Josh laughed. “Suck it up, Buttercup? I can do that.”
They talked a little longer, this time Josh learning a few things about Jaydon, before calling it a night and heading their separate ways. Josh was surprised to find a friend in the pastor’s son, of all people.
Chapter 18
The next night, Josh strode up the metal ramp to the SAEC classroom like a man with a plan. Daylight Savings had been long forgotten and it would be pitch black by 6. The air was cold and a stiff breeze blew through his suit coat. He didn’t care for this time of year. October was perfect with little need for more than a jacket, and he could wear short sleeves under a sport coat as needed for the best of both worlds. Layers on weekends, and the only time he needed something warmer was when the wind blew and they were doing something outdoors for hours at a time. By the mid-November, man, that wind turned biting and it was threats of rain or snow one day, and sunny with a slight, crisp chill the next. Maybe it wasn’t macho, but whatever. He hated the freaking cold.
A shiver ripped through him when he grasped the handle and turned it.
Gina greeted him as he closed the forcefully blown door behind him with both hands firmly on the handle.
“Hey, Mr. Davis! Let me go get Brendan. He’s in the other room finishing up homework,” she said with a friendly glance in his direction.
“Actually, I don’t mind going in there to get him myself,” he assured her, knowing full well if Gina was in this room, Brynn had to be in the other. So far, so good.
He approached the door dividing the two rooms, and the sight that immediately drew his gaze on entering made him stand in awe. Brynn was once again helping Brendan with his homework, but at the same time, she was encouraging another boy to guide Brendan along. Her head was bent slightly and her focus trained on both boys. As the older boy leaned forward to the middle of the table, Josh overheard him explaining a few shortcuts to his little son. Brynn nodded along, as if giving serious credence to the boy who couldn’t have been more than three years older.
The thin, young Hispanic boy was obviously the ultimate “cool kid” in Brendan’s little eyes, which were shiny and smiling. The boy was demonstrating with brightly colored cubes and Brendan was engrossed like he was watching his favorite cartoon. All the while, Brynn was interjecting a few encouraging remarks to keep their focus. It was like she was weaving a magical spell over both of them, so entranced were they in the material. He couldn’t help feeling a little entranced himself. How did she get these kids to cooperate like this? The other room was always noisy, kids seemingly everywhere. But this room was obviously her baby. She oversaw the whole SAEC program here at Cordova, but it was clear that her heart was for teaching.
Josh surveyed the room as if through new eyes. Half the room was a comfortable, yet structured place where several kids were sitting at tables of various sizes and some were reading on over-sized vinyl bean bag chairs. She had lamps and brightly patterned rugs making the space feel cozy and welcoming. Motivational posters were strategically placed on the walls all around. Across the room, several of the older kids were partnered up doing some interesting activities like he’d seen at the local children’s museum the last time he’d taken Brendan. It was far from silent, and he could clearly hear a few kids in the science area increasing their volume the longer he stood there, but the whole atmosphere of this room was the antithesis of its mirror on the other side of the dividing door, and it was incredible.
Josh turned to Brynn, his original plan suddenly forgotten.
“This room is really amazing, Brynn,” he declared, across the table just feet from where she sat with the boys.
She looked up in surprise and her eyes widened just before they crinkled into a wide grin of pleasure that filled her countenance with light and joy.
“Thank you, I’m pretty proud of it,” she beamed.
“I know I’ve been in here several times, but I guess I’ve always been in such a hurry or distracted that I never stopped to really see it. But seeing you work with the kids like this, seeing how you’ve created a learning space so intentionally, it’s…it’s awesome. I can see your heart for learning in every corner. This room is you,” he nodded to himself as he spoke, his gaze still circling the room.
Brynn followed his gaze as if she, too, were seeing the room anew, and their eyes met. She ducked her head slightly as if suddenly nervous and Josh remembered why he’d come inside. He stuffed his hands in his pockets before looking at her face once more, determination giving him courage.
