Page 14 of Fall Fake-Out

She takes one step forward. “Boring.”

“That’s not the right attitude.” I look around, checking my surroundings for help. “School is never boring.”

“Are you coming to the football game tomorrow night?”

I walk backward again, feeling a sudden onslaught of sweat gather at my hairline. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Got to support the team. Go Eagles!”

“I’ll wave to you from the sideline while I’m cheering.”

“Oh.” I clear my throat. “Um—” Instinctively, I take another step back, folding my arms across my chest. “How are your grades? Is your mom keeping a close eye on them? I know she was wondering about scholarship opportunities.” I’m grasping at straws, doing anything I can to remind Ashtyn Ellis that she’s a student and I’m not.

“The scholarship applications are so overwhelming.” She tosses her blonde hair off her shoulder, lifting it slightly. “Maybe I could come to your office, and you could help me fill everything out.”

Never. Ever.

“Oh, man. That’s what guidance counselors are for. I wouldn’t want to do their job for them.” From the corner of my eye, I spot Ari coming down the hall—the lifeline I desperately need. “Miss Langford!” I call, waving her over. I glance back at Ashtyn, already heading for Ari. “I need to talk to Miss Langford. But it was good seeing you.”

“The offer to come to your office is still open.” Ashtyn spins around, a flirtatious smile teasing her lips. “See you tomorrow, Stevie!”

Ari’s brows drop as she studies Ashtyn walking away. “Stevie?” Her eyes flip to me. “Are you Stevie?”

“It’s a nickname students gave me when both my dad and I worked at the school at the same time. Confusing to have two Mr. Stevensons, you know?”

“Right.”

I don’t understand her frown over the nickname, but I decide to move on anyway. “Hey, so, great class today. Who knew you were such a good teacher?”

She smiles, a genuine one, not the usual suppressed grin she gives me when she’s trying to convince herself and me that she doesn’t think I’m funny…and a little cute.

“I knew I was a good teacher.” She begins walking toward the front office, leaving me to catch up. “You would’ve known too, if you actually interviewed me.”

“I didn’t need to interview you. The job was yours the second you applied. Like a friends-and-family discount. But now that you’re hired, what other skills do you have?”

“Skills?” She eyes me as I hold the office door open for her.

“Yeah, like, can you run the drama club or the school newspaper?” I think back to Ari in high school. She was one of the captains of the cheer team, and she looked amazing in that tiny little skirt—a fond memory of mine. “Sloan Avery is already the cheer coach, so you can’t do that.”

“Do I have to do something?”

“Well, we all kind of double-up. I teach two open P.E. classes, coach lacrosse in the spring, and run the fly-fishing club.”

Her eyes narrow into adorable little slits. “Is this for extra pay?”

“Nothing in this town is for extra pay.”

She stops in front of the teacher’s boxes, searching for Mr. Jeppson’s. “I guess I’ll run the school newspaper.”

“And be in charge of some activities at the fall festival.”

She gives me a disapproving look.

“Hey, we’re all making sacrifices,” I say.

“Fine,” she huffs as she flips through all the English teacher mail we’ve saved over the last week.

“Rosie Harper is in charge of the fall festival this year. You can be the liaison between the high school and Rosie.” Her eyes flick up like the mention of Rosie sweetened the deal for her. “We need the students to run a couple of booths or activities. One idea I had is a kissing booth.” I lean my shoulder against the wall, facing her. “It would give you an easy opportunity to kiss me.”

“Wade, everybody knows you’re a manwhore. Your existence alone provides an easy opportunity to kiss you.”