Jazz claps her hands, beams up at me, and bustles off to stop one of the kids from escaping.
“You gonna regret that man,” Moss shakes his head at Nitro and gives me a pitying look.
“They’re third graders, how bad can it be?” Nitro answers, clearly not knowing anything about kids at all.
“I’ve done it before for her, years ago. They gave me bad self-esteem. Do you know how ruthless kids can be? I let a visually impaired kid touch my face and head to ‘get the feel for me’. She squealed, dry wretched, and told me my face felt like ‘monster skin’.” Nitro snorts as Moss shudders, reliving his experience.
“If it makes you feel any better, I think you’re a decent-looking man. Some may even say attractive,” I offer.
“As attractive as my sister would you say?” He waggles his eyebrows at me and then shoots a smirk at Nitro. “Come on, give it up boys, I know you’re keen on Jazz. It’s so obvious even that soul-crushing blind kid would be able to see it.”
“That bad huh?” I ask, glancing at Nitro, who yet again, has his gaze following Jazz around the room.
“Look, I like you guys. You’re good men, and I know you’d love the hell outta my sister, make her happy, help with her burden. But you’ve got your work cut out for you there,” he says, staring first me down, then Nitro.
“Anything worth having is worth working for,” I reply, undeterred.
He slaps his hand on my shoulder, “I look forward to welcoming you both to the family one day. Hopefully, she hasn’t broken or maimed you guys by then.” He laughs. “Come on, we’ve done our duty for the day and I’m pretty certain I’ve discouraged Rodney from committing any crimes. Let’s head back.”
I take one last long look at Jazz. She must feel my gaze because she turns to me and gifts me with a smile that lights up the whole fucking room. I raise my hand and she hesitates for a moment before she waves back. I have two days to get Nitro on board. Two days to come up with a plan. Two days before I implement Operation Jazz.
Chapter 6
Jasmine
Iam absolutely slaying this job! The community meet and greet is a total success, with all my kids over the moon to chat with our community helpers. Even Elio, who is usually pretty quiet, managed to have a 20 minute interaction with Dr Morris and then one of the Rose Grove paramedics. Sure he was carrying around his medieval torture book and probably asking them all manner of questions. If I didn’t know Elio and his family outside of school, I’d be worried. But to me he’s just a little boy with unusual interests. Until you meet Pops and Chewy and realize it runs in the family.
My mind drifts to two particular deputies but I push them out of my mind. I’m still in charge of my class and getting them settled at their desks so the last thing I need is for Fox to give me that easy grin of his and his trademark wink. Nitro on the other hand, is all hard lines and frowny face, but his lips tilt up and my heart skips. Nope. None of that. I’m a third grade art therapy teacher and I will not be lusting over hot deputies who are great with kids. I’m pretty certain Karly even gifted them each with a friendship bracelet. I’m still waiting on mine. I cansee why she did though, my god it’s like they’ve been sculpted by Michaelangelo himself, sheesh.
“Miss Jasmine?” I snap out of my daydream to look at the seven sets of eyes staring in my direction.
“Sorry class, I was slightly distracted. Can you please repeat your question Karly?” She nods her head.
“I was asking if we’ll be able to ask Deputy Ellison to model for us? Deputy Ellison is so good-looking. I can’t wait to see him with no clothes on. Not even socks” I splutter a little, I mean I would like that too, but not in third grade art class.
“Ah, no Karly, we don’t have naked models in art class. Deputy Ellison will be our model but he will be in uniform so we will be able to paint him correctly. Make sure we use the right colors and all that good stuff” Jeez, now that the thought is in there, I can’t get it out.
“Wait, which one is Deputy Ellison?” Rodney asks
“I think he’s the one I ran into,” Jackson pipes up.
“You ran into all of the guests,” Karly states matter of factly whilst rolling her eyes.
As this is going on the other kids in my class seem to be either ignoring the conversation or waiting for their EAs to translate for them. I see a smile break out on Nora’s face once her Education Assistant finishes signing because she giggles, nodding her head, ponytail bobbing.
“Deputy Gardiner is the other handsome one. The one with brown messy hair and a nice beard. I wonder what it feels like?”
I wonder about that too, Karly. Shit. Not the time, Jazz! I clear my throat, to try and gain their drifting attention but Karly isn’t finished.
“Deputy Ellison is the one that looks like a Ken doll. Deputy Gardiner looks like a GI Joe.” Karly says with a sigh. Neither really look like that, but her description seems to sound correct to the class because they all nod their heads in unison.
“Wait,” Rodney butts in “How do we know we can trust this guy around kids?”
Jackson nods his head so vigorously I worry he’ll give himself a headache. Or that his thick glasses will come flying off his face. “He’s right. My mom says you gotta be careful of old guys that like hanging around kids. It’s weird and creepy.”
“He’s not THAT old. Probably around the same age as me.”
I watch as Nora’s hands frantically sign “But aren’t you old?” while her expressive little face shows confusion etched all over it.
