Page 23 of Antagonist

“Fletch!”Liv, the owner of Stillwater's only bakery, calls and waves from the back of the classroom as soon as I walk in.

It’s been a week since I bumped into Harrison again, and the big, moody guy has taken up free residency in too many of my thoughts for my liking.

Will he come to the meeting?

Will he decide to help Karina?

Will I see him again?

How is his daughter after what happened last week?

Well, the answer tothatquestion I do know. George and Megan seem to be doing okay.

We talked about it on our way to the cabin, and he was genuinely apologetic. He didn't mean to scare her on the swing, and I believe him. My kid owns and cares for a pet snake, for goodness’ sake. He’s responsible and caring. He wouldn't upset another child unless there was a very good reason.

Despite my best attempts to distract myself, fucking Harrison keeps invading my brain.

I don’t know if he’s coming today, but I need to be ready to see him again. And this time, I’m not going to be in a position where I have to apologize for anything.

Julius, the owner of Stillwater’s best coffee shop, Bittersweet, is next to Liv, so I walk over to them. I need some friendly faces on my side, especially if Karina and her Pearl-Clutching Brigade make an appearance.

I have no doubt they will.

“Hey, gorgeous, how’s it going?” I say, and both Liv and Julius sayfine.

I laugh. The joys of being openly bisexual in a small town. I love it.

“What’s the occasion?” I ask, pointing at their delicious-looking display. Not that I’ve attended many parent meetings, but my understanding is that they don’t usually include the best coffee and cookies in the state.

“Ava is feeling a little under the weather, so I offered to come for my brother,” Liv says.

Julius shrugs. “Parents always need coffee. Besides, my youngest brother is also in Ellis’s class.”

Julius hands me a cup of black coffee. I’m always amazed at how he manages to look so graceful making drinks when he’s so tall and bulky. Julius is a cross between a bear and a friendly giant, and his sweet smile is aimed at everyone without discrimination. Unless he’s hired yet another waste-of-oxygen kid, as he calls the various aspiring baristas that keep the coffee shop payroll constantly revolving. Then he can be quite scary.

I stand next to their setup, checking out the parents arriving for the meeting.

“How’s things at Bittersweet?” I ask Julius.

“Business is good, man. Almost too good. Just need to find some decent help so I can get a full night’s sleep.”

“I can’t imagine keeping your schedule. Doing all the baking and then working a full shift at the coffee shop. It must kill your back standing all day like that,” I say.

He nods. “I don’t bother baking bread for the sandwiches anymore. That’s an extra hour in bed.” He smiles, pulling Liv in for a one-arm hug. “This talented girl does the work for me. I tell you, if I wasn’t as gay as they come, I’d have married her by now.”

Liv scoffed. “You’re assuming I’d want to marry you, big boy.”

Julius flexes one of his arms, showing off his biceps, and Liv pretends to be unaffected but winks at me.

Yeah, Julius is the full package. Poor guy just needs a break. Literally.

“Anyway, why is this meeting so important? Do you know? Levi said Ava brought home a letter from her teacher about the Spring Fair.”

I drink the rest of my coffee and lean closer to them, keeping an eye on the door.

“Mr. Bradford wants to shake things up with the fair this year. More inclusion and more fun.”

“That’s going to go down like a lead balloon with some people,” Julius says.