“Do you remember that gala I’ve been working on? We talked about it at the duck pond that day,” he began. “Anyway, I was given a few tickets and wondered if you’d like to go. It’s coming up—the Saturday after Thanksgiving. All proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction will benefit the children’s science museum and help fund new equipment and supplies for several of their camps for next summer, as well as provide scholarships to the camps for students whose families can’t afford to send them. I thought it might be a cause that would interest you?”
She toyed with the hem of her shirt and surveyed the classroom. Her gaze focused anywhere but on him, and her body language stiffened slightly into awkward uncertainty. Josh wasn’t quite certain how to interpret her reaction, but he desperately wanted to put her at ease. Without looking pathetic, preferably.
“Um, I do remember you talking about it,” she hedged. “But, there’s a lot going on right now between here and school and everything. I’m not sure I could make it.”
Well, that was vague. She might as well have answered the old-fashioned, “sorry, but I have to wash my hair” excuse he’d heard his grandmother joke about.
Quickly, he back pedaled.
“I have a couple extra tickets. You could bring Gina.” Ha! Not giving her the option of bringing a date, nor implying she would be his.
Wimp.
She seemed a little more at ease with that option, but still hesitated before responding, “Um, why don’t you let me know the details and I’ll see if I can make it work?”
“Sure. It’s a semi-formal event, so like a cocktail dress or something. I know my sister would ask about that first. Of course, it’s New Mexico, the land of jeans at weddings, so….” He gave her a crooked half grin as his voice trailed off in a slightly sardonic tone.
She bit her lower lip against a small smile at that. Yes! Josh would count that smile as progress.
“Okay, well, I better get Brendan and go. I’ll get you a flyer with all the details. Have a nice weekend.” He turned to Brendan and told him to start packing things up.
Brendan hurried to clean his area, but took his time saying goodbye to Brynn, the kids who’d been helping him, and some of the other kids. Moments later they walked through the noisy other room and with a wave to Gina, tromped down the hefty ramp and out the door.
Brynn
Brynn stared at the door after them, shook her head in confusion, and wondered what that had been all about. Looking around the environment she had created, she realized that Josh was right. This room was her. How had he known she’d been responsible for its design and implementation? Could he really see all of the heart and love she’d put into making it just right for these kids? All of her heart that she’d put into it? She felt a little breathless recalling the way he’d looked at her with such amazement.
When she’d begun the program on a miniscule budget just two years ago, there hadn’t been funding for all of the equipment they now had, and they’d relied a lot on decorations and things they’d been able to procure from the “freebie” table in the teachers’ lounge—all cast offs from teachers tired of seeing the same things in their rooms year after year. After two years’ success, an ever-growing list of students enrolled in the program, and finally receiving the funds from a small grant she’d written in the beginning, she had finally, just this year been able to create the space she’d envisioned all along.
She’d worked on the design all summer, s
pent weeks shopping at the different educational stores in town and online, checking out yard sales for quality pieces of furniture and book cases she could refurbish, etc. It had all come together seamlessly and she couldn’t be prouder.
Gina stuck her head through the door and grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
“So…I see Mr. Davis spent an awfully long time in here picking up Brendan…,” her voice trailed off, waiting. If that weren’t obvious enough, her brow arched and those dark eyes of hers, the color of old pennies, narrowed into tiny, dark lashed slits. Though she was only half Hispanic, sometimes Gina’s Latina heritage slipped through more heavily when she was displeased or testing someone. She tapped her toe in impatience, crossed her arms, and then widened her eyes pointedly. “Well?!”
“Uh, not really? Brendan was finishing his homework and you know the munchkin has to hug every single person in the room before he leaves,” Brynn waved her left hand dismissively in Gina’s direction.
“Right. He wouldn’t let me call for Brendan. He insisted on going in there himself, you know. I’m telling you. He likes you, girl.”
Gina’s voice had lost most of the teasing edge and had taken on a slightly more serious tone Brynn wasn’t expecting. She looked up and into the dark eyes of her friend.
