43. Liv
I slept horribly while Ash was gone, but it was so much worse while I was on tenterhooks leading up to the meeting for KIST. The name was still questionable, but it got the point across until the students voted on something better.
If anyone even showed up.
Head buzzing, I rustled around my office, packing my things to head to a coffee shop for an interest meeting, and nerves had me on edge.
My office was a mess, with flyers and signup sheets scattered across my desk, and NCSU and PSU swag everywhere.
Kit suggested asking Hurst Labs for donations, but I was still too salty about the way they’d let me go to ask.
Yet.
One day, I imagined I’d be able to swallow my pride. But it wasn’t happening anytime soon. Just thinking about my old job and Brad made my teeth hurt.
What if no one shows up? What if ?—
No, I had to cut my anxiety spiral short, or I’d be late. I’d spiral on the drive.
At least a few of the teachers I reached out to responded to my emails, lighting a tiny flame of hope.
The coffee shop was near the largest high school in town and was a pretty popular hangout spot. In my day, we hung out in Sonic parking lots; these kids didn’t know how good they had it. Of course, my inner old geezer would appear at the worst time.
The clock in my car showed twenty minutes before the meeting time.
Cars flooded the lot and the line to order nearly ran out the door, and I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Doubt and dread still curled through my mind, but I was determined not to let it get to me.
At least not yet. I’d give them half an hour, and if no one showed up, then I’d let myself wallow.
Lugging all my stuff in a heavy tote bag over one shoulder, I joined the line, too nervous to read or do anything but scroll mindlessly until I placed my order.
A tired barista handed me my coffee and I took it to a long bar along a window, angling my body toward the door.
Kids with notebooks and computers took up all the seats.
At least they’re being responsible. Maybe if no one shows up, I can invite them to the meeting.
Having to speak to anyone unsolicited sent shockwaves through my chest, and teenagers even more so. Maybe a large latte with an extra shot was a bad idea. Too late now. I took another sip of the steaming drink.
The door opened, revealing a tall girl with pink-tipped braids followed closely by another, shorter kid with close-cropped teal hair, and a couple of other young people obscured by?—
“Dante!” I screeched, then clapped a hand over my mouth.
“Hey, Liv! Hold on a sec!” He turned to the first girl, handed her a credit card, and waved her and her handful of friends to join the queue for coffee.
“Coach is coming, too! Sorry we’re late, practice ran over.
And we have about an hour before I have to get back to the arena, but Lia,” he nodded toward his sister, “wouldn’t shut up about coming once I told her. ”
“And she brought f-friends?” My throat closed up, tight with unexpected joy.
Four kids when I hadn’t expected any. It was a small start, but it was a start , a good one, and I could almost kiss Dante.
Instead, I chugged my coffee, clenching the paper cup so tightly some of the hot liquid sloshed on my hand.
“About the friends,” Dante began. “Lia told Samara, who told their friends in the theater club. Lia also told Kayleigh and Brayleigh, and they told the chess club and math club, and well, here they are.”
“What.” The croaking word didn’t come out as a question so much as a clipped statement.
“Lia’s friends are here.” Dante waved around the shop.
At least twenty teenagers waved back at us, and I was grateful to be sitting, or I would have collapsed otherwise.
“They’re all here for the meeting?”
“Yeah! D told me about your meeting, and it sounded so cool, so I told everyone, and they all came! We’re so excited, the science club at school is literally the worst .” Lia appeared, handing Dante his credit card, sipping from a bright pink drink.
“Yeah, it’s mostly boys, and they all smell like too much body spray and testosterone. And they stare. A lot.” Lia’s friend Samara joined them, frothy green drink in hand.
“They’re probably terrified of you, Sam.” Lia’s teal-haired friend Samara rolled their eyes at Dante’s interjection. “And okay, yeah, teenage boys do smell. But it’s not their fault. It gets better. Eventually.” Dante smiled angelically while his little sister and her friend rolled their eyes.
I was gobsmacked, which only got worse when Coach Olsen walked in followed by Grace, a blond teenager, and two younger kids with darker hair like their father’s.
“Olivia!” Grace seemed as excited to see me as I was to see her. “These are our daughters, Cora, Sadie, and Mila. Cora is a junior, but we couldn’t keep these two away. Mila and Sadie are in middle school, but they can’t wait for next year so she can join in all the fun.”
“It’s so nice to meet y’all. And middle schoolers are welcome, too, if you’d like to join.
” The last bit I directed to the younger girls, who nodded eagerly and followed their sister to join a little group with Lia and Samara.
Tightness grew in my chest; so many people wanting to be involved in my passion project hit me right in the heart.
“Olivia, we’re so glad you’re doing this,” Grace crooned. “I love how excited they are about science experiments, but they’re running out of things to burn and build at our house.” Her laugh was kind and infectious, and I chuckled with her.
I’d been the same way, but at least there’d only been one of me at home. Plus, Dad was always supportive of the experiments and pyrotechnics.
“Well, I guess I better get started,” I said to the Olsens and took a deep breath as I stepped forward. “Hi, everyone! I’m Olivia Barnes, and I heard y’all are into STEM.”
* * *
The meeting went amazingly, with the kids offering input on meetings and spaces, and energy surged through me, ready to build a schedule of demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and speakers.
A few minutes before I wrapped things up, Ash slipped in the side door.
The hat he wore might have kept the coffee shop patrons from recognizing him, but I clocked him the second he stepped inside.
There was no mistaking his height and those wide shoulders, no matter how small he tried to make himself.
Like heavenly bodies, my center of gravity shifted when he entered my orbit, his presence constantly pulling me toward him.
Once the kids and parents all cleared out, Coach, Grace, Dante, and Ash approached while I sorted permission forms and straggling papers.
“This is going to be amazing!” Grace’s enthusiasm was catching, and I perked up, the flagging energy I’d garnered from the staggering attendance already drained away.
“You think so?”
“The girls will love this. I can’t wait, either. Let me know if you need help with anything.” I was truly glad to have met this wonderful woman.
“You’ve already helped so much—” I started.
“Just take the help, Liv. She won’t take no for an answer,” Coach cut in.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught both Ash and Dante nodding. “Okay. Thank you?”
“Excellent. I’ll see you soon!” The Olsens swept out, and Dante waved as he exited close behind them.
“Wow.” I dropped into a chair, utterly drained. “I didn’t expect any of this.”
“You deserve it, Barnes.” Ash held out a hand, tugging me up. “Let’s go home.”
I must’ve fallen asleep in the car; one moment we were pulling out of the parking lot, and the next we were pulling into his garage. Ash caught an Uber to the coffee shop, so he drove my car to his house. Yawning, I stretched, cracking my neck.
“We should celebrate.” Ash’s voice was low, but it still took up every inch of my tiny car.
Well, that woke me up. “What did you have in mind?”
Ash’s eyes flashed dark as he smirked. “You’ll see.”