Page 12

Chapter Twelve

HARPER

“ H arper, how is the school carnival coming along?” Jimmy, our school principal, asks me.

I look at my notes in front of me—a long completed checklist of to-dos for the big festival in two weeks. “We’re looking for extra volunteers to help with a few of the activities. Petting zoo, games, dunk tank. If we can get half a dozen or so, I think we’ll be ready.”

“Great.” Jimmy nods. “Let me know if you have any trouble getting people to sign up and I’ll start making some calls.”

“Thanks.”

“And no issues with any of the vendors?”

I shake my head. “No. I’ve reconfirmed everything with the PTA chair who is working with them and we’re on track. It’s going to be a great fundraiser this year.”

“Good.”

I make a few notes about other discussion items before our weekly staff meeting for teachers in lower grades wraps up.

Rina bumps my arm as we walk out of the conference room. “You know you don’t always have to help organize this, right?”

I stuff the pen into the ring of my notebook. “I know, but I like doing it. I have the time, so why not?”

“You could have more of a life if you wanted to.” Rina’s eyes lock on to something in the lobby.

“What?” My eyes flit to where she’s looking and I stop in my tracks.

“I’ll see you later,” she whispers. Oh my God! she mouths.

The minute I landed back in Nashville, Rina was at my door. There were more than a few tears as I told her everything that happened. It’s still hard trying to wrap my head around everything Marcus told me. Talking it through with Rina helped, but it still feels so jumbled in my head.

Of course, it didn’t help that when I told her everything, she pulled out her phone to search for Marcus. Picture after picture of him playing through the years.

She would not shut up about how gorgeous my husband is.

My husband . That sounds weird to even say. Especially now that I’m seeing him again at school.

There was one thing Rina was not wrong about—how gorgeous Marcus is. Standing in a tight, long-sleeved shirt and jeans, it’s unfair how sexy he can look without even trying. His thick, brown hair is disheveled, with a piece flopping over into his brown eyes.

“Hi.”

“Marcus. What are you doing here?” I close the distance between the two of us, keeping a foot of space between. A safe amount because from here, I can smell the scent of his cologne. There’s a tinge of sweat mixed in, like he just came from hockey practice.

He smirks at me. “Picking up the girls. ”

“Right. Of course.” I mentally slap myself. Why else would he be here?

“I was kind of hoping I’d run into you.”

“Really?” That has my heart fluttering in my chest. It clearly doesn’t know we’re not allowed to feel things for Marcus, no matter how much I tell myself that.

He pulls something from behind his back. “Here.”

“What’s this?”

“Your favorite.” Holding out a plastic coffee cup with a shy smile, he says, “It’s still the Nutella frap, right? I got it decaf since it’s later in the day and you always used to hate drinking caffeine in the afternoon.”

I’m stunned into silence.

“Shit. You don’t like it.”

“No. I still do.” I grab the cup from the bottom before he gets any ideas. Our fingers brush as he releases the cup, sending heat rippling through me. I should hate how easily I react to his touch, but something about it is soothing.

Ever since I hugged him in Vegas, my feelings have been chaotic at best when it comes to Marcus.

Do I like him? Hate him? Am mildly annoyed with him?

Needing to steady myself, I sip the drink and let the flavors explode on my tongue. Delicious.

He shrugs a shoulder. “I got the girls something, so I took a shot. Glad you still like it.”

I smile back at him. A real, genuine smile because the man still remembers my favorite coffee order. “You know, it’s kind of kismet that you’re here.”

“Why’s that?”

Marcus folds his arms across his chest, and I have to do everything in my power not to ogle them. He always had the best biceps. If they weren’t covered up with long sleeves, I could see the tattoos there that always drove me crazy.

“What do you need, Harper?”

“What?” My gaze snaps to his, and the smile playing on his lips tells me I’m busted.

Damn it.

“You said it was kismet I was here? Why’s that?”

“I need volunteers. Can I go ahead and sign you up?”

“Volunteers? For what?”

“The school’s fall carnival. It’s next weekend. Think you can swing that?”

Marcus pulls out his phone and taps on a few things. “We have a game Sunday afternoon, so if it’s Saturday, I can make it work.”

I smile at him. “Good thing it’s Saturday then.”

Marcus smiles back, his eyes crinkling at the corners with how wide it is. I forgot how much I loved these real smiles of his. It’s like he always saved them just for me.

“Just me, or do you need more volunteers?”

“Actually, we could use a few more hands if?—”

“Say no more.” More tapping on his phone. “I’ll get the guys to come help.”

“You will?” It can’t be that easy, right?

Marcus nods. “I mean, Bode will gripe the entire time, but he’ll do it.”

“He will? Just like that?”

“I have some pull as the captain of the team.”

I smile up at him. “Thanks, I guess. That was easier than I thought.”

“If you need anything else, let me know.”

“I appreciate it, Marcus.”

It’s weird saying his name now after it was such a bitter word for me for so long .

“I need to go get the girls,” Marcus says, turning and heading toward the library.

“Right. Well, thanks for this.” I hold up my cup. “And thanks for helping.”

I’m rambling, thanking him so much, but it’s because I’m still nervous around him.

He winks at me. “You got it. Text me the details. That is, if you saved my number.”

“I might have to scroll through my texts to find it again.” I laugh.

More like I never forgot the number, but I don’t need to tell him that.

“I’ll see you at the carnival then.”

“See you then.”

I can’t wait.