She shakes her head, the frown still there.
So I spend the next several minutes highlighting each of their accomplishments, which makes for quite a lengthy and impressive list.
I finish the last of Andrew’s with aso-take-thatgrin.
She gives me a brief nod that states: I’m impressed, but I won’t admit that out loud.
My smile widens. “They were nice enough to help us out with the performance. And the kids are getting so much from their expertise.”
From the other side of Tabitha, Landon smiles my favorite cocky grin, confirming what I already suspected. He’s been listening in the entire time.
Tabitha doesn’t see it. She’s too busy glaring at me again.
She returns her attention to Landon. “I’m free for drinks tonight. I thought we could talk about the possibility of a full-time position with the school, once Zoe’s maternity leave is over.”
“Doesn’t the principal typically make that decision?”
“I have connections that can ensure a position here.”
I can almost hear a wink in her tone at the end of that sentence.
A laugh erupts from my lungs, and she swivels around to level another irritated look at me.
“Oops. Sorry. Hiccups.” I flash her my most innocent smile.
“That’s nice of you to offer,” Landon says, drawing her attention back to him. “But I’m more of a free spirit when it comes to my job. That’s why I prefer being a substitute teacher.”
“Well, the offer’s still on for the drinks.”
“That’s going to be a little tough. I have a girlfriend.”
I guess Tabitha hasn’t heard the latest rumor about us. She must be more out of the loop than she realizes.
Her eyes widen to the size of cymbals. “You do?”
He nods toward me in lieu of an answer.
Her head swivels between us like the girl inThe Exorcistif she had OD’d on caffeine. “You two are dating? Since when?”
“Since last week,” I say.
“Isn’t that against the rules?”
I pretend to appear thoughtful “You mean the dating rules? Like no sex before the third date?”
Landon laughs a little louder this time. The kids continue singing behind him.
“No, I mean the rules about dating a colleague.”
“Nope. There’s no such rule. Which means we’re free to date.”
“Well, I guess congratulations are in order,” she says, not sounding at all like she means it.
I bite my tongue to keep from saying, “We’re dating, not getting married,” and go with “Thank you” instead.
“Now that we’ve got that all straight,” I say, “you really need to excuse us. We’ve got a show to prepare for and not a lot of time.”
I gesture toward the door. She gets the hint and leaves.
