Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
"Oh, Miss Grant is in trouble!"
"Dang, Miss Grant. It's not even nine yet. What'd you do?"
"RIP, Miss Grant," one boy in the back, with plenty of experience in the principal's office, says mournfully.
I give them all a sharp look, earning fits of laughter from most of them. I swear, nothing intimidates them. "If you don't have your math worksheet done before I get back, I'm going to spoil the end of Stranger Things for all of you when I get back."
"That's cold, Miss Grant!" my favorite student cries.
"Then behave," I warn them, sailing out the door into the hallway with my heart in my throat. They have no idea why I'm being called into the office, but I do. Dawson released a statement announcing our engagement last night. I'm guessing Jeannie, our principal, is already fielding calls from concerned parents.
My heels click on the floor as I make my way to the office. Olivia, the front office assistant, waves me straight into Jeannie's office, barely even glancing up from the stack of files on her desk.
I tap on Jeannie's door before poking my head in.
"Ava, come in," she says, waving me inside.
I step in, closing the door behind me. My hands are shaking, so I lace them together, clutching my fingers. "Um, if this is about Dawson's announcement…"
"It is."
Fuck my life.
"I know you probably have reservations, but—"
"What are the chances you can convince him to give a talk to these heathens?" she asks, cutting me off.
I blink at her, caught off guard. "What?"
Her lips twist, her expression apologetic. "I know it's unpardonably rude to ask when you just went public, but most of these kids think he's the best thing since sliced bread. If he were to come talk to them about the importance of education, they might actually listen."
"You…want him to come talk to them?" I ask, just to make sure we're on the same page here. This conversation is not going at all how I thought it would.
"Yes, of course."
"Jesus." I drop into the chair across from her desk, laughing hysterically.
Jeannie furrows her brows, looking at me like I've lost it.
"I thought I was getting fired," I admit, still laughing.
"Fired?" Jeannie gapes at me. "For what?"
"For getting engaged to my stepbrother."
"Jesus Christ." Jeannie's eyes widen, and for a moment, I think that maybe I should have just kept that tidbit to myself. But then she laughs softly, shaking her head. "It's 2026, Ava. We don't cater to Puritans any longer, at least, not in this state. Besides, you're a damn good teacher. The whole school would riot if we fired you."
I exhale a shaking breath, which she notices.
"I'm guessing you've been stressing about this?"
"For longer than you can imagine," I mutter, laughing ruefully.
She shakes her head in response, smiling at me. "Well, stop. There may be a few complaints, but they'll be nonsense. Everyone here loves you. They can file their objections in the same place they file their complaints about the books in the library." She nudges the trashcan with her foot for emphasis. "I will not be entertaining them."
"Thank you," I whisper gratefully, drooping in my chair as the last little knots of worry unravel. I was so convinced the exact opposite would happen—that Dawson and I would become some big scandal. I don't think I ever let myself consider any other possibility. But this is real, and it's happening. He's mine, and no one cares.
This is far better than any dream I've ever had. It's perfection.
"What do you think?" Jeannie asks. "Do you think he'll give a talk?"
"Oh," I say, smiling at her. "I think he can be talked into it."
He's waiting in the driveway when I get home, looking too damn good to be real in a pair of sweats and a Sabres t-shirt. God, he's beautiful.
Before I even have my car in park, he's stalking toward me. I'm in his arms in two seconds, his lips on mine.
"I fucking missed you," he growls against my lips.
I wrap around him, not caring who sees us. My hands plunge into his hair, holding him to me as I kiss him back with everything I have.
"I missed you too," I breathe as he squeezes my ass, his erection digging into my belly.
He grunts, nipping my bottom lip. "How'd it go?"
"It was perfect." I tip my head back, smiling up at him. "Everything is perfect."
His thumb touches my bottom lip, his expression soft. "Yeah, baby, it finally is."
Epilogue
Dawson
Two Years Later
The crowd is on its feet, screaming and cheering as the last seconds wind down on the clock, but I'm not paying attention to them. I'm not focused on the clock, either. All my attention is on the pretty little minx rushing onto the field with the rest of the wives and family, her big blue eyes shining with happiness.