Page 75 of Can’t Say No

I am proud of the changes I’ve made these last few months.

And the PR relationship ploy finally seems to have worked. The tabloids are buzzing, not with overdramatic retellings of my drunken antics, but with lovey-dovey headlines and swoon-worthy selfies.

When my little arrangement here in Ridgecrest ends, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be able to slip back into my old life seamlessly.

But looking out at the senior choir now as they pour over the sheet music for the piece we’re performing for Fall Fest next week, returning to my career is the last thing I want to do.

I want to be here.

I’m hopelessly, irreparably, devastatingly in love with my life here in Ridgecrest.

I love this beautiful old school, with its wood-paneled walls and eclectic mix of faculty. I love the quiet drive out to my house and my long runs through the orchard. I love all the students, from the clueless freshman to the rowdy seniors.

And I love Connor Majors so much it’s making me crazy.

Falling for him was like driving through the dark with my headlights off. Slowly. Cautiously. Scared to make the wrong move. Then one day, I remembered I could turn my high beams on and see I was exactly where I needed to be.

I can’t unsee it now, and I can’t dim those lights again.

He lit up my whole world… how can I walk away from all that glow now?

“Yo, Miss James!” Simon hollers at me from the back row of risers, pulling me from my thoughts. “Can I have a solo?”

His buddies snicker and high-five around him, evidently pleased they got Simon to follow through on the dare.

Mrs. Crane steps forward, a spindly finger pointed at the boys, ready to admonish their unruly behavior, but I beat her to it.

I mirror her posture, something I’ve been doing a lot lately.

“That whole little crew up there just earned themselves their own song, I think. Let me know tomorrow what piece you’d like to do and I’ll learn the accompaniment.”

The boys balk at that, except Simon, who pumps his arms enthusiastically.

“Hell yeah! It’s time for boy bands to have a comeback!”

Every eye in the room rolls, but he’s undeterred. That kid is pure joy, all the time.

How could I leave a place that cultivates that kind of happiness?

Thursday nights at Eddy’s is karaoke night, a fact that must have slipped Caroline’s mind when she invited me out. The dingy bar is packed wall-to-wall, and the old Filipino man behind the mic is charming the room with his rendition of Strawberry Wine, a song choice that shouldn’t work, but oddly does.

“Ladies.” Connor raises his beer in a salute as Caroline and I slide in the booth across from him and Wells.

“Look at us,” Caroline says, a twinkle in her eye. “Out on a school night.”

Wells mumbles something into his glass of water as Connor elbows him in the side. He returns the jab but shoots a half smile over our way.

“We’re all happy to be here, Caroline. Mr. Grumpy over here, too. We wouldn’t miss tonight.” Connor reaches across the table to give her hand a meaningful squeeze.

Caroline catches my confused glance.

“It’s my parent’s death anniversary,” she explains with a shrug. “They died three years ago today. The boys dragged me out here when I was wallowing in my bed the first year, and the tradition stuck.”

“Any word from Noah?” Connor asks Caroline.

“Nope.” She attempts to sound casual, but I don’t miss the dark shadow that passes over her face. “But I wasn’t holding out much hope. I’m gonna go put my order in with Vic.”

As Caroline heads to the bar, Connor fills me in.