Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
FAITH
Despite the negative temperatures, I had never felt warmer as I replayed that kiss with Adam over and over in my head. The way Adam’s eyes devoured me as he said that I held him captive.
Me.
Shy and slightly boring me. I bit my lip. I absentmindedly walked around Mason’s desk and bumped into it with my thigh.
“Ope, sorry, Mason.”
My entire world finally felt right. Rose and Marissa knew about my past and still stood by my side. And Adam… Well, Adam had been amazing. He swept me off my feet with those big biceps of his and I still haven’t landed.
“Why are you smiling weird?” Danny’s voice pulled me out of my daydream.
I refocused on the task at hand, which was math facts and not Adam’s biceps or his lips. “Oh, I’m just happy.”
“Why?” Danny’s eyebrows scrunched.
This was not a discussion I was going to have with a group of second graders.
I cleared my throat. “There are lots of things that make me happy. One of them is helping you guys learn.” I pointed to the papers on their desks, hoping to refocus the attention there, and not on my weird facial expressions.
“My dad tries to help me with spelling, but Mom says he’s lexic and not to listen.” Lydia always loved a chance to be heard.
“What’s lexic?” Sophia’s eyebrows lowered.
I grinned. “She was probably referring to him having dyslexia. Just like everyone looks different on the outside, everyone’s insides can be a little different too.”
“Like how my mom can’t eat cheese or she has to go to the bathroom?” Mason asked.
I cleared my throat. Parents would be appalled at the things I’ve been told about them. “Yes, like that. Some people are allergic to things, but that doesn’t mean everyone can’t eat cheese, right?” I asked the class.
“I love cheese,” Mason added.
“Me too,” Sophia said.
“My mom says we can’t eat sugar because it’s bad for us, but she still eats it; she just hides it.” Harper shrugged. “I know where though.”
I had better get this back on track before I hear more secrets.
“Okay, so back to dyslexia. Just like some people’s tummies handle things differently, some people’s brains work a little differently too.
With dyslexia, they have a hard time keeping letters facing the right way and lined up.
Which can make things like reading or spelling extra challenging. ”
Sophia’s eyebrows lowered.
“For example, I have ADHD and social anxiety.” I was proud of my class and how accepting they were of differences.
“Dad bought a new HD TV that I can’t touch. Is it like that?” Caleb asked.
“Kinda.” I held back a smile. “Everyone needs different things to be successful.” It was obvious this was much too deep for my second graders.
I thought back to how Adam had talked about it.
“You remember when we talked about snowflakes and how they are all unique?” The class nodded.
“Well, a friend told me that’s how people are.
We all have different traits, strengths, and weaknesses. Not better or worse, just different.”
“I think my strength is speed.” Harper’s eyes widened.
“I think mine is eating cheese.” Mason nodded with a serious expression.
Soon the class was calling out all sorts of strengths, and I barely held back my laugh. “All right, let’s focus back on your math facts. You have four minutes until recess, and if you can focus the whole time, I will let us have a wiggle song before lunch.”
They all started shouting song requests for “Go Noodle.”
The freezing temperatures had kept them in for recess, so the extra distractibility was expected.
“I will set a timer on my phone, okay? Three minutes’ focus time, then a wiggle song.” I grabbed my phone out of my back pocket.
They focused on their papers. I was so lucky. I truly loved my life. I loved being a teacher, loved these kids, I loved this little town…and I’m pretty sure I loved Adam. I admit I would love for my parents to still be a part of it, but not at the risk of my own happiness.
My phone vibrated. I had a text from Adam. I tucked my hair behind my ear and bit back a grin. The timer had two minutes left. Surely it would give me enough time to respond. I opened the text thread.
Adam: When can I see you?
Faith: I mean, I should see you when you get Danny at pickup, so like 3:50? Right?
I tried to keep my squeals to myself as the three dots danced as I waited for a reply.
Adam: I mean, when can I see you when Danny isn’t nearby? (wink emoji).
I bit my bottom lip.
Faith: Hm, I guess we will have to get creative.
Adam: Can we meet in my office at lunch?
There was a palpable energy between us, and I felt like I would never need to sleep again.
Faith: Lunch date it is.
The alarm went off in my hand and I jumped slightly. Danny frowned as he watched me.
I cleared my throat. “Okay, class.” I double-checked the weather again. “Looks like it’s after-lunch recess in the gym again.”
The class groaned.
“There aren’t swings!” Sophia whined.
