Makes me want to grab her and—
I ain’t gonna go there right now.
“They changed the brand. It’s terrible,” she responds, and just that hits me hard. The fact that she’s telling me about her damn tea feels like a damn miracle.
Monumental.
I settle into a chair at the table, keeping some distance, but turning to face her. “Aw, man. That was your favorite. Want me to go kick Holloway’s ass for you?” I offer, even though it ain’t exactly selfless.
Her mouth twitches, like she’s fighting a smile. “I’m tempted to say yes.”
God, I’ve missed the sound of her voice.
“I can check in the cabinet,” I say, trying to keep it casual, “Sometimes there’s some old stuff hiding back there.”
She glances down into her cup again with a pout. “No, it’s okay. Thank you, though.”
For a second, it’s quiet between us, but not the cold, heavy silence from before.
I’m not a fool. I know she still doesn’t want me right now. But maybe I’m taking a step in the right direction, for once.
“I saw Alex yesterday.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, keeping it cool.
“He stood up for me when Grant was saying some really mean things.”
My jaw clenches, cool going out the window.I hate that guy.“Grant said something mean to you?”
“I didn’t want to make a scene, but Alex… he told Grant exactly what he thought. Said he should be grateful that someone is telling him what a massive dick he is to his face for once.” She doesn’t have to say that she’s pleased it happened. Her smile tells me she’s as proud of Alex as I am.
I can’t help but laugh at that. Grant’s been needing to be put in his place for a long time, and the fact that Alex did it? Even better. “That’s fucking great. Kid’s my hero.”
“Mine too.”
The lounge door swings open, and a few more teachers wander in, talking about lesson plans, the weather, the basketball game this weekend. The normal morning chit-chat.
Iris shifts in her seat, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I should go set up for first period.”
“Right. Hope the rest of your day treats you better than thetea did.”
“You too, Coach,” she says as she slips past me, close enough that her skirt brushes my arm and I’m hit with that familiar floral scent I’ve been missing so bad.
I watch her leave, fighting the urge to follow like some lovesick puppy.
It wasn’t much. But it was something. And these days, something feels pretty damn good.
After school, I take Alex with me to the grocery store, mostly because I know damn well if I don’t, he’ll be whining about there being nothing good to eat until I take himbackto the store to get what he wants.
Sure enough, barely two minutes after we walk in, he’s already tossing bags of chips and sugary cereal into the cart like we’re stocking up for the apocalypse.
“Don’t even try to give me shit. I got homework tonight, I need fuel.”
“Fuel,” I echo, holding up a family-size bag of sour gummy worms. “Pretty sure I know why you’re damn near failing math,” I grumble, dropping the gummy worms back in the cart anyway.
“Yeah, yeah. Keep talking. I’ll remember this when you ask me how to find your voicemail later.”
“You ask for helponetime.”
