Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I hear someone approach, and, anticipating seeing our principal, I look up with a winning smile only to immediately let my mouth go slack once I realize it’s Noah.
He smiles at Liz, Principal O’Malley’s secretary, who melts in his presence.
What a waste of a perfectly good face.
Noah is handsome in a way that’s not subjective; it’s a matter of fact. Starting from the top, he has thick, slightly wavy brown hair. Hairdressers must swoon when he takes a seat in their chair. His face is…
A shiver racks down my spine.
Fine. It’s fine.
His features are altogether pleasing, I suppose. I’ve heard other teachers talk about him like he’s the second coming of Christ, and please can we get some new blood around here? He’s good-looking, sure, but you know what? So was Ted Bundy!
I click my tongue and look away once he spots me. The office across the hall is still dark, and I catch my reflection in the rectangular window on the door. I’m tallish at 5’8”. I have black hair that I’m incredibly vain about. It’s glossy and pin straight and goes halfway down my back. Today, I have half of it twisted up into a cute bun. My eyes are big and almond-shaped and a shade darker than Noah’s. On my worst, most childish days, I hope Noah finds me unbelievably attractive. I want to be his exact type down to the shape of my Cupid’s bow lips because I love the karmic retribution in that.
“Come to put in your resignation?” I ask as he steps close to me, his shoulder brushing mine.
There are miles of hallway on either side of us; he doesn’t have to be this close. I know he’s doing it to annoy me.
I can see him in the window across the hall now too. Well, part of him. His size can’t be reduced to that little rectangle the way mine can.
I stare at his reflection as he says, point-blank, “We can’t both go to Rome.”
I stand a little taller. “Exactly, so leave. I was here first.”
“Who says Principal O’Malley will pick you? You have no experience teaching history.”
“Neither do you.”
I’m an English teacher. Noah’s algebra. Neither one of us has any business taking a group of kids to Rome.
“In college, I minored in history with a focus on Ancient Rome.”
My eyes widen in panic. “Did you really?”
Without breaking face, he replies, “No, but Principal O’Malley doesn’t need to know that.”
Classic Noah.
I inspect my nails, bored. “Right, well, I’ve already been talking to Mrs. Lee. Did you know she speaks Italian? And her July is wide open. She’s already agreed to co-chaperone with me.”
“Has she really?”
My gaze flits coolly back to his. “No, but Principal O’Malley doesn’t need to know that.”
The look on Noah’s face in the window is feral. He either wants to kiss me or kill me.
“Why do you need the bonus anyway?” I ask. “I assume you make plenty of money bartering souls.”
He leans back against the wall, crosses his ankles, slips his hands into his pockets, and shrugs.
“It’s been a slow spring what with Lent and Easter. Besides, my check engine light came on this morning. The extra cash wouldn’t hurt.”
I think back on my doodles from yesterday.
I’m a witch!
“Why do you look like that?” His eyebrows furrow with suspicion. “Did you tamper with my car?”
I puff out an exasperated sigh. “Like I have the technical prowess…”
“You could have had someone do it for you.” His gaze intentionally runs down the length of my body. “Plenty of guys would jump at the chance.”
“You look positively lecherous. Rest assured, I didn’t touch your car. Though, off topic, I wouldn’t go to the zoo anytime soon if I were you.”
Principal O’Malley appears down the hall whistling a happy little tune while he polishes off the last of his hash brown. Before he can reach us, I step forward and call out, waving big and offering a hearty “Good morning!”
Before Noah can beat me to it, I announce, “I’m here to volunteer for the Rome trip!”
“Excellent!” Principal O’Malley grins from ear to ear. “I was hoping that bonus would tempt one or two of you.”
More than that, apparently. Hot on his heels is a teacher I recognize from the sixth grade floor. Sarah or Serena or who cares. She’s an eager beaver with a look of determination. I see my opening and I go for it.
“There you are, Sarah!” I call out with a friendly smile. “I’ve been waiting for you all morning!”
Her smile falls. “Oh…sorry, you have me confused with someone else. My name is Sadie.”
Damn, not even close.
I thunk my forehead with the heel of my hand. “Sorry. Duh! I still need my morning cup of Joe.” Then I step up beside her and bump our shoulders together, hopefully conveying that we’re a package deal. Sadie and Audrey, best friends for life. “Principal O’Malley, your problem is solved. Sadie and I will co-chaperone in Rome—”