“We’re walking,” I say to Jade, loud enough for Henry and Reed to hear. “Henry, do you want to join us?”
Henry hops out of the car, all smiles, and Reed follows, stepping out from the other side. His tie clip is gripped between his teeth as his hands mindlessly work on knotting his tie.
I may look put together this morning, like my whole life is put together, but in reality, I’ve already argued with Jade over her hair, didn’t have time to make myself a coffee, and the banana in Jade’s hand is her only breakfast.
“Guess we all walk then,” Reed says, joining us on the sidewalk.
Abe pulls away, no doubt meeting us at the school. Henry and Jade run up ahead of us, lost in conversation about their weekend.
“Looks like someone raced out of the house again this morning,” I joke.
“You just wish you’d seen me before I put on my suit.” He winks.
I pretend to be annoyed while mentally creating a visual of a naked Reed in my head.
“A little early for the ego, no?”
I try not to glance at him as he knots his tie and then slides the clip into place. I fail miserably, but he lets me off with only a smirk.
“One day you’ll find out, I wake up with it.” His arms fall to his sides and he brushes my fingers with every swing of his arm.
I stuff them in the pocket of my jacket because what my daughter doesn’t need is her mother showing up to school all hot and bothered.
“Tsk, tsk, I thought we were over this hard to get stuff?” he leans in and whispers.
My eyes instinctively close and shivers race up my neck.
“Watch it. I haven’t really talked to Jade about us.” I inhale a deep breath when his lips are so close that it would take no more than an inch to taste him.
“So, there is an us?” he asks.
“Maybe.” I pretend to be playing hard to get, batting my eyelashes for extra effect.
“Just so you know, my lips will be on yours before I drop you off at work.”
I stop, jut my head back. “Who said I’d be riding with you?”
He looks down at my empty hands. “Because I have a tall coffee with a splash of skim milk and a shot of vanilla flavor waiting for you in the car.”
His face morphs into a victorious expression, knowing my caffeine addiction has secured his victory.
“And you aren’t going to give it to me until you give me a ride to work?”
He nods.
“That’s kind of mean of you.”
“I told you I wasn’t the noble prince.”
“Bye, Mom.” Jade runs over, and I finally take in my surroundings, finding that we’ve broken the tree-lined path to the school courtyard. I liked it better before I realized that Darcie and Georgia’s eyes were fixed on us.
“Oh Bug, I’m sorry.”
She rests her chin on my stomach, her brown eyes that match my own, staring up at me.
“For what?”
I glance at Reed. “Nothing.”
Her arms tighten around me. “Can I come to the office today?”
“Not today, but how about Friday?”
“Yay! Can we bring Henry one day?” I look to Henry who’s standing next to Jade, already having said goodbye to Reed.
“I’ll work something out soon.”
She leaves me in a rush “Did you hear that, Henry? It’s so much fun at my mom’s office. There’s candy and I can get on a computer and play games.”
“Really? Reed bought me an iPad, but I don’t have a computer.”
I watch the two of them disappear into the school. My independent girl and the quiet boy, now the best of friends. Who would have thought?
“So, I need to know why you’re asking Principal Weddle to use the parking lot out back and why we need it roped off.” Darcie’s voice makes my entire body clench like the doctor’s office just called to book my annual PAP smear.
She approaches, her arms crossed, Starbucks coffee in hand. Per usual, she wears flats and jeans, but today she’s added a trench coat since rain is expected later today. Her auburn hair is long and curled, her makeup impeccable.
“It’s a surprise, but believe me, people are going to love it,” Reed says.
She fakes sincerity with a giggle and then her gaze lands back on me. “Vicki, I am the president of the PTA. I need to approve everything.”
“It’s Vic—”
I cut off Reed by placing my hand on his forearm. “First, it’s Victoria. Second, Principal Weddle already approved it. He knows our plans and thought the fact that there will be a surprise at the event would increase attendance.”
Let’s just say, the principal was not easily convinced but eventually I argued enough valid points against his arguments and assured him all would cleaned up and that there’d be no trace of anything after we were done.
“Do you want to be the president, Vicki?” She spits out my name like it’s poison on her tongue.
Now, I’m not totally opposed to being called Vicki. My dad used to call me by that name. But from this woman who doesn’t know me? Absolutely not. The fact that she does it on purpose to annoy me makes me really want to put her in her place.
“No, I don’t.”
“Then—”
“I know where you’re gonna go with this, Darcie, so let me just take care of it for you. No, I can’t be president because I work. Yes, my husband and I are divorced. Yes, I moved here only recently and yes, I live with my mother. But all of that isn’t really any of your concern. You assigned me a task—without asking, I might add—and I agreed to take it on. Now you want to place stipulations on it, but that’s not really any of your business either.” I pause long enough to take a breath and watch as her eyes grow even wider. “So, Darcie, why don’t you drop your kid off and go do something productive rather than stand around here all morning judging the other parents like you have a doctorate in raising children.”
She scoffs which I silently love because it means I’ve upset her, but I keep my cool, my expression blank. She’s doing a terrible job in that department. Her cheeks are bright pink, and she clenches the cup in her hand so tight that it makes a sound of protest.
“Fine, do it your way. I only wanted to make sure you didn’t have some sad booth that no one went to.” She turns to Reed. “Nice of you to back me up, seeing as I gave you her phone number. It’s called pay it forward, Reed, do you not understand the concept?” She doesn’t wait for him to answer but instead stomps away. “Georgia!” she says and her sidekick who is way too old to be bullied follows obediently.
My heartbeat slows and the sweat under my arms feels cold as it starts to dry. I circle around to face Reed.
“Shit, just when I didn’t think it was possible to want you more.”
He shakes his head, then links our hands together, leading us to the car. When we reach the sedan, he opens the door.
I slide in to the vanilla scented car. “Good morning, Abe.”
“Good morning, Victoria, or should I say Miss Bad Ass.” His amused eyes find me in the rearview mirror.
“You saw that, huh?”
“Made my morning,” he says with a chuckle.
“So, you witnessed the takedown, Abe?” Reed asks sliding in next to me.