“What’s going on, Gina? You sound weird,” she spoke in a low voice so the other kids wouldn’t over hear anything they shouldn’t.
Gina’s grin had morphed into a more calculating expression and she kept her voice cautiously low when replying, “Girl, you know I love you like my own family. But I see the way he looks at you, and I see the way you look at him when you don’t think anyone’s watching. I know there’s something there. I don’t see you ever look at Caleb that way…not that I see much of Caleb these days, but still. You know I’m here for you if you need to talk about anything, right?”
Brynn was so confused.
“I’m not sure I’m following you, Gina,” she whisper-hissed. “I’m with Caleb. He’s a good guy and he loves me. I would never just toss him aside because someone else might, maybe, show interest. And while I admit I adore Brendan and his dad is a very sweet guy, we are just friends. At best.”
A little voice deep inside whispered, you sure about that, Brynn? Images of his barely shadowed jaw and gold flecked hazel eyes staring down into hers prodded at her insides in argument. It’s perfect…I can see your heart…this room is you. The memory of his words warmed her heart, followed by a squeeze of guilt. She’d felt so confused when Brendan had asked her about that Lobo game, and she had no idea how she was supposed to interpret it.
All right, if she was honest with herself, she had kind of avoided him the past week or so. If Gina had known about that, Brynn definitely would never hear the end of it. And while it was flattering to think someone like Josh Davis might be interested in her beyond being just Brendan’s caregiver, the fact remained that she was unavailable and it couldn’t mean anything, anyway. She pushed aside all thoughts of Josh and shot Gina a look that brooked no argument.
Gina nodded in quiet acceptance and turned back to the other classroom. Brynn knew her friend wouldn’t press further. Today, at least. Now if only she knew the right way to respond the next time she brought it up.
Brynn sucked in and blew out a deep cleansing breath and refocused herself on the remaining kids in her classroom. Josh and Brendan didn’t even cross her mind the rest of the night.
Much.
Chapter 19
Late Wednesday afternoon, Brynn ducked out of the classroom and weaved through the parking lot to her car. Her class started in less than an hour and she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Any hope of dinner, even a fast food one, required she hustle out of there as fast as possible. She trained her focus on where her little SUV was parked and headed straight for it, not seeing the gray truck pulling in. She darted out from the handicap parking aisle, across the lot and nearly right in front of the truck. The driver braked hard and her feet froze in place. Her heart pounded hard in her chest as he stopped inches from her.
“Brynn! Are you okay? I didn’t see you in the parking lot. You scared the hell out of me!” Josh called out as he leapt out of the driver’s seat and rushed around the hood to meet her. He gave her a once over and his eyes met hers. Judging by the rapid rise and fall of his chest and shoulders and how hard he was breathing, he’d been as affected as she. Maybe more so.
“Seriously, Brynn. Answer me. Are you okay?” He looked worried, and she tried to get her own breathing under control enough to answer.
“Yeah,” she replied, her chest heaving. “I just, um, was in a hurry and didn’t see you pulling in. I forgot to eat today so I’m a little woozy and then I just…froze.”
“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I almost hit you!” Josh’s eyes were wide and he ran one hand along the side of his head, his other hand on his hip in frustration and…fear?
“No, Josh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. You weren’t even driving fast in the parking lot. I was just in my own world and not paying attention in my rush to get out of here. I’m okay, really.” She flashed a bright smile, eyebrows raised high and nodding for added emphasis. She placed her hand on his forearm without thinking, a simple motion to reassure him she truly was okay. Why was he so upset?
The moment her hand landed on his arm, warmth spread up her arm, through her body, and into her head. The warmth grew into a full-blown flush when he made eye contact and she saw the worry in his expression. With the lines of worry, though, she saw something more. She realized that maybe Gina wasn’t so far off base.
Say something.
“Um, I’m going to get to class, okay? I’m fine, seriously. Are you all right?” She asked gently, removing her hand from his forearm.
