they began to talk about the different things that they had planned for the next night’s Secret Saint activities.
There might have been a part of him that was worried that once he found out who he was actually working with, the Secret Saint excitement would diminish. But if he were being honest, finding out that it was Nelly only made him want to do it more.
It was definitely some of the best news he’d had in a long time.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The following morning, Roland strolled into his mother's kitchen, whistling a happy tune that would make Mr. Rogers and his whole neighborhood proud, despite the fact that his current mission was to take his mother to her doctor's appointment to find out the results of her tests.
Still, Roland couldn't keep the smile from tugging his lips up as he thought about the evening before. Nelly was his Secret Saint partner. And he actually liked her.
He might even be falling for her.
He had trouble thinking of anything except how much he wanted to see her again, which would be at the Christmas program practice tonight.
"Someone sounds happy this morning," his mother said as she set her empty coffee cup down on the bar and pushed her stool away from the counter.
"I suppose I am. But it's the Christmas season. Isn't everyone happy?" It was a rhetorical question, because his mother could easily shake her head no. Not only was she probably nervous about her test results, but his sister, Isadora, was facing the secondChristmas with her husband gone. The first one with her divorce finalized.
That couldn't be a happy time.
Still, while Roland felt for both his mother and his sister, he also didn't feel like muting his own happiness would make their sadness or anxiety any better.
His mother gave him an interested glance, and Roland met her gaze.
"I think you have news," his mother said, and... He and Nelly hadn't said that they weren't going to tell anyone. And maybe it would take his mom's mind off of whatever was going to happen at the doctor's office.
So he grinned and nodded. "You'll never guess who I'm now friends with."
"Nelly Bushnell," his mother said.
His brows drew down immediately. "How did you guess?"
"Mother’s intuition." His mother gave a knowing chuckle, which coming from anyone else might have grated on Roland's nerves, but instead, it made him smile.
