I swallow past the lump in my throat. My family has beenwith me ever since I found out I was going to be a daddy at twenty-three. When Addy left, they all rallied together and helped me out when I had no clue what I was doing. I don’t know where I would be without their love and support. Max is growing up surrounded by people who love him, and that’s all that matters to me. It’s all that’s important, and I won’t do anything to jeopardize it, and that includes getting close to anyone who can walk away from us again.
Chapter Three
Sophia
I smileat the little boy who has stolen my heart since the first day of school a month ago. He places the purple flower on my desk like he does every Friday. Sometimes, it’s a petal, and other times, it’s a partly squished flower from being clutched by his hand on the drive here. I bring the flower to my nose and smell the perfumed petals. Plumerias have always been my favorite flower.
“Thanks, Max. Did you know that Fridays are my favorite day out of the whole week? It’s because I get to bring home a flower with me and enjoy it all weekend long. I have a special vase at home that I use especially for your flowers.”
“You do?” His big grey eyes widen, and he gives me the cutest grin.
“I do,” I grin back at him. “And these are my favorite flowers in the whole wide world.”
“Mine too! I’m not tall enough to pick them from the tall trees in our yard, but Daddy says that I can have as many as I want that fall to the ground. Our backyard is covered in them!” He says excitedly.
“Well, I guess that makes me a very lucky teacher.”
“You’re the best teacher in the whole wide world, and you’re the prettiest. Uncle Jake says we should always treat a lady right and never be afraid to show her that we like her. That’s why I bring you flowers—to show you that I like you.”
My heart is a puddle on the floor right now. His dark hair is slightly longer on top and always sticks up in different directions as if someone is rubbing his head all the time. The part that gets me the most is the tattoos. His arms always have those temporary tattoos, but instead of the cartoon characters that most kids wear, they are strategically placed on his little arms. The artwork is so beautiful and lifelike that I’m thinking of asking his daddy where he buys them.
I’ve always wanted a tattoo ever since Noah and Maverick came home at sixteen with one, but I’ve never found the right one that I want on me for the rest of my life. I thought our parents would be furious when they saw Maverick’s, but they just shook their heads and laughed, thanking God that they at least had enough sense to get something meaningful and beautiful done. They’ve added a lot more since then, and the girls used to go crazy over them because, let’s face it, tattoos are hot.
“I like you too, Max.” His face lights up, and my heart swells in my chest. I feel like the Grinch on Christmas Day as he feels his heart grow bigger. “You ready to take your seat? Class is about to start.” He nods his head excitedly and runs to sit next to his friend, Spencer.
I’ve got twenty-two students this year, and Max, I learned, was the new kid this year. He and his dad just moved here this summer. There’s no mention of a mother on his information packet that was returned to the school, and his emergency contact, other than his dad, is his Uncle Jake. He must be very close with his uncles because he’s always talking about them. He even showed me the cute little trophy he won after beatinghis Uncle Miles in Go Fish. It reminded me of when my dad made one for our family corn hole games. To this day, Bella and I still proudly display the trophy whenever we team up and beat the guys.
I kept an eye on Max the first few days to make sure he was making friends, but he has had no problems in that department. He fits right in as if he’s been here his whole life. Sadness washes over me every time I think of his mom not being in the picture. I’m assuming she passed away, and it breaks me in two to think of him having to grow up without a mom.
I walk around the classroom and make sure no one needs help putting their belongings away. I pass by Max’s desk, and he grins up at me. I’ve only seen eyes that color twice in my whole life. It was a shock to me when Max first looked at me. Those light grey eyes, the color of steel, brought back memories of the stranger at the bar. It’s been over a month, and I still find myself thinking of how it felt to have him pressed up against me. But then, I remember what an ass he turned out to be, and satisfaction weaves its way into me as images of him bent over in pain enter my mind as I drove away.
It served him right. He looked so damn smug, thinking I was helpless, and when he got mad at me for no reason, I knew I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. Every part of me had to force myself not to kiss him back when he pressed his lips to mine, and that made me even angrier that my body was betraying me, so I did the first thing that came to mind. I bit him. Hard. The knee to the groin was icing on the cake.
I push thoughts of him out of my mind as I turn and face my students. Grinning, I look at all their adorable faces before we work on the firstletter of the day.
“I’m telling you,he’s the most adorable thing you have ever seen. I would take him home in a heartbeat.” I’m sitting at Joe’s later that night with Maverick and Bella. Noah and Emma are gone for the weekend. Emma got invited to attend a book signing event up north at a children’s book fair, so they made a weekend getaway out of it.
“I think that’s called kidnapping.” Mav laughs into his beer.
“Ha Ha. I’m just saying that I know I’m not supposed to have favorites, but God, do I melt like a popsicle on the Fourth of July when I’m around him.”
Bella laughs at our favorite line from the movieLittle Rascals, and I grin at her.
“You and your movie lines. How do you girls remember those? We haven’t seen that movie in years.” Mav shakes his head and chuckles.
“The good lines just stick with you.” I shrug my shoulders and take a sip of my beer. “Do you guys need a refill?” I hold up my empty beer bottle to Bella and my brother.
“Yes. Thanks, sis.” Maverick leans back in the booth with his arm around Bella. I can’t help but smile when he leans down to nuzzle her neck.
“No problem. I’ll be right back.” Bella smiles up at me before returning her attention to Maverick. I’ve been feeling a bit like a third wheel lately, even though it’s not their fault. I couldn’t be happier for Noah and Emma and my brother and Bella. It’s just been harder than I thought it would be to see them all so in love and have a connection that, deep down, a part of me is yearning for.
I head to the bar and smile at Joe as I sit down on the bar stool. Bella and I have been coming here since we were eighteen, and Joe’s like a cool uncle to us. We used to have Noah and Maverick sneak us beers while we played pool, and even though I’m sure Joe noticed, he never said anything.
“How’s my Sophie doing?” Joe grins at me through his white beard.
“I’m doing great.” I grin back at him. “Can I get three Coronas, please?”
“Sure thing.” He walks away to the cooler behind the bar before popping the tops and handing them to me. I take the three limes he sets in front of me and squeeze them down the necks.
