7. Callie
Callie
Almost a week later and I was still not over parent-teacher conference night.
I’d never been flirted with at school before.
I’d never been looked at the way they looked at me, period, except during our night together.
My hands still shook when I thought about the way their eyes had lingered on my body.
We’d been in a classroom, for god’s sake, but my body had still reacted with all the force of a bomb going off.
So. Damn. Inappropriate.
They’d had me so flustered the entire night that I’d kept my notes in worse shape than normal. I was still trying to sort things out but it was an utter mess.
It didn’t help that teachers were in school for professional development the week before students returned and I had hours each day for my mind to drift off to places it had no business going.
Just that morning I’d been sitting through a meeting about a new reading curriculum and I hadn’t comprehended a single word.
Focus had been hard enough for me before I had three hunky fathers using my brain like a damn stripper pole.
My whole life seemed to crumble around me when I was distracted and I was definitely distracted those days. It showed everywhere. My house was a mess. My car was a mess. Even my classroom was a mess. Poor Oliver was going to murder me soon.
On the days when I had to be at school but Oliver didn’t I tried to arrange for him to stay with our neighbor but I’d managed to botch even that simple task that day so he was with me in the car on the way home.
He was in the backseat, meticulously folding all the papers I’d tossed back there after dropping my bag and having them scatter everywhere.
“Mom. I don’t want to hurt your feelings but you lack basic cleanliness. A clean space is helpful for focus, productivity, and overall wellbeing. You need to do better.”
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and glanced at him through the rearview mirror. He stared back at me and the lingering eye contact softened the blow of his words. “You’re right, Ollie. I’ll clean this weekend. Okay?”
I missed whatever he said next because the car shuddered and started slowing down, no matter how hard I stepped on the gas. One glance at the dashboard told me what I kind of already knew would be the case. I’d forgotten to get gas. Again.
Rolling to a stop on the side of the road, I turned the car off and let my head thump against the steering wheel. “I’m so sorry, Ollie. Mom forgot to get gas again.”
He sighed heavily. “This is what I was talking about, Mom.”
I wanted to throw a tantrum. It was bullshit that my eight-year-old son was more responsible than me and that he knew it. “It’ll be okay, Oliver. I always figure it out, don’t I? Why don’t you read your book while I step out and call Aunt Tessa?”
“Fine.” He already had his nose in his book by the time I took my seatbelt off.
I leaned against the side of the car and tipped my head back so the hot sun warmed my face.
River’s Point was a small town but during the summer it was a tourist attraction so the road was busy enough that a smarter woman probably would’ve moved to the other side of the car but I was exhausted.
Professional development always drained me.
“Oh, god, I wish I smoked at times like this.” I mimicked bringing a cigarette to my mouth and hoped it would trigger some kind of endorphin release.
“Come on, bitch. Get yourself together. Call Tessa, find a gas jug, go to the store- No! Go to the gas station, get some chicken strips because gas stations have the best chicken strips, go home and make Ollie a sandwich with the crusts cut off, switch the laundry…”
“Are you talking to yourself while pretending to smoke a cigarette?”
I screamed and almost flailed myself into the road. Thankfully a thick arm wrapped around my waist and pinned me to my car. I was still mid-scream when I looked up and locked eyes with Luke.
“Jesus, woman! You really are going to turn my hair white before its time.” He kept me pinned with his thigh pressed into mine and threaded his fingers through my hair.
“One. You didn’t notice a man pull over and approach your car.
Two. You’re standing next to traffic. Three.
You nearly threw yourself into that traffic.
Four. What the fuck is happening in your car?
It looks like an episode of Hoarders in there. ”
“Hey! That’s mean!” I shimmied out of his hold and hurried to the front of the car. “I’ve had a really long day and I forgot to get gas and my son is more reliable than I am most days. So, if you’re going to insult me, you better get ready for the tears!”
His horrified expression was worth being insulted. Instead of crying I started laughing. He stood in front of me with his hands on his hips and tilted his head. “If you’ve had some sort of mental break I need you to tell me since you’ll be teaching my kid.”
I covered my mouth and wrestled with my control. “No mental breakdown. I’m all good. Still perfectly sane and able to teach. Um… Hi. I mean, what are you doing here?”
“I was passing by and happened to see a woman sunbathing her face next to a busy road. I recognized you and decided to play knight in shining armor.” He gripped my chin and tilted my face from side to side.
“I also hoped if I rescued you and asked for your number away from the school that I might get it this time.”
Butterflies erupted in my stomach. Before the retreat it’d been so long since I’d felt anything remotely close to that fluttery hope.
Even longer than since I’d been with Oliver’s dad and things were still relatively good.
It was a strange, new sensation that made me a little terrified, but the adrenaline and dopamine hit were too good to resist.
“Even away from school, you’re still a parent of one of my students. Fraternization is fraternization, Mr. Carter.” Glancing over my shoulder, I made sure that Oliver was still reading happily and he was. “No matter how flattering it is.”
“What if I have questions about the school play and it just so happens to be after school hours?” He winked and then took a step back. “Just kidding. I can take no for an answer, even if it breaks my heart.”
I laughed but then hesitated. I never broke school rules, not on purpose anyway. I always tried my best to keep my head down but I was feeling reckless. “Wait… Just in case you have any questions after hours…”
His wide smile made the risk feel more than worth it. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and handed it to me. “I understand. Questions about the play.”
In the soft glow of the setting sun he was even more beautiful.
The gold on the inside of his hazel eyes was so captivating that I wasn’t sure I could look away.
He looked younger when he smiled and showed off the slightest gap between his front teeth.
There was something so charming about his face when he smiled.
“Now that I’ve managed to score your number, a feat that Cole and Ben are going to hate me for, I guess I should get you and Oliver off the side of the road.” He took my hand and led me around to Oliver’s door. “I’ll drive you home and have someone get the car back to you tonight.”
I whistled. “Mr. Darcy, why you do spoil me!”
“Mr. Darcy, huh?” Luke’s eyes moved down my body. “Not exactly the book boyfriend I would’ve assumed you’d connect me to.”
I blushed because I knew exactly what he was getting at.