“We’re doing a unit on South America in the geography classes and then—I’ll be honest—I sped through a couple of my least favorite units in US History so we could do a current events unit. So, we’re already learning about World War I in that class.” I slick my tongue over my lip. “I’ll get you copies of the curriculums for both classes and we can make a copy of my planner, too. If there’s anything else you need or want to know about, feel free to text me. I hardly ever check my e-mail.” I turn and grab a piece of scrap paper and a pen from my desk and jot down my phone number for him. “We’ll take the route right past my classroom on our way back to the office so you can check it out. Your first day is Friday?”
“Yep, it is.”
“That’s smart. Get your toes wet with just one day and then take a break.”
“I thought it was a good plan when they told me. Thank you, Ms. Beckett.”
“Oh my gosh.” A laugh escapes before I can hold it in. “Please—unless we’re in class, call me Hadleigh.”
“All right, then. Hadleigh it is.”
Chapter 4
Sawyer
I can’t quite tell if Hadleigh remembers where we’ve seen each other before. Thank fuck. That would be incredibly awkward. I’m definitely not bringing it up just yet. The way she’d gazed at me that night, her deep, dark eyes completely unwavering—it was like some sort of weird cosmic connection. Maybe I’ll say something once I get to know her better. Right now, I don’t think it’s appropriate given we are establishing the ground rules for me being here as a student teacher—and one she’s responsible for, at that. It’s possible she’d feel awkward if I were to point out how we’d stared at each other for way longer than was probably socially acceptable for two strangers to do. The last thing I want is to make her uncomfortable or add another worry to my plate when I’m already nervous enough as it is.
“I can walk you back to the office after you’ve seen my room, just in case you want to ask them any questions up there. Would that be okay?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Thank you so much, by the way, for agreeing to work with me. I’m not sure if you get anything out of it, but I’d like to at least extend my gratitude.”
A smile breaks across her face. “It’s something silly, like ten dollars a week from Roxford. That’s okay, though. It looks good on my record.” She shrugs and leads me out of the workroom.
We haven’t even gotten back to the main hallway when a male teacher approaches us from the opposite direction. Given his attire—athletic pants and a polo with the Newberry High School insignia on the chest—I’d guess he’s a gym teacher or maybe a coach. His hair is disheveled, like he’s been running his hands through it, and his expression is thunderous.
Hadleigh abruptly stops in the middle of the hallway, as he heads straight for her. I don’t know what else to do, so I stop, too. I glance at the woman I’m only just getting to know and could swear she’s ill at ease. Do I tell her I’ll see her later? Stay here? Give them some space, maybe? Shit. Hell if I know what’s appropriate. I finally elect to follow her lead.
This guy barrels straight up to her without so much as a look at me. “Can I talk to you?” He’s practically panting as he comes to a stop in front of her.
Hadleigh turns to me, her face tense. “I’m sorry, Sawyer. Would you mind giving me just a second?”
My brows pull together as I look from her to him. “Um, sure.” I point to a classroom with a door standing open and lights turned off. “Do you think anyone would care if I were to poke around in there?”
“Nope, that’s Piper’s room. You go right ahead.”
My lips press together, semi-concerned, as I leave her side. Upon entering the classroom, I flip on a light so I can take a look around. It’s not until I’ve been looking at the setup for a few seconds that I realize I should have shut the door behind me. I’m still able to hear them clearly out in the hallway which makes me feel like I’m eavesdropping, however unintentional it may be. With a shake of my head, I sit down at Piper’s organized desk to wait.
The guy’s voice drifts through the door, meeting my ears on a bit of a grumble. “Had, I tried to call you three times over break. Tell me you’re not avoiding me.”
“Ed, I told you before break I thought we were better as friends. I thought you understood what I mean by that.”
“But, baby, I miss you. Don’t you miss me?” She stays quiet, and he continues, “I definitely don’t think we’re better as friends. I miss your sweet ass.”
I grimace. Awesome. Just what I need—to have put myself in a position where I learn all about my mentor’s sex life.
“That’s not all there is to a relationship, Ed.”
“Come on, baby. You know we were good together. It was always good.”
Fuck. I close my eyes, dropping my head, chin to chest. She’s definitely in, or had been in, a relationship with this guy.
An irrational wave of jealousy hits me square in the chest, the force of it enough to knock me off balance. This is my mentor. Just because I saw her across a damned bar and thought she seemed interesting doesn’t mean I have any claim to her.
Her voice is muffled and low, and I can’t hear her answer, which is probably for the best.
I rub my hands through my hair before I get up and pace the classroom, paying no real mind to what’s on the walls in front of me and wishing I hadn’t heard any of that. Because here I am, pulse racing
