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My low heels click against the linoleum floors before we reach the teacher’s lounge. The smell of coffee wafts through the air as the heavy oak door swings open. A few teachers are hanging out on olive green couches while others are sitting at the wood tables scattered in the small room. Their laptops are sprawled in front of them as they prepare for another day in the classroom while we all wait for Principal Wells to start our usual Monday morning meeting.
My breath hitches when I catch myself scanning the room for a certain sexy ex-football player, but he’s nowhere in sight.
I could’ve sworn––
“Excuse me,” a deep voice murmurs behind me.
Goosebumps pebble my skin as I look over my shoulder and find Owen.
“Oh. S-sorry,” I mumble, fumbling with my giant-ass black purse to make myself smaller so that he can pass me through the small entrance. Heaven forbid I actually take a step inside the break room and let him follow. Nope. Instead, I gotta act like a lunatic.
Good one, Say.
“No worries.” Owen’s hand slides along my lower back as he slips past me, his familiar scent lingering in the air while my gaze follows him to the coffee machine.
With a gentle shove from behind, Skye pushes me forward and snaps me out of my reverie.
“Yo. Let’s go find a seat.”
“Uh, yeah. Yeah, let’s go,” I mutter, still clutching my purse to my chest as I take a seat on the edge of one of the couches.
Skye tries to make small talk, but I’m too distracted by a certain someone’s presence to pay attention. He’s talking to Sarah and Taylor. Both are pretty. Both must’ve decided he’s fresh meat and want to find out if he’s single so they can sink their teeth into him. And I shouldn’t care that Sarah just touched his shoulder or that Taylor flipped her hair back and is laughing at something he just said.
I shouldn’t care that I’m over here. That he hasn’t looked at me since he walked into the room. That he doesn’t know his favorite creamer that he got me addicted to in high school is tucked in the fridge with my name on it.
Focus, Say.
A throat clears, followed by Principal Wells’ crisp voice, and for the first time ever, I’m grateful for it.
“Thanks for being here for our weekly meeting. Let’s dive right in, shall we?” With a clipboard tucked under one arm, he rubs his hands together and waits for the room to quiet down. Once all eyes are on him, a satisfied Artie continues. “As most of you know, Owen Daniels has filled the gym teacher opening. Make sure he feels welcome. Anything you’d like to say, Mr. Daniels?”
With his arms folded across his broad chest, Owen smiles sheepishly. “Thanks for having me. I look forward to getting to know all of you better and hope you can be patient with me as I figure out teaching. I’ve never done this before, but I’m excited to stick around and hopefully make a difference to a few kids while I’m at it.”
A round of hellos rumble through the air before everyone’s attention returns to Artie. Well, everyone’s except Taylor’s and Sarah’s. And mine, but that’s beside the point.
“I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that we’re excited to see what you can do,” Wells returns before looking down at his clipboard. “Let’s see…Miss Swenson has offered to head up the Boo Bash and will need volunteers. There’s a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board if you’re interested in helping out. I’ve also updated the regulations for costumes this year, so be sure to make it clear that….”
My skin prickles with awareness while my thumping heart drowns out Wells’ voice. It bangs against my ribcage like a bull in a china shop as a very familiar set of eyes penetrate the side of my face. I can feel Owen watching me, but I’m not about to confirm my suspicion. With my spine straighter than a steel rod, I keep my gaze glued to the center button on Principal Wells’ white dress shirt and try to focus. But all I hear is static.
Don’t look at him. Don’t you dare look at him.
My purse vibrates from my phone receiving a notification, and I pull it out, grateful for the distraction until a little bird flutters across my screen.
OD: How’d you sleep?
I lick my lips, then glance toward Owen. But he isn’t looking at me anymore. He’s tucking his phone back into his front pocket. My hands shake as I slip mine back into my purse before attempting to focus on Principal Wells, who’s still rambling about the dress code and the importance of enforcing it.
After another minute, he claps his hands and dismisses us.
“I’ll see ya later,” I mutter to Skye, then I dart toward my classroom like a bat out of hell. Because whatever that was? Well, it was too much.
8
Owen
“So, how’d your first day go?” Sarah asks. She’s cute. Straight brown hair. Plaid skirt that definitely doesn’t meet the dress code Principal Wells was reminding everyone about this morning. But she’s nice. Thoughtful. Friendly. And she’s offered to help me with anything I need.
Clicking the cap back onto the pen in the break room, I answer, “It was good.”
