Changing the Rules (Richter Book 1)(43)

“How about after school? I can ask to show up a little late for track. The coaches did say my schoolwork had to come first,” Claire said, smiling.

It took Mrs. Wallace a few seconds to answer. “Fine.”

The bell rang, and Claire turned toward the door.

“Miss Porter?”

“Yeah?”

Mrs. Wallace scribbled on a notepad. “A pass for being late.”

Claire took it, waved it in the air. “Thanks.”

Instead of finding third period, she worked her way to the auto shop.

The metal roll-up doors were all the way to the top, and twenty or so students were working on small engines on various tables set up beyond the car lifts.

Cooper was bent over, showing a handful of kids something in the engine.

For a few seconds, Claire stared and listened. Jax was right, Cooper filled out a pair of jeans really well. And his laugh, the richness of it, had started to become something she wanted to hear often.

One of the students looked up, and then nudged Cooper and pointed her way. “Uhm, Mr. Mitchel.”

He turned and saw her, and those dimples she had just started to notice appeared on his cheeks.

“Sorry to interrupt, Coooach. Can I, ah . . . t-talk to you for a minute?” Claire nearly called him Cooper and stuttered.

“Yeah.” He wiped his hand on a shop towel and patted one of the kids on his back. “You got this. Try again.”

“I have to be late for track today,” Claire said loud enough for anyone listening to hear.

“Oh?” Cooper opened the door to the empty classroom. “What’s up?”

Claire lowered her voice to a whisper. “Yearbooks aren’t in the library. I need to get into Mrs. Appleton’s room. I’ve arranged to meet Mrs. Wallace after school. Their rooms connect. I need you to check up on me and distract her.”

“How much time?”

“I don’t know where she keeps them, ten minutes?”

“That’s a long distraction.”

“I’m not going to get another chance, so make it work.” Claire gave him a knowing grin. “Flirt with her. I know you know how.”

“Seriously?”

“Don’t try and tell me you haven’t flirted with older women.”

Cooper’s gaze moved to her lips. “And younger women.” His words were slow.

“You’re killin’ me.” Claire ignored the heat rising in her face.

“I certainly hope so.” His words were charged, the look in his eyes matched.

“Cooper,” she said his name between clenched teeth. “Save it for Mrs. Wallace.”

“Sorry.” He closed his eyes, shook his head. “Better now.”

Claire took a step back, put out her palm.

“What?”

“I need a hall pass. I’m pretty sure Mrs. Wallace’s expired after the first fifteen minutes.”

Cooper started to laugh. “What’s in it for me?”

She had a hard time not laughing. “C’mon.” She pushed at his shoulder.

Cooper found the notepad and handed her a pass. “You could have just texted me this info.”

“And spend my time in World Affairs? Where is the fun in that?”

“You just wanted to see me.”

His words made her pause. Probably because he was partially right.

Or maybe more than partially.





CHAPTER NINETEEN


Jax sat in the tiered quad, her uniform sweater under her butt to keep her skirt from getting wet. If there was one thing about this assignment she didn’t like, it was plaid. She’d burned her Richter uniform, every version of it, down to the socks. To her, there was nothing worse than a strict uniform code making all the students look exactly alike.

With a sandwich in one hand and book in the other, she ate and watched.

If it wasn’t for Ally and her connections to the party crowd, Jax was starting to think her presence on Bremerton’s campus was a waste of time.

Her phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Lewis’s initials flashed.

“Hey. I’m a . . . I can’t talk long.”

“How about a simple hello?”

Jax closed her eyes. “Sorry. I don’t want you upset if I have to hang up.” She glanced around, found no one watching her.

“You sound like you’re outside.”

“I am.” Lewis had no idea where she was, only that she was part of a group investigating human trafficking. She told him that if he saw her anywhere, even if she was with Claire, to ignore her and walk on by.

“Where?”

“You know I can’t tell you that.”

“I’m starting to think you’re living a double life.”

“Technically, I am,” she said with a slight laugh.

“Hmm.” He wasn’t amused.

“You’re calling midday, so something’s up.” Jax put her sandwich down, no longer interested in it.

“Me and a few of my friends are renting a big Airbnb in Santa Barbara over the long weekend, blow off some steam.”

She knew without asking what he was going to say next. “I’m sure you need it.”

“We all do.”