Teaching Aleck (The Last Hangman MC #2)(43)

“Close call.” She giggles. “It is normal to me. I can’t let someone badmouth and be nasty to the people I love.” She shrugs and turns red, realizing what she just said.

Love. She used the word love. Yep, I’m a goner. “We need to talk about a couple of things later. This weekend if you’re free?”

“Sure, sounds like a good idea.” She smiles and the bell rings.

“Alas I must go.” I chuckle and hug her.

“Go on before I make you paint with your fingers.”

“That sounds more tempting than fixing a broken engine though.” I shrug walking out backwards. I wave at her and Ally and disappear at the end of the corridor.

Well, this morning started in an interesting way to say the least.

I never expected Charline to stand up for me the way she did.

I never expected her to mention helping me and love in the same sentence.

I never expected to come to the conclusion that I love her and want her in mine and Ally’s life.

Today is going to be a good day.





CHAPTER 17



Charline

Well, today started well…or not.

I can’t believe I yelled at two moms. I couldn’t help it though, I’m a calm person until you attack someone I love. I will not let it go without fighting. I’m just glad I didn’t get into trouble for it, I could have easily lost my job.

I would never regret fighting for him, even if I had been fired.

I struggled at the beginning of class, still shocked at my outburst, but I soon forgot about the incident and focused on the kids.

It’s adorable how kids are with each other, when they aren’t fighting that is, they aren’t afraid to show their feelings, if only it were this simple for adults.

My morning turned out quite productive in the end, but I was scared shitless about my meeting with the principal. Instead of berating me, he just warned me not to do that again, especially not in front of the kids.

I spent lunch in class with the kids to get to know each other better and as I was setting up their lunch boxes, I found a note with my name in Ally’s. She grinned wide at me and handed it to me all proud.

When I opened it, it simply said.

Your beauty will forever brighten my darkness.

Aleck

Now, how the hell am I supposed to function after that?

If he’s trying to drive me insane, it’s working.

I can’t stop thinking about him during lunch, especially when I let the kids out onto the playground and I am alone with my thoughts.

I never imagined things being like this. I have a boyfriend who’s really starting to annoy and bore me to death, then I have Aleck, who’s been rejecting me for years, but now wants me. Men are just plain weird. When they can have someone they don’t want said person, but when that person is off limits, they want them as if their life depended on it.

I’m intrigued to know what Aleck has to say about Ally and the rest of his story. I have a feeling it’s not going to be good at all.

I’m brought back to reality by my phone ringing.

“Hello?” I say picking up, but the person on the other end hangs up as soon as I speak. What the hell?

Since the note, I’ve received a few calls like this one. I don’t know who’s trying to mess with me, but I’m not about to let them scare me anymore. Sure, it sucks and the note scared me, but f*ck it. I’m not going to let them win. Besides I have a babysitter with me almost all the time. I giggle to myself thinking about Bennett having to babysit me while I’m at work. He’s been stuck sitting in his truck in the parking lot keeping an eye out on everything all day.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. We decorated the drawings that are on the walls all afternoon and they really seemed to enjoy my idea. It’s only finger and handprints, but it’s looking nice and they are having fun, which is the most important thing.

I pack up my stuff after seeing the kids to their parents and I’m a little bit disappointed Aleck wasn’t there. Instead, Bennett took Ally home; apparently, Aleck was out on some business, which is stressing me out more and more. He was all bruised up and had busted lip already when he dropped off Ally yesterday. I know he probably doesn’t care and is acting like a tough biker man, but I can’t help worrying about him.

The drive home seems longer today. I’m exhausted after the day, the argument from this morning and then the thrill of teaching the kids have finally caught up with me. Who knew fighting with two bitchy moms would drain me out.

I let myself in, set up the alarm and go change into some lounge pants and a tank top. I need to prepare for tomorrow’s classes, but Brian is coming over tonight and I’m not looking forward to it at all. I should be excited to spend the evening with my boyfriend, right? Wrong. I can think of a thousand other things I’d rather be doing.

Aleck.

Shut up brain!

I keep myself busy working on some more projects for class when my phone rings.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Babe, I’m sorry I’m going to have to cancel on our date tonight, something came up,” Brian moans on the other side of the line and I’m doing my inner happy dance. I’m such a bad girlfriend.

“Oh, I hope everything is okay?” I try to sound concerned.

“Yeah, everything is fine, just family issues.”