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“Did I just get dumped?” Clark asked, though he sounded more bemused than sad.
“I’m one hundred percent sure it’s for the best,” Augustus said. “You’re better off, even if it means no hearse at the wedding.”
Clark picked up a coaster and threw it at Augustus’s head, though he seemed more exasperated than angry.
“I hope you bring all your dates to trivia,” Beckett said, gleeful. “This is fun!”
“I wouldn’t mind if he brought Hunter next time,” Bobbi added coyly.
And that was my cue. I squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll see you when I pick up Toby tomorrow. Hopefully on time.”
Clark chuckled. “You could always live on the edge and show up early.”
I grinned. “Maybe I will. Toby has been close-mouthed, so if I want to know anything about this program, I’m going to need to see it in action.”
“Then you can volunteer for one of our field trips and get a front-row seat.”
“Sounds perfect.”
I was so caught up in the easy, playful conversation with Clark that I almost missed the silence that fell over the table. I glanced over to see them all staring at us.
“Don’t mind them,” Clark said. “They have nothing better to do than eavesdrop. Tell Toby to have a good night.”
I forced a smile, suddenly feeling awkward. “Will do. Catch you all later.”
As I walked away, the table erupted into noise behind me.
“Can you believe Percy?”
“Forget Percy, I didn’t know you and Hunter knew one another…”
“Yeah, you two looked friendly—”
Part of me wanted to know what they were saying, but I forced myself to keep moving toward the bar, where our dinner was packaged up and waiting. Clark would explain that he was Toby’s teacher. He wouldn’t let their speculation turn into a rumor that we were dating.
But hell, with the attention I got from the likes of Loretta, maybe it would be better if he did.
“Is Mr. Fletcher okay?” Toby asked once I’d grabbed the food and returned to him. “He’s lucky you caught him when he fell.”
“Oh, you saw that, huh?” I couldn’t get anything past him tonight when he was usually oblivious. But that’s what I got for making him leave his handheld video game in the car. “He’s fine. He just tripped over his chair leg. No harm done.”
“It’s weird seeing him here.”
“It really is,” I agreed.
Both times we’d met before, Clark had been in his teacher role and me in that of stressed single father. But tonight, in this setting, I could swear that Clark looked at me differently.
As if I were someone beyond Toby’s father.
Someone he was happy to see.
What a strange thought. It didn’t matter what Clark thought of me as long as he did right by Toby. Still, the memory of him in my arms sent an unexpected flutter through my gut.
Hunger pains,I rationalized.That’s all it is.
As soon as Toby and I got our dinner, I’d feel like my usual self again.
CHAPTER7
