Chapter 21
Cienna
Ice rattled against plastic as I noisily slurped the last of my quad latte. They wouldn’t give me five shots today, even after I begged. I looked around my classroom to see that everything was in place for Back to School Night.
As if taunting me, one side of my “Welcome Back” banner fell with a flutter.
“Ah, shit,” I muttered, then looked around guiltily. School words, Cici!
A chuckle from the other side of the room startled me. My eyes shot in the direction of the sound and, like a magnet, connected with a set of beautiful green eyes. “Reed! Um. Mr. Marsh, you scared me.” I gasped for air and tried to finish my sentence. “How long have you been there?”
The upward quirk of his lips stirred something in me. The few times I’d seen him since the first day of school, I’d not seen anything close to a smile from him, and I almost forgot how it made me feel.
His face briefly held amusement while he stared back at me. But then he blinked and looked around the room. “Am I ridiculously early?”
“No, you’re on time. Just, the event starts in the cafeteria with a big speech and introductions, followed by a PTA meeting.
” I made the “blah, blah, blah” gesture with my hands and gave a slow eye roll.
The Back to School Night parent welcome was a form of torture I’d never wish on anyone, specifically not a tired, haggard parent who rushed from work to be here.
“Crap, I’m being horribly unprofessional, considering you’re a parent.
” I shuffled uncomfortably. Then, in true nerdy Cici fashion, I pretended to place and primp a hat on my head and said, “Lemme toss on my teacher hat.” The most awkward whistle sound left my lips, and I had to stop myself from doing the super geeky pointer thing again. I gulped as he held back a smile.
“Do you mind if I just hang out here until the boring speech thing is over?” His smile was mischievous and melted my insides. I wanted to shoo him away and also wanted him to stay forever. My teacher hat had already fallen off, and anxiety-ridden, swoony me was back in full form.
Get it together.
I took a stabilizing breath and asked myself if I’d let any other parent stay back in the classroom. Debilitatingly sexy or not. The answer was yes, of course. Spare these poor people by being a sanctuary.
“Oh no, feel free.” I tried to go about my business. Taking his cue from me, Reed leaned up against a wall and tended to his phone.
I pulled my step ladder out of the closet to fix the drooping banner. The back of my neck tingled knowing Reed’s eyes would possibly be on me as I climbed to the top step and reached for the fallen flag. I couldn’t quite grasp it, but my tippy-toes would push me the extra inch.
“Do you need help with that?” His voice was behind me, getting closer.
Suddenly, he was under me and effortlessly reached up and secured the banner back into place.
I was still mid-reach, and our hands grazed, causing me to look down at him.
Under fluorescent lights, his freckles stood out more prominently than ever.
So did the dark circles under his eyes. But despite the pale casting, his pupils glowed, encased in bright green.
The corner of his lips tipped up slightly.
Further down, that damn hint of skin caught my eye once again. Clearly, he needed to start tucking his shirts in, because he couldn’t keep showing off sexy snippets of torso. I nearly lost my balance, but I climbed down as gracefully as I could manage.
As I took my final step to the ground, a soft touch brushed against my back.
I turned to face Reed, and his hands shot up innocently.
As irritated as I was that he helped me twice in one task, without my request, I instinctively appreciated him being close to me, touching me, smiling at me.
I knew those smiles were few and far between these days, and I didn’t take a single one for granted.
Just then, Darcy burst through the door. “Let’s get this shit over with. I’m PMSing like a bitch… Oh.” Her face lit up with mischief as she took note of Reed and me. “Am I interrupting something?”
Reed huffed out an exhale and backed away from me.
“Mr. Marsh,” I said pointedly, with a brow raised, “was just assisting me with something…”
Darcy smiled and gave a nonchalant wave. “Hey, Reed.”
Tipping his chin, he nodded at her. “Darcy.”
She looked back and forth between us. “God, the sexual tension in here is making me nauseous.”
I gave her a death glare, and Reed chuckled. Gritting my teeth, I practically hissed, “Darcy, we’re at work.” I stuck my thumb out and swung it between Reed and me. “And there is definitely not…”
“Holy shit, hot ginger guy!” Kennedy burst through the door, voice booming. I startled, stepping further away from Reed, and smoothed my hands down my skirt. Kennedy covered her mouth, realizing how much her voice echoed.
Before I could respond, Lucy stepped into the classroom too.
“Sorry I’m late. Oh crap.” She stopped short when she saw Reed.
At least she controlled her volume. I supposed I should have mentioned this little Reed mess to them before tonight, but Lucy and Kennedy had been busy all week with soccer tryouts for their adult league, so I hadn’t seen them. Plus, I’d been wallowing in my denial.
I must have looked like I was about to combust because pressure pulsed through my veins with each rapid heartbeat in my chest. Darcy gave me a quick sympathetic tilt of her head and then snapped everyone to attention. “All right, people, enough ogling. We have business here.”
Reed hiked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m just going to wait over there, let you all be.”
I gave him an apologetic smile and walked as calmly as I could to the gathering of my friends. Pulling my hair over my shoulder, I twisted it through my fingers, grasping for anything to calm my nerves.
Lucy pulled us all into a little huddle at one of the tables. “I present to you the Third Annual Back to School Night Bingo.” She handed us each a half sheet of paper.
We started this tradition among our friend group a few years ago.
Back to School Night could be painful, but our little game made it a little more fun, especially when things became really obnoxious.
I skimmed my bingo card. Parent asks a question that you already answered.
Parent asks about advanced placement. Parent name drops the college they attended.
Whir, whir, helicopter parent. That one made me giggle.
Lucy cleared her throat. “Okay, ladies. You know the rules. Anyone who doesn’t get a bingo buys a round tonight.”
The bell rang, and we all sprang into action.
“Let’s do this,” Kennedy cheered. She pretty much brought enthusiasm to anything, even sober.
When her excitement wasn’t reciprocated, she looked at us and winced.
“I mean, let’s get it done so I can rationalize taking shots on a school night. ” And with that, the girls cleared out.
“Oh boy, the bell rings, and I really do feel like I’m back to school.” Reed chuckled from the other side of the room.
With a nod of agreement, I laughed and grabbed my notebook for the obligatory Back to School Night PTA meeting. It was the only meeting widely attended because they lured the parents in with a singing performance involving each grade. Luckily, kindergartners didn’t participate.
“Yeah, I still get that feeling sometimes when I hear the bell.” There, easygoing conversation. We can do this.
“Feel free to wait here. I have to attend the PTA meeting. Otherwise, I would hide.” My tone was playful as I looked over my shoulder on my way out.
He held out his hand, grabbing my attention. “PTA? Is that, like, volunteering at the school?”
“Sorta. The people involved typically plan and do things for the school. Sometimes it’s productive, other times it’s a shit show.” I covered my mouth with a gasp. “I’m so sorry. I can’t seem to control my mouth tonight.”
Reed shook his head, amusement playing on his lips. “With the way my life has been going recently, a shit show doesn’t sound half bad. Can I walk there with you?”
I didn’t miss the way his eyes lingered over me, and I was certain I turned crimson immediately. No warning at all. Hot flash. Skin on fire. All I could do was nod and lead the way.