His warm eyes fell to her hand on his arm and then gazed dazedly back to her shining blue ones. He cleared his throat, absently rubbing the place on his forearm she’d touched.
“Yeah, yeah,” he choked out, “I’m good. I’m glad you’re apparently not half as freaked out as I am.”
He shook his head sheepishly, stuffing his hands in his pants pockets before meeting her gaze again. She laughed lightly, then started to turn toward her car.
“No, I’m definitely not freaked out. I am, however, very late. I was hoping to have time to grab dinner on the way to class, but it doesn’t look like I’ll have time for that now unless I drive like a banshee—”
“Please don’t,” he interrupted with a hollow laugh.
“I’m kidding. I’ll be fine. Thanks for worrying, though I feel bad for stressing you out.” Brynn continued more softly, “Have a good night, Josh.”
She turned and opened the driver’s door and sat down. Josh followed and grasped the outer handle, shutting her safely inside. With a wave, he let her go and walked back to his truck, quickly parking it in a space and heading inside to pick up his son.
Brynn turned the key in the ignition and drove cautiously out of the lot. She snuck a rapid glance out the mirror at Josh’s diminishing masculine profile before turning left and directing herself to school.
“Hey, Serena, can I peek at your notes?” Brynn leaned over and whispered to her classmate as she ducked in late to class.
“Sure. You haven’t missed much. He’s just setting the background for what we’ll work on the rest of the semester.”
Brynn turned her attention to the front of the room, where her professor droned on in quiet monotone like a golf commentator. Copying Serena’s notes only took a few minutes at the slow pace he spoke, and she’d only been ten minutes late.
Hunger had won out once she’d realized how spacey she’d been in the parking lot and she had known immediately that dinner couldn’t wait. Thank heavens for the local drive through burrito place she loved. Tornados served some fantastic breakfast burritos that hit the spot on a night like tonight. Of course, she’d have preferred to have 30 minutes to go in and sit down to a smothered chicken tornado burrito with curly fries a
nd gooey-cheese topped green chile covering the plate, but the handheld with eggs, bacon, pan fried potatoes and red chile hit the spot in a hurry. Brynn realized she hadn’t had time to use the bathroom and wash the smell of it off her hands before class, though. She suddenly felt self-conscious about that.
Glancing around, she noticed a lot of other students doodling and attempting to take notes while the prof droned on. The work itself sounded like it would be interesting. Why did he have to make it sound duller than watching paint dry? Worse than listening to golf commentators, seriously.
Dread for the next few weeks of school crept in and she felt her stomach turning. Bleh. Hard to tell if it was the dread, the boredom, or the burrito. Please don’t let it be the burrito.
What was wrong with her? She had less than zero concentration tonight. Forget her mind wandering, it was more like it had boarded the Millennium Falcon on hyper drive. Every thought was flying past before she could catch any and dwell on them.
There was no way she was going to pick up on anything tonight. Why had she even bothered to come? After the whole parking lot episode, she should have just gone home and emailed the professor she was sick. Sick of school. Yeah, that would’ve gone over well. Ugh.
Now she was thinking about the whole parking lot situation earlier with Josh. Poor guy really looked freaked out. He hadn’t come that close to hitting her, but those incredible eyes had held such emotion when she’d stared up into them. Her heart squeezed just thinking about it. She had wanted to reassure him she was fine, but the warmth and electricity she’d felt when she’d placed her hand on his forearm? Mmm. How could one simple gesture have gotten to her like that?
She felt heat creep up her neck followed by a cold burst of air across her shoulders. Her heart was beating awfully fast, too. Suddenly her stomach gave another twist and then a cramp in her side caused her to lurch forward in her seat. Okay, so maybe this wasn’t inappropriate cute-guy related feelings. Maybe it was bad burrito. The hot and cold was flashing pretty hard core through her system and she felt sweat beading up under her arms. Bile rose up in her throat and she had that icky watery feeling in her tonsils that told her she was going to be sick.
What Could Be (Everyday Love Book 1) Page 13
