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No matter how tired I was, the best part of the day was spending it with Beckett. Our groups ended up walking around the aquarium together. We’d all headed to the bathrooms as soon as we got off the bus, and by the time we got out, all the other groups were gone.
“Bye, Tori.” I waved to one of my students as her mom pulled up.
“Have a great holiday,” Tori’s mom yelled from the front seat.
“You too,” I called back.
“Have a great Thanksgiving, Steven.”
“You too, Ms. Winter!” He got into the car and his dad gave me a quick wave to come closer.
I bent down as I approached the window. “Is everything okay, Mr. Clark?”
“Everything’s great! My partner and I wanted to let you know we appreciate the extra time you’ve been giving Steven in the mornings to help with his math and organizational skills.”
“He’s a great kid.” I smiled at Steven in the backseat. “I’ve been so impressed with how hard he’s trying. Soon he won’t even need me anymore.”
Steven’s lips turned down in the tiniest frown. “But if you’re not helping me, can I still help set up the classroom?”
“Of course. You’re one of my best helpers, buddy.” We gave each other an air high-five.
“Well, thank you again, Ms. Winter. I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving break,” Mr. Clark said.
“You too.” I waved as they drove off.
The rest of the school had a half day, and everyone had the rest of the week off to celebrate Thanksgiving.
I clenched my hand and dug my fist into my back.
“If we weren’t out in public, I’d be kneading the muscles in your back until you were so relaxed you couldn’t move. And then I’d turn you over and use my tongue to—” Beckett’s sexy whisper was cut off by Zoey running over to us.
This man. I imagined the dirty things he’d been about to say, which was probably a mistake when a bolt of need settled in my core, and I had to press my knees together so I didn’t tremble. Or worse, collapse in front of Zoey.
She and Beckett had waited with me until everyone had gotten picked up.
“Hey, princess. Ready to go home?” he asked.
Zoey’s eyes widened, and she put out a pouty lip, making it quiver. This was her ‘don’t I look so cute you can’t say no to this face’ expression. She’d used it on me once before. “Can we pretty please get a milkshake? We could stop at Newport Creamery on the way home.”
“Why not? It’s the start of the break. Let’s get wild,” Beckett responded with a devastating grin.
Zoey rolled her eyes at him. “Are you coming, Ms. Winter?”
I bit my lip. This was pushing things in a direction Beckett wasn’t looking for.And neither are you, my internal voice reminded me. That voice could be such a jerk. We’d discussed spending time just the two of us, not involving Zoey. “Maybe you just want to hang out with your dad.”
“But you have to go.” She tugged on my hand.
“I agree with Zoey. After today, all chaperones should get ice cream.” He settled his hand on my lower back to guide me forward.
I couldn’t stop a sharp intake of breath that escaped my lips. I craved his hands on me, but not in public. And especially not here.
He dropped his hand from my back, and I immediately felt the loss of his touch.
“Sure. I’ll get ice cream with you two. It’ll give us time to talk about the festival.” I didn’t like that we couldn’t be honest about this. We were two friends getting ice cream with a tiny chaperone of our own, but caution warned me to have another reason. “Send me a text with the address of the one you want to go to.”
He pulled out his phone as we went to our separate cars. When my phone indicated I had a text message, I knew it was from him. I got in my car and pulled out my phone.
The crunch of tires on asphalt had me looking out my passenger window to see his car next to mine. He gestured for me to follow him. I waved to let him know I understood and pulled out of the parking lot right after him.