Page 24

twenty-four

Mile

“ Y ou hired Violet?” Everett says as he enters my office. “To be a teacher here?”

I’m going to kill Mrs. Hendrix for letting him in.

“Hello, Everett. Please, sit down, inform me of your complaint. It’s not like I haven’t had sixteen phone calls this week from parents and teachers. I’ve been dying to hear one from someone who has nothing to do with this school.”

He huffs and then sits. “You didn’t tell me.”

“I didn’t have to.”

“She’s Violet. You know ... about us.”

“I know, but she asked me not to say anything, and I really wasn’t sure what to say. Her situation is unique, and I figured you’d find out. Besides, it was like ... forever ago. You’ve clearly moved on and so has she.”

We all know that’s not entirely true. Maybe Violet has moved on, but I’m not so sure about my friend here.

He laughs once. “Do you know how I found out she’s back?”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“Damn right I will. I was in Prose & Perk, just giving Hazel my normal daily dose of shit, and then the door chimes. I think, oh, Ainsley is here, she usually comes in now to write or do research. Only it wasn’t Ainsley.”

I cut in. “It was someone else?” I ask dramatically.

He flips me off. “It was Violet. All grown up and absolutely fucking breathtaking.”

No matter what Everett says, she’s the girl that no other woman measures up to.

“I honestly didn’t think to tell you.”

“You should’ve.”

I shrug. “Maybe, but she asked me not to, and I was respecting her wishes.”

He runs his hand through his hair. “She’s married. Or was. I knew that, I mean, we all knew since it was so fucking public.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Seriously, you are supposed to be up on all the things because you’re around the kids all the time, and you didn’t put that together?”

“I don’t follow celebrity gossip,” I explain. I usually hear the major things, and I honestly never cared enough to look it up.

“You know about music.”

“Well, I dare you to work in a high school and not know about the world’s most famous pop star. So did you guys talk?” I ask.

Everett sighs heavily and it’s clear this is really bothering him. “A little. She said hi. I said hi. Hazel went absolutely nuts and hugged her like she was her long-lost sister.”

“She kind of is.”

“Yeah, yeah, but then I stood there, pissed and hurt and shit that I shouldn’t feel. It’s been like fifteen years since we spoke. I don’t know why I care.”

I know why he does, but it’s not my place to enlighten him. He loves her. He will always love her. She was his first everything, and the two of them made promises to each other and she broke them. Well, as much as young lovers do.

He wanted a future with her, and she went off and left him. Then his parents got in their accident, his father passed and his mother has struggled with the effects of the accident, leaving Everett as her primary caretaker.

Since then, he hasn’t let himself even consider dating when his primary focus is his family .

He glances up at me. “Did you look online to see what has her living back here?”

I shake my head.

“I’d like to beat her asshole soon-to-be ex-husband with his own arms.”

I chuckle. “I’m going to assume it’s bad.”

Everett stands and shakes his head. “Dude, they made the internet for a reason.”

“Dude, I don’t look up my employees’ personal lives. She promised she’d give me one full school year. She’s incredibly qualified, and we’ve known her since we were kids. Giving her the job was a no-brainer, and giving her her privacy was also one. If she wants to tell me, she will.”

Thinking that would mollify him was my first mistake. “You should’ve told me she was back. She fucking lives next door. I can’t avoid her.”

“Well, I’m sorry you think that. It’s been, as you said, many years. I didn’t realize it would set you off.” I stand. “Now, I need to do principal things, and that doesn’t include standing here, listening to you.” I grab my favorite mug, take a sip, and place it down. “I’ll walk you out.”

“I forgive you—well, I will after I kick your ass at practice,” Everett says.

“You can try.”

Everett leaves, and Mrs. Hendrix is at her desk, smiling at me with mischief in her eyes.

“You’re fired.”

“Please, you’d fall apart without me.”

I wish it wasn’t true. “Probation then.”

She grins. “I’ve been on probation since the day I started.”

“I’m learning the error of my ways.”

Her hand motion is dismissive, and then she juts her chin toward the two students sitting in the chairs.

Great.

“Hawk? Blaire?” I call their names and both look over. “Let’s go inside and see what trouble we’re in, shall we?”

Today is really going to hell in a handbasket.

“I’m really nervous,” Penelope admits in the car.

“It’s going to be great. I promise. Gran will love you.”

She already does. Eloise has told her just how much she adores Penelope. Gran called me two days ago, informing me that I would be going to her house today—with Penelope and Kai. Then I had a two-hour-long lecture about how old she is and the fact that I don’t even consider her tender emotions, making me no longer her favorite.

I’m going to remedy that.

“I just really want her to like me.”

I take her hand in mine. “She will. She’s grumpy only to me and Eloise. It’s our penance for making her suffer.”

Penelope squeezes and nods. “Okay. I’ll relax.”

She won’t, but at least she is saying it.

“Is Ethan going to be there?” Kai asks.

“He is. Eloise, Doug, Ethan, and Cora are all coming to dinner.”

Because I basically threatened I’d break Doug’s other leg if he didn’t get his family there.

Gran is amazing. I love her with my whole heart, but she’s old and crotchety. We need buffers.

“Cool!” Kai says and then stares back out the window.

