Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Samantha
I set my coffee on my desk, and Greta walked into my classroom.
“Good morning, sunshine. My big date is coming up, and I bought a fabulous dress.”
“I can’t wait to see it.” I smiled. “Do you know where he’s taking you?”
“No. I haven’t spoken to him. He’s been out of town. He said he’ll reach out when he returns.”
The bell rang, and the students started filtering in.
“I have to get to class. I’ll see you at lunch.” Greta smiled.
Grabbing the basket, I walked around as each student tossed their phone into it.
“Good morning, beautiful students.” I smiled, setting the basket on my desk. I picked up the book Pride and Prejudice and held it up. “How many of you think Pride and Prejudice is going to be so boring, you’ll want to claw your eyes out?”
Every student raised their hand.
“Excellent.” I grinned.
“Excellent?” Devon said. “You’re happy we’ll claw our eyes out?”
I picked up a marker and walked over to the whiteboard and wrote in capital letters: RICH PEOPLE BEING DRAMATIC and underlined it twice.
“That is,” I said, pointing to what I’d written, “Pride and Prejudice. Open your books to Chapter 1. It’s Jane Austen basically telling us about rich people and their problems. Let me give you a little insight about Mr. Darcy before we start reading.
He’s rich, socially awkward, judgmental, and terrible at communication. ”
“So he’s no different from any other guy,” Gina spoke out.
The boys in the class began to argue loudly.
“I’m not touching that one, Gina.” I laughed, turning back to the board. “Before we dive into the book that you believe will make you claw your eyes out, I want you to tell me what you think you’ll learn about the people in this book. Go!” I pointed at the class.
“Rich people are exhausting,” Rachel said, and I wrote it on the board.
“Rich people create their own problems,” Devon said, and I wrote it on the board.
“Rich people judge everybody,” Delilah said.
“Excellent.” I wrote it on the board.
“Being rich doesn’t automatically make you charming, even though these rich people think it does,” Gina said.
“You go, girl!” I grinned, writing it on the board.
“That seems a little harsh,” I heard a voice from the doorway.
The entire class, including myself, turned our heads, and instantly, my stomach dropped.
No. No. No. But there he was, Weston Castile, standing in the doorway of my classroom, looking as sexy as ever in his designer suit and perfectly styled hair, holding two large white pastry boxes from Avila’s.
I could hear the gasps coming from some of the girls. Traitors.
“Isn’t that Mr. Castile?” Devon blurted out.
“You are correct, young man.” Weston smiled, casually strolling into the room as if he belonged there.
“I brought cinnamon rolls for all of you.”
The class cheered as he set the box on my desk.
“Sam, can we? I’m starving,” Devon said.
“Didn’t you eat breakfast?” I asked.
“I got up ten minutes before class started. I didn’t have time.”
“Line up, take one, and return to your desks.” I reached inside the cabinet and took out some napkins.
“Why are you bribing my students?” I asked him.
His eyes diverted to the whiteboard, then back at me, as I gave him a sweet smile.
“Interesting lesson,” he said, and the class started laughing. “It seems biased.” His eyes narrowed.
“I think it seems accurate,” I said, folding my arms.
The class erupted into laughter again, and Weston looked at them.
“Do you all agree with these statements?” he asked them.
All of their hands shot into the air.
“We were comparing you to Gatsby, but now I think you’re probably more like Mr. Darcy.” Devon laughed.
“Excuse me?” His brow arched as he stared at me.
“Ignore him.” I waved my hand.
“I think I’ll stay for a bit and try to defend Mr. Darcy.”
“Boo!” The class screamed in unison.
Weston stared at them and narrowed his eyes.
“Welcome to public education, Mr. Castile. If you’d like to stay, you may take a seat in the back.”
The bell rang. “You are to read the first four chapters tonight. We will be discussing them tomorrow,” I said as they collected their phones from the basket.
“I have a feeling that’s not the only thing we’ll be discussing tomorrow.” Devon grinned. “I’m looking forward to it, Sam.”
“I’m sure you are, Devon.”
Weston walked over and grabbed a cinnamon roll from the box.
“Seriously, what are you doing, Wes?”
“I came to tell you that Mr. Avila is staying put and his rent will not increase for the next five years. You can thank me by having dinner with me tonight.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I just can’t.”
“You can. We’ll go anywhere you want. Name a place.”
“Anywhere?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Anywhere.” The corners of his mouth curved upward.
“Fine. Starlight Café.”
“Seriously?”
“You said pick anywhere. I happen to love that place.”
“It’s a grease pit.”
“It literally isn’t. You’re just used to the fancy restaurants that serve one-bite foods that cost over $200.”
“Okay. Starlight Café it is. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“It’s a date.” I grinned.
He tucked his hand inside his pant pocket as he began to walk out of the room.
“Wes?”
He stopped and turned around.
“Thank you for saving Avila’s.”
“I did it for my own selfish reasons.” He winked.