AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeahhh,” I draw out the word and rock on my feet. “You caught that, huh?”
He smiles, and a glimmer of amusement dances in his eyes. I don’t think I’ve noticed before what a truly beautiful shade of brown his eyes are. Warm and liquid. A color I’d like the chance to observe more closely…while taking my time. I pull my brain back to the present and the topic I’m avoiding.
I spit out all my words at once. “Mrs. A. asked me to do something, and I haven’t done it. Truth be told, I don’t want to do it.”
His smile grows with my mini-fit, and he crosses his arms. The seams of his coat strain at containing the well-developed muscles within. “What exactly does she want you to do?”
I rub my forehead. “Introduce her to my new boss, Principal Bourne. She thinks he’s cute.”
ChapterSeven
Oliver
I laugh. Since the day we met in kindergarten, Amelia Taylor has been surprising me. “And is Principal Bourne, in fact, cute?”
“I don’t know,” she says, half wailing the words. “That’s not the point. He’s my boss. And he’s new to the job, so I don’t know him very well. I’m not sure how he’d take my meddling in his love life. I don’t want to risk the security of my job. He’s a nice-looking, older gentleman, but he’s in charge and can impact my whole entire career.Cuteisn’t a word I’d use for him.”
“Ah.” I nod sagely. “I get it. Awkward.”
“Sure is. And the last time I spoke to Mrs. A, she strongly suggested that I get the two of them together. Luckily I got off the phone last night before she could ask, but if we go over to her house, she’s going to want to know. I don’t want to be blamed if that whole situation blows up.”
“Well, sure. No one wants to feel responsible for someone else’s relationship.”
“Exactly.”
I fold my arms. “What are we going to do about it?”
She pinches her bottom lip between her thumb and forefinger. “I don’t know. I’m still thinking.”
“Well, we’re not going to give up on the next clue, right?”
“Um…right.”
“Maybe we should drive over there while you’re thinking.”
She tilts her chin and gives me a blank look. “I can’t drive and have a serious think-fest at the same time.”
“If it’sserious, can it really be called afest? Isn’t that short for festival?”
A faint smile tugs at my lips. Oliver has always been so literal. It’s adorable. “I don’t know. But anyway, I can’t think and drive at the same time. It’s a personal failing.”
I shrug. “Okay. I’ll drive.”
“Okay, then. You can drive my car.” She hands me her keys, and her fingers brush my palm. The hairs rise on my arm, making me wish she’d touch me again. Apparently all the nerve endings in my body are craving her.
I suck in a deep breath and pretend I don’t feel it. I’m getting better at pretending. “Great. Let’s go.”
Amelia navigates, and I drive to Mrs. A.’s house. Amelia was right—the path to get there is remarkably maze-like. But Cherry Creek is pretty small, and it only takes us ten minutes to get there despite feeling like I’ve twisted through some magical forest to arrive at our destination.
The house is simple and plain for all the loops and turns it takes to get there. It’s a tidy, ranch-style home set far back from the road. But what the house lacks in drama, the front lawn fully makes up for.
A giant inflatable Santa—taller than the house—stands watch in the center of the yard. Around him are more plastic Christmas decorations than on display at all the big-box stores combined. There are reindeer and a sleigh, Gru and his minions, Trolls, the Grinch and Max and Cindy Lou Who, Snoopy and Woodstock, Tweety Bird and Sylvester, and the entire Bob’s Burgers family all wearing Santa hats. There’s even Nemo and Dory, though why they’re out of the water for Christmas is anyone’s guess. “Wow.”
“Yeah. Mrs. A. really goes all out. It’s a commitment. And an enormous electric bill.”
“I guess so.” I drive all the way up the long gravel driveway and park behind a rusting old station wagon.
Amelia unbuckles her seatbelt. “Here we go. Let’s get that book.”