We make the turn onto Gran’s driveway and go past the large rock that I climbed all the time. “I would stand on that rock and pretend I was a pirate, looking out across the ocean. Other times it was an explorer who found the town.”

Her eyes soften. “That’s so cute.”

“Cute or ... adventurous and imaginative?”

“Cute.”

I tried. I park and get out of the truck to open her and Kai’s door. He’s jumping down before the door is fully open, and then Penny gets out.

She looks at the house that I grew up in. It’s the same in some ways as the day she bought it. It’s two stories with white siding and blue shutters. She’s painted those a few times, but the blue was the last color she changed it to before my mother died. The back is wooded, and there’s a small clearing on the right where Eloise and I would play.

The porch is small but has two rocking chairs in which I spent many nights beside her as she knit.

“This house is adorable,” Penelope says.

“It’s home.”

“She’s close to the falls, right?”

I nod. “Yes, the falls are about a five-minute walk that way.” I point past the trees.

Last week I finally broke down and told her the legend of the falls. I dragged it out as long as I could because it was fun, and I also wanted us to be public, so it was just a way to push her into it a little bit.

Not that I think it’s even a small reason as to why she finally agreed to date.

We get to the front porch, and I lace my fingers with hers and open the door. “Gran? We’re here.”

Ethan comes darting out of the living room before we can even step foot through the threshold. “Kai! You’re here! Come on, I have to show you this!”

Kai looks up at Penny, and she shakes her head. “But, Mom.”

“You two can wait a second and say hello.”

“Oh, you’re here!” Gran exclaims and comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the dish towel. “Hello, Penelope. Welcome to my home. And this must be Kai.”

Penelope steps toward her, releasing my hand. “Thank you for having us. Eloise and Miles have told me so much about you.”

She eyes me speculatively. “All good things, I hope?”

I grin and kiss her cheek. “There are only good things.”

She scoffs and slaps my chest. “You keep your lies to yourself, Miles Anderson.”

Ethan is practically bouncing out of his skin. “Granny, can I please take Kai to see the tree house? Please!”

Gran smiles. “Of course, you boys go play. It was nice to meet you, Kai.”

“Nice to meet you too!” Kai says as Ethan drags him by the arm.

I chuckle. “Those two are really best friends. ”

I get a death stare from my grandmother. “I’m angry with you.” She answers to what I’m sure is the puzzling look on my face. I just walked in. This is a new record, even for me.

“Me?” I ask in horror. “For what?”

“You brought this beautiful girl to meet Marge before me? How dare you?” Gran looks affronted, but I know better. Or at least I know how to butter her up.

“Don’t be mad,” I say, giving her my best pouty face. “I love you most. That’s why I wanted you to meet her in a special way.”

She shakes her head. “I believe nothing you say.” Then she turns to Penny. “You come in the kitchen with me, dear. Miles ... go away.”

I laugh once. “Unreal. I’ve been dismissed.”

Penelope grins and heads into the kitchen with Gran, and I’m sure my sister is there too.

Doug is sitting on the couch, the game on and my niece, Cora, passed out on his chest. I clap his shoulders as I walk behind him. “What’s up, douchecanoe?”

He places his hand on her back. “Well, well, if it isn’t the prodigal son coming for dinner. You know, all I’ve heard is how you didn’t bring her here and she had to practically beg for you to agree to this.”

I roll my eyes and sit on the opposite couch. “She’ll get over it.”

“She always does for you.”

I laugh. It’s only funny because it’s true.

“How are you feeling? The leg better?”

Doug is fully out of a boot and walking. He’s slow, but healing really well. “Doctor says I have maybe another two weeks of physical therapy, and then it’ll just be doing what I can without pain. Already it’s a million times better. The fact that I’m mobile has made things so much easier.”

“I’m sure Eloise appreciates it.”

He nods and mindlessly pats Cora’s back. “She does. However, she warned if I set foot on the ice again, I won’t have to worry about breaking a leg, because she’s going to kill me.”

“Sounds like Eloise,” I say, leaning back. “So do you want to plan a game in a month?”

Doug grins. “Make it two. ”

I laugh softly, careful not to wake the baby. Although both of Eloise’s kids seem to be able to sleep through a war. I have pictures of Ethan passed out on top of a speaker that was playing music. They never believed in being quiet when they were babies, and while I thought it was a little bizarre, it seems to have worked.

The two of us catch up, talking about how much he hates his job and is looking into becoming a fireman. “My military time would count and give me a loophole as I approach the age limit.”

“I know you’re miserable.”

“It’s an hour commute each way. Then I get home and Eloise is pulling her hair out with the two kids, and I’m exhausted and up at four in the morning. This would be closer to home, and I know everyone on the squad.”

“Anything I can do to help, you know I will. I’m sure you’ve talked to Lachlan, but I’m happy to back you up if you’re really interested,” I offer.

“I’d appreciate it,” Doug says, and then my sister and Penny walk in.

“Well, Penelope has been thoroughly indoctrinated, and Gran is half in love with her,” Eloise says with her arm linked in Penny’s.

“I don’t know about all that,” Penelope says, walking over to sit with me on the couch.

I smile, looking at her warm blue eyes. “I knew she’d like you. How could she not?”

Eloise makes a gagging noise. “Anyway, now you have to keep her because we all adore her.”

“That’s my plan,” I say, just needing to find a way to make her want to be kept.