Chapter 10 Austin
austin
I was standing outside, waiting for Evie at the same time as yesterday, but this time the tension left my shoulders when I saw her running down the steps toward me, her face lighting up as she called out my name.
She launched into a story about her day, her words spilling out in excited bursts, and I leaned down, listening with a smile, nodding at the right moments.
“ . . . and then we made macaroni art, and mine was the best!” she declared proudly.
I laughed, ruffling her hair. “Of course it was, kiddo.”
My eyes lingered, scanning the crowd of teachers and parents. After a few moments, it was clear Ms. Honey wasn’t there. A pang of disappointment settled in my chest before I looked down at Evie, forcing a smile. She tugged on my sleeve, demanding my attention.
“That’s awesome, Evie.”
We started walking toward where I’d parked the car, and Evie suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide. “I forgot my lovie,” she squealed, tugging hard on my leg. “It was bring your lovie to school day, and I left it in my classroom.”
Panic filled her voice, her eyes already welling up as she clung to me. “We need to go back. I won’t be able to sleep without it.”
I nodded quickly, knowing how serious this was for her. “Okay, okay, let’s go and get it,” I said, turning us around and heading in the direction of the school.
Her hand tightened in mine as we made our way, and I could feel her urgency, the need to find her comfort item as soon as possible.
We pushed through the school doors, and as soon as we were inside, Evie took off, her small sneakers slapping against the linoleum as she darted down the hallway.
I followed her, watching as she raced ahead.
As we neared her classroom, I remembered that Ms. Honey’s class was next door.
I paused and turned to look inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Charlie.
Maybe she’d still be there, grading papers or tidying up, but when I looked through the window, the room was empty.
“I’m going to run in and get it really quick!” she said before disappearing through the door, her excitement echoing down the quiet hall.
I smiled, shaking my head, but as I was about to turn toward the classroom, my phone buzzed in my pocket, ringing loudly in the empty space.
I glanced at the screen, my stomach dropping when I saw it was the insurance company.
I hesitated for a second, knowing this wasn’t the kind of call I wanted to take, but there was no avoiding it.
I answered and stepped to the other side of the hallway, putting some space between me and Evie’s classroom.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Hart, I’ve been caught up on your voicemail and situation.
We’ve already granted you the four-month extension, but unfortunately, that’s the limit.
We sent a Mrs. Auburn Cole a few letters confirming we cannot extend coverage under her umbrella.
You’ll need to find your own coverage.” She paused, then added, “We’ll be sending you rates to your email for private insurance if you’d like to purchase a plan independently. ”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me, my eyes fixed on the floor as I shuffled my feet. “Alright. Thanks for letting me know.”
I glanced down at my hands, half expecting them to be shaking. But they weren’t. They were steady. I took a deep breath, realizing that, for now, I was okay. I had a few more months to figure things out. It was something.
The woman on the other end of the line asked, “Do you have a spouse or are you engaged? You’d qualify for spousal coverage if so. Otherwise, you’d need to look into a private plan.”
“I’d never get married only because I needed insurance,” I said, shaking my head at the absurdity of it.
The representative chuckled lightly. “Well, Mr. Hart, you’d be surprised how many people do. I don’t condone it, but it is an option.”
“Yeah, not my style.”
I’d already gotten married quickly once. While I’d never regret it, I didn’t want to get married again that quickly. The pressure that came with it, the expectation to make it work when I felt like I was still very broken inside, was suffocating.
“Thanks for your time,” I muttered, ending the conversation and slipping my phone into my pocket.
As I looked up, Charlie was just outside Evie’s classroom. She was crouched down, talking with Evie, who was clutching her lovie tightly.
“Evie.” I walked across the hall toward them.
Charlie looked up at me, and my chest tightened. Her long blonde hair was pulled in a ponytail, and she was wearing a bright graphic shirt with some colorful design splashed across it.
“Ms. Honey,” I whispered, unable to help myself.
Evie looked up at me, frowning slightly as she glanced between the two of us. “No, that’s not Ms. Honey. Her name is Ms. Astor.”
Charlie’s eyes twinkled, and she let out a small laugh. “You tell him, Evie.”
I flushed, scratching the back of my neck. “Ms. Astor.” I corrected myself. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too, Mr. Hart.”
I leaned in closer to her ear, pausing to smell a hint of vanilla and rose. “I think I liked you a little less clothed.”
I pulled away, and Charlie’s cheeks turned the prettiest crimson color.
“What’d you say, Austin?”
“Nothing, bud.”
“What’s next on the bucket list, Ms. Astor?”
My eyes lingered on hers, holding her gaze a moment longer than necessary.
“I, uh—”
She was flustered. This was the first time I’d attempted flirting with a woman in so long.
After what happened with Nova, using women and wearing the shame I had for what I did to her in so many ways, I couldn’t flirt.
Until this very moment, I thought I was broken, unable to see someone as a person I’d wanted to flirt with.
“One item,” I said in encouragement.
Her big amber eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I was completely lost in them.
There was a calmness there, an ease that seemed to contrast with the storm constantly brewing inside me.
I wondered if she could sense all the broken pieces I tried to keep hidden or if the armor I wore was thick enough that no one noticed the cracks but me.
“I want to visit a lake,” she said softly.
I raised an eyebrow, narrowing my eyes in curiosity.
“Not like Lake Michigan,” she clarified, shaking her head. “I want to find a small, quiet lake. Somewhere I can sit in the silence and watch the sunset sink below the horizon right as the colors explode across the sky, painting everything.”
I took a step closer to her, fully aware that Evie was watching this. I leaned closer to her ear again. “Let’s go find a lake . . .” I stepped away. “Ms. Astor.”
She looked the other way for a moment before meeting my gaze. “Let’s go, Hot Brother.”
“Ew,” Evie laughed. “You think my brother is cute?”
“No.” Charlie backed away with her hands up like she’d been caught. “Not at all.”
I laughed, unable to help myself as Charlie leaned down and gave Evie’s lovie a gentle squeeze. “See you tomorrow, Evie girl. You have the same beautiful curls your brother does.”
Evie had inherited mine and my mom’s curly blonde hair. It was clear we were all related somehow when we were out together.
As she stood up, the corners of my mouth lifted. “So, tomorrow, then? I just have to get Evie home from school, but if you want to come with us, we could head out right after?”
She let out a small, amused chuckle. “Are we really doing this?”
I nodded, taking a step back as I reached down to grab Evie’s hand. “Looks like we are, Ms. Honey.”
I turned down the hallway and heard her laugh, light and sweet. “See you tomorrow, Hot Brother.”
Evie looked up at me with a scrunched nose. “Ew.”
I grinned as we walked out of the school.