Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 138981 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138981 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
He’s right about the clock ticking.
There’s just enough time to eat if I want to make it in time to get settled before the kids roll in. I shovel it in, barely remembering my manners, even if he’s eating just as ravenously next to me.
No surprise, the man has an appetite to match his lion build.
I’m starting to wonder if he meant to eat all of this himself and only shared it with me when he realized he’d co-opted my kitchen.
It makes me smile.
And I’m still smiling like a lovestruck fool as I load everything into the sink to soak, then snag my messenger bag and dart for the door.
“You on duty today?” I ask, stopping on the porch and looking back at him.
Lucas hovers in the doorway, his arms stretched lazily over his head to grip the frame, drawing the stark lines of his chest into sleek relief. There’s raw power in every muscle that flexes with his breath.
“Not till afternoon.” He gives me a lopsided grin. “I drew crossing guard duty this month. Swear it was random. We drew straws and I came up short. I ain’t stalking you.”
“Sure you aren’t. Also...” I bite my lip. “You know the alarm code, right? When you leave, just set it and the door lock engages after thirty seconds.”
“I know how it works. I put it in, remember?” he teases. “I’ll also clean up and get those motion sensor lights put in today, then close everything up nice and safe for you.”
I flush. “Lucas, you don’t have to—”
He silences me by catching my chin.
And I’m breathless as he tilts my face up for a kiss, capturing my lips in this slow, soft movement that makes me remember the feverish way he kissed me last night.
That warmth rocks through me as he plies my lips in lazy caresses I feel all the way down to the tips of my toes.
When he draws back, I’m dazed, still looking up at him.
“I want to,” he whispers. “Have a good first day of class, Miss Clarendon.”
“Y-yeah. Okay. Sure.”
I’m walking on sunshine as I head to my car.
I’m amused that this is the first time I can actually see out of my rearview mirror since I moved here, without a gazillion boxes piled in the back.
But as I fit my keys in the ignition, I stop, glancing back at Lucas. He’s still watching me from the doorway with one hand up in a wave.
I also can’t help noticing the yellow crime scene tape peeking around the side of the house.
What am I doing?
Everything’s such a mess.
Whatever’s really going on with those Xs, my feelings, my everything.
Still, right now, I just want to bask in the moment.
I want to be happy.
I’m off to my very first day as a real teacher.
Not a teaching assistant, not a sub.
A bona fide honest-to-God teacher, with my very own classroom.
With one last look at Lucas and a fluttering wave, I smile and head off to work.
The world just glows brighter as I drive through town.
I feel like I’m in my own freaky Disney movie, everything hyper-saturated with color and twittering with birdsongs.
Only to have it all go grey the instant I turn onto the wider road leading to the town square.
There they are.
Standing on the corner like grim reapers.
Tall thin lampposts of men—Ephraim and Culver Jacobin—both of them smiling the same empty grins.
As I drive past, their heads turn slowly, tracking me, flash-freezing the warm, sunny morning.
My fingers go numb on the steering wheel.
I can’t help thinking Roger’s not the only one in town with a skinny, tall build—and a horrible talent for not being seen until he’s good and ready.
I don’t stop watching the Jacobins in my mirror until I turn into the roundabout and they vanish from my sight.
I don’t breathe until they’re gone.
I’m sure they never stop watching me until they can’t.
I won’t let any weirdo scarecrow-men ruin my whole day.
Also, I thought I was prepared for how rambunctious my students would be.
I was very wrong.
I’m the only main teacher for K-4, aside from arts, PE, and elective teachers who only get them for an hour or two at a time. They’re with me almost all day, thirty-three total between all the age groups.
I’ve never managed a blended class like this before.
It’s a challenge to keep them all engaged, entertained, and actually learning. I only let certain grades out for an hour at a time to attend their rotating electives.
I’m basically doing the work of five teachers, even if my class is pretty small for spanning kindergarten through fourth grade.
Go figure.
I’m lucky the older students are eager to pitch in.
It doesn’t take long to figure out that I can make this work by covering each subject one at a time, and asking the older kids to help the younger ones.