“They said we couldn’t play tag!” Harper added.
I listened and nodded. “Sorry, but it’s school policy that if the weather isn’t above twenty, it isn’t safe to send kids out for recess.” I didn’t want kids getting cold and sick, and even though I sent reminders for boots and gloves, some continued to arrive in shorts.
“Okay, let’s do the ‘banana song,’ and then we will line up for lunch.” Some kids protested, but they all stood by their desks and prepared to give the best performance of their lives.
The music started, and little arms and legs flailed about to the song. This would hopefully get us down the hall and to the lunchroom with fewer incidents. The song ended with freestyle dance moves, and they did not disappoint.
“All right, let’s line up.” I glanced at the board.
“Caleb is the line leader. Then home lunch and then school lunch.” Kids rushed about the room as I waited.
Once in a line, I put up my hands in my quiet coyote shape.
“Eyes up here, please. Okay, this time let’s play silent soldiers in the hall.
” Some eyes lit up and others fell. “Shoulders up, arms tight to sides.” I opened the door behind me.
“Okay, I want to see the best and quietest soldiers you can be.”
We made it to the lunchroom with only a few squabbles, but nothing that needed intervening. I passed the responsibility off to the lunchroom staff. Then I grabbed a Dr Pepper and my chicken salad croissant and headed to Adam’s office.
I tried to keep my pace to walking; I didn’t want to get yelled at for running in the halls. I knocked on Adam’s door and heard him rushing to open it.
His smile was wide as he looked me up and down.
“You know you are really nailing the whole sexy school teacher thing.” He raised his eyebrows and reached for my arm and pulled me inside his office as I giggled, and he closed the door behind me.
“Is this all about some secret fetish?” I rolled my eyes.
He pulled me tight against his chest and leaned down to my ear. “Oh, it’s no secret.” Goosebumps erupted along my arm, and I gave an involuntary shiver.
Adam laughed.
“That’s not fair.” I slapped his firm chest. “You can’t throw your sexy self at me like that and not expect a reaction.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re the one dressed up as a sexy school teacher.
” I chuckled as he led me to the couch that held Danny’s tablet.
A basketball game tape was playing on the TV in the corner, and he pulled me onto his lap with my legs on his left side.
My lunch was forgotten on the seat beside me.
With my arms draped around his neck, I brought my face to his. I had thought of nothing but recreating our first kiss experience all morning. Could the spark of pure adrenaline and attraction be a fluke?
My lips parted, and his tongue teased me.
Phew, holy Hannah! Not a fluke. I could spend my whole day kissing this man, and never regret a moment. My lips tingled from the contact with his and a shiver ran up my spine.
“Wow.” I sighed.
“I agree.” He sounded as breathless as I felt.
Part of me wanted to be embarrassed at my obvious attraction. But what did it matter if I was open about his kissing? He knew I was head over heels for him. Besides, I had lived my life with secrets for too long.
“I missed you.” Adam kissed down the length of my neck.
“We talked last night.” The trail of kisses was both hot and cold.
His mouth curved against my skin. “Talk, yes, but I wanted to hold you.” His hand pressed against my back. “I wanted to taste you.” He kissed my collarbone. “It was torture.”
My stomach did flip-flops at his declarations. “I might have been thinking about kissing you too.” I smiled. “Danny mentioned to the class I was making funny faces.” I shook my head. “That kid misses nothing.” I sighed.
“Maybe it’s a neurodivergent thing?” He raised the back of my hand to his lips.
Did this mean he was more accepting of Danny’s possible diagnosis? “I actually love to watch how their brains work. It’s kind of amazing. They notice different things.”
He slowly kissed each finger, and I shivered. “Okay, I better let you eat, or you will waste away.”
I rolled my eyes but hopped off his lap and grabbed my lunch and opened up my Dr Pepper.
Adam grabbed his lunchbox with Minecraft characters on it and sat next to me, our legs touching.
“Nice lunch box.” I grinned.
Adam shrugged. “Danny wanted to pick out my lunch box this morning. I figured it didn’t bother me, and it made him happy, so why not?”
How was this man even real?
He bit into his PB&J. “So, why Hillsdale?” He covered his mouth with his hand as he asked the question.
My mind blanked. How much do I tell him? I didn’t want secrets anymore, but I also didn’t want to trauma dump on him either. This was all still new. “That’s complicated.”
He pivoted, so that he was facing me more fully, actively giving me all his attention.