“We’ll need Mr. Freeman to pick Francesca up today because you’re not on the approved list. You were approved for a visitor pick up yesterday. Visitor pickups do not continue for consecutive days. For you to be on the permanent list, both of her parents have to sign off on the change. Her mother has refused. We reached out to her this morning.”
I scoffed, “Her mother. Of course. I’ll be right back.” When I left the office, I ran into Frankie wearing a concerned expression on her pretty face.
“What’s up?” She asked.
“I’m calling your dad.” I bit my tongue when it came to her mother because it wasn’t my place to call her a petty bitch. Especially not in front of Frankie.
Luckily, Mr. Freeman answered right away. “Miss Lucas, what’s wrong?”
“The lovely sisters at Frankie’s school refuse to let me pick her up because I haven’t been approved.”
“What? I sent them the updated approved pick up list last night. I signed off on it.”
“Well seems like you’re not the only one who needs to sign off on it, Mr. Freeman.” There was a pause on the other end then he groaned.
“Alexis,” he said with a heavy sigh.
“Yeah. Her. They need you to come up here to get Frankie because evidently, I’m a kidnapping pedophile.” I said loud enough for everyone within earshot to hear. The barrage of uncomfortable stares tickled the hell out of me.
“Okay, Miss Lucas. Calm down. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He ended the call and I looked at Frankie, exasperation painting my features.
“He’s on his way.”
“Wow. I can’t believe they won’t let me leave with you when you were just here yesterday to pick me up with no problems.”
“I’m going to go speak to that nun outside now.”
“Wait, Xari!” Frankie squeaked and rushed after me, grabbing my arm. “She’s mean.”
“And? I’m grown. She doesn’t scare me, Frank.” I removed her grip from my bicep and marched over to the woman in charge of the car line. “Sister Agnes,” I called. She looked up at me, rolled her eyes, and continued doling out children to waiting parents.
I walked over to her and blocked her way so that she had to talk to me. Yes, I could have waited until she was done with car line for the day but Mr. Freeman would have been there to pick Frankie up by then. I had to get my feelings off my chest immediately.
“If you knew why I couldn’t pick Frankie up, you should have said something instead of being rude and nasty.” My words struggled out from between clenched teeth.
“You need to move. You’re not authorized to be here.”
“Oh well, I’m here now. You’re supposed to be a leader in this school and so far, your attitude has shown that you’re in the wrong profession.”
“I don’t have an attitude problem but I do have a problem with you standing here when you’re not supposed to.”
“Good. I’m glad you have a problem with it. I’m glad there’s nothing you can do about it. Remember when I was parked here waiting to pick up Frankie and you wouldn’t help with the problem I was having? That’s how it felt. Being annoyed as fuck with no way around it.”
“Excuse me. Your language…”
“Is foul as hell. I know. Perks of being a grown-up. I’ll make sure to speak to the principal about your behavior, sister.” I flashed her an icy smile then walked over to the front of the school just in time to see Mr. Freeman’s car pull up.
“What were you over there doing?” He asked the moment he got out of the car. His eyes jumped from me to Sister Agnes in the car line.
“I was voicing my displeasure with Sister Pain in the Ass over there.” I jabbed my thumb in her direction and Mr. Freeman glared at me.
“Please tell me you watched your mouth.”
“I’m going to assume you know enough about me to know the answer to that question.”
“Unfortunately.” He took long-legged strides into the school while Frankie and I followed behind him. When I felt another person walk through the door behind me, I turned to see Apollo. My face lit up.
“Apollo!” I poked him with my finger and he groaned under his breath. I still heard it. “How was lunch?”
“I’m on duty.”
“Me too. How was lunch?” I grinned at him even harder and he flicked his gaze to Mr. Freeman who pretended not to see his plea for help. “Come on, Apollo. Don’t be a dick. I just want a simple answer. Was it good or was it horrible?”
“It was horrible,” he muttered.
“Oh. So, we’re lying now? Cool. Let me know what the theme for you guys’ wedding is going to be. I want to dress accordingly.” He didn’t respond with words. I did notice his jaw muscle tick though. My knack for getting under the skin of the most unmovable men was still intact.
“You’ll have all the appropriate signatures by tomorrow,” Mr. Freeman said to the nun at the front desk. She was all smiles for him but only had narrow eyes and huffs for me. It figures. A man as fine as Mr. Freeman made women behave like angels. When they were around me though? The claws came out. I was a lot to handle sometimes but still…were claws always warranted?
“Thank you so much, Senator Freeman. I’m sorry for any misunderstanding. You know how strongly we feel about Francesca. She’s family and we can’t let anyone walk off with her. Especially not when they pop up out of the blue looking like…that.” She turned a scornful eye toward me and I tipped my
