Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
The detention bell rings and the kids bolt out of the room damn near fast enough to make my head spin. I gather my stuff and head for the faculty parking lot. Someone’s tires squeal as they peel out, leaving a solitary car in the lot.
I know that car.
It’s Addison’s.
Alarm has me tossing my crap in the truck and then striding her way. She’s looking down at her phone as the air conditioner blasts her in the face. Her blonde hair dances around her face.
I drum my fingers on her windshield, startling her. Her frown almost immediately melts into a bright grin that does things to me. I feel it right in the center of my chest. A sucker punch.
Since I need to have a conversation with her, I walk around to the passenger side and open the door. “Got a minute?”
Her cheeks turn pink as she nods. “Get in. Too hot to stand there with the door open.”
I slide into the seat and close the door. Inside her vehicle, I’m flooded with her scent. Like a fool, I inhale it, filling every inch of my lungs.
“What’s up?” she asks, arching a neatly plucked brow at me. “Heard you had detention.”
I smirk at her. “You heard correctly. Most entertaining forty-five minutes of my life.”
“I’ve never had detention, so I can only wonder about the happenings.” She barks out a dry laugh. “Kind of funny that I’ve been expelled but never had detention.” As soon as she says it, she winces. “So, what did you need to talk about?”
I want to probe on the expulsion, but I sidestep it for now. “Wanted to discuss FFA and Greenhouse Club.”
Her features brighten. “Greenhouse Club will be fun. Your class is my favorite. I even texted with my dad some about what I could plant at Mom’s house.”
So much for turning her down now.
“You’re the only one who’s excited about it,” I say with a sigh. “But we can still make it fun. Better than sitting in your car all afternoon.”
“Just me and you?” She bites down on her bottom lip, looking at me with hope in her eyes.
“Just us.”
Idiot. So much for doing the right thing…
I realize this is a bad idea and one I won’t bring up to my new friends, but I don’t put a stop to it. Addison needs a friend. I can sense it. Just because I’m her teacher doesn’t mean I can’t be there for her.
You just want her all to yourself, Theo.
“FFA has a minimum requirement of five students, unfortunately,” I say, ignoring my inner taunting. “So, that one is a no-go.”
She gives me a small shrug. “That’s okay. At least we still have Greenhouse Club.”
We.
We’re a “we” now.
Warmth coils in my gut. I hate how much I like talking to her and thinking about spending alone time with her.
“Thanks for being so kind to me, Mr. Langford,” she says, eyebrows pinching. “It’s meant more than you know.”
“Theo,” I blurt out. “When it’s just us, you can call me Theo.”
Her lips quirk up on one side. “Theo. I like that name.”
Now I’ve crossed a line. But, having her call me Mr. Langford all the time, especially in a private setting like this, feels too formal. It’s also a reminder that I’m her teacher and she’s my student.
But Theo?
Her calling me Theo sounds like we’re friends.
“Theo,” she murmurs, voice husky and too sexy. “There are things you don’t know about me. Bad things.”
I stiffen and frown at her. “There can’t possibly be anything other than good when it comes to you. You’re a good girl.”
Again, with my stupid mouth.
Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of crimson, and she smiles shyly at me. “I always thought I was. You make me think I am.”
“You are,” I practically spit out. “Don’t forget it either.”
“I’m hungry,” she says. “Want to grab something to eat?”
My mind flashes to a meal between a certain pair of golden thighs. Oh, fuck no. I straighten my spine and attempt to infuse authority in my tone. “No. I don’t think that would be appropriate.”
Hypocritical fucker.
Her face falls and she nods, tearing her gaze from mine. “Of course. You’re totally right. Sorry, I wasn’t meaning it like that. You’re you and I’m me. I was just hungry. I’ll go now.”
She’s rambling.
Nervous rambling.
I reach out, like I might touch her face, and then jerk my hand back. I’m an idiot who can’t think straight around this girl. After clearing my throat, I shove the door open.
“For the record,” I say, still unable to meet her pretty blue eyes, “a younger me would have died at an opportunity to have dinner with a girl like you. Died, Addison. Trust me, it’s not you.”
“Okay. Thanks for that.”
Then, because I’m clearly stupid as fuck, I say, “I’ll need your phone number, though. For Greenhouse Club.”