AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Name it.”
“Cassie has to share it with us.”
Jamal looked to Cassie for approval and her lips lifted in a soft smile. “I guess I can do that,” Cassie replied. “But I have a condition of my own.”
“What’s that?” Jamal and JJ said together.
“You don’t get it on my dress.”
Jamal winked at her. “I think we can manage that, Bambi.” He leaned down and whispered in Cassie’s ear. “I could take it off of you beforehand, just so you wouldn’t get anything on it. Besides, I think you would look good in one of my shirts.”
Cassie’s eyes widened.Oh, boy. She thought. She was in serious trouble. Because, like it or not, she thought she would look good in Jamal’s shirt, too.
Untitled
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“That’ssoromantic!” Cassie and Natasha were sitting at Cassie’s u-shaped reading table in her classroom. Their classes were in the gym for PE. Cassie should have been grading the pile of papers sitting behind her on her desk. Instead, she was sitting and shooting the breeze with her friend.
“So, what happened? Did he get you out of that dress and in his shirt?!”Natasha continued.
Cassie laughed at her friend. “You and Aria, jeez. I think all you guys worry about his getting me in bed with a man!”
Natasha raised her eyebrows at Cassie. “If I had a man that said those things to me, I wouldn’t think twice.”
Cassie put her head in her hands. “Nothing happened. We just ate some cake. I don’t know what todo!I’m afraid if I do, well,dowhat you and Aria are so sure I should do, what if he gets bored? What if all he likes is the thrill of the catch? What then, huh? I’d just be a notch on his belt. The cute, little innocent teacher who fell for the big athlete.”
Tosh looked at her, a baffled look on her face. “You don’t really think that, do you, Cass? Because that’s pretty dumb for such a smart girl.”
Cassie sighed. No, she didn’t think that. She just didn’t know what to do.
“So?” Natasha looked at her expectantly. “What do youreallythink? Because I know by that look you don’t really believe the lines you’re trying to feed me.Andyourself.”
Cassie was about to form a response, but she was saved before she could really delve deeper with her friend. Peyton came zooming into the room, Cassie’s class right behind her.
“Ms. Randall! You got somethin’ and the lady in the front of the school told us to bring it to you. Look!” Peyton held out a vase of tulips with both hands in front of her, a grin stretching from ear to ear. “They said they’re two lips! That’s a weird name for a flower, but theyarepretty.”
Cassie laughed as she took the vase from Peyton before the tiny girl dropped it. The thing looked like it weighed more than her. “They’re tulips, Peyton. And yes, they are very pretty. Thank you for bringing them to me.”
Natasha looked at the flowers and raised her eyebrows. See? She mouthed. Cassie rolled her eyes. “I’ve got to go to my class, kids. Think you can convince Ms. Randall to save me some flowers?”
Peyton shrugged her shoulders and then looked at Cassie, a sheepish smile on her face. “You’re welcome, Ms. Randall.” The little girl leaned over the table and whispered in Cassie’s ear. “You think I could have one? I did carry them down to your room and all. And there’sso many!”
Cassie smiled. She didn’t figure Peyton had much in her life. Her parents never returned Cassie’s phone calls or showed up for parent teacher conferences. Half the time Peyton showed up in the same clothes two or three days in a row. Cassie had bought some inexpensive clothes at Target and some basic toiletries and put them in her classroom. Cassie knew Peyton walked to school every day, so she had started meeting Peyton at the front of the building and going with her to the special education room, which had a shower. She would let the little girl clean up and put on some of the clothes Cassie had gotten her. Even though her class was filled with sweet kids, Cassie knew how kids could be. Peyton was a sensitive, sweet soul and Cassie didn’t want her hurt by a mean comment thrown her way.
“I think I could arrange that, Peyton,” Cassie said, pulling the little girl in for a hug. “But first we have to do our math lesson.”
Peyton held on to Cassie’s waist and squeezed. “You’re the best teacher I’ve ever had, Ms. Randall. I wish you were my mom.”
Cassie’s heart broke at the words. She wished she could take some of her kids home with her. Instead, she had to make a difference in their life in the short time she had them. That’s why she became a teacher. Well, was going to become a teacher, assuming she passed all of her certification tests.
With one last hug, Cassie broke the embrace and steered Peyton to her seat. “Alrighty, class. It’s time for our math lesson. Now, raise your hand if you like pizza.”
A chorus of “Me, me, me!” filled the room as all the hands shot up in the air. “Me, too!” Cassie exclaimed. “It’s one of my favorite foods. Now, remember when we talked about fractions yesterday?”
The kids nodded their heads. “Who can tell me what a fraction is?”
Several hands shot in the air, but Cassie called out to Jesse, the little guy who sat on the back row. He was the cutest thing ever. His skin was a beautiful dark chocolate and his big, brown eyes matched his skin. His eyes pleaded with Cassie to let him answer the question.
