Page 75 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)

Gabe

I couldn’t help my smile when I saw Gretchen and Jake come through my front door.

I think a tiny part of me had worried she wouldn’t come back. I’m not sure what I would have done had she decided to stay at her parents until she could move back into her house. Fortunately, I didn’t have to find out.

“Bit-nee!” Jake squealed as he ran toward her.

She reached down and picked him up and walked him into the family room. “Hey! Did you have fun at your grandma and grandpa’s?”

He nodded his head. “Dodo and mamo!”

Brittany looked at Gretchen with a quizzical brow.

“We call my parents, daideó and mamó. The Irish version of grandma and grandpa.”

“That’s what my friend Adam calls his grandparents,” Brayden offered from where he sat on the couch with an open textbook.

I loved that he’d gotten ready for his tutoring session without any prompting from me.

And I loved that his tutor was finally here.

“How are your mom and dad?” I asked.

“They’re great. They love being retired. My dad has time to putz around and my mom goes to Zumba five days a week. She’s in better shape than I am! She says she needs to be able to keep up with her grandkids, so it’s worth it.”

“How many grandkids does she have?”

“Well, just Jake for now.”

She left the until I have more part unspoken.

“My parents are in Florida, so Britt and Brayden don’t get to see them as often as I’d like.

But Mav flies down a lot to see them and his son Nash, who’s in the Navy in Pensacola, and he says the same thing about them.

Mom goes to exercise classes daily at the rec center in their retirement community, and Dad tinkers around the house. ”

“Must be part of the retirement handbook.”

I laughed. “Must be.”

I wanted to ask her if she’d slept as shitty as I had. If she’d felt as lonely as I had, but I opted to go with, “I’m glad you made it back safe,” as I touched her elbow.

“Thanks. It’s really not a bad drive.”

In case she had any ideas about staying there this week, I countered with, “Probably not on the weekend, but I’ve been caught in that morning commute traffic. Not fun.”

“I think we’re just spoiled, living in Lancastle.”

“That’s true.”

We stared at each other for a beat, as if neither of us knew what to say next.

I did not like this awkward feeling between us one bit.

She looked at my son, still on the couch with his open textbook, and clapped her hands together.

“Whaddya say we move to the dining room table, Brayden?”

I guess I was dismissed.

*** *

Gretchen

Things between Gabe and me returned to normal once we got to the bowling alley.

I almost intervened when Jake insisted “Bandit” help him find his bowling ball but relented. It was too late to keep Jake from adoring Gabe—it’d already happened.

I knew the feeling.

Halfway through our first game, Brittany, Brayden, and I were cheering on Jake as he pushed his ball down the lane with the bumpers up while Gabe stood close by, when a young woman approached me holding a chubby little girl with a big, pink bow on her head.

It took me a second, but I finally recognized her as one of my former students from my first teaching gig.

“ Michelle ?”

“Hi, Mrs. Wainwright.”

“Oh my goodness! You’re all grown up!” I offered the baby my fingers, which she dutifully grasped in her fist. “And who is this little cutie?”

“This is my daughter, Lucy.”

I shook my head with a soft smile. “You have a daughter. How is that possible? You were just in my seventh-grade class last week!”

She laughed. “I know, right? Now I’m a sophomore at Monroe Community College.”

“Time flies,” I replied wistfully as I moved my finger in Lucy’s hand, so she gripped it harder. The baby gave me a toothless grin, and my heart was in a puddle on the ground.

“What are you studying? ”

“I’m hoping to become a nurse, but it’s going to be a lot of schooling.”

“Yes, but you were a great student. It’ll be worth it in the end.”

“That’s what I keep telling myself.” Michelle looked past me at Gabe, Jake, and Britt who were now cheering for Brayden as he took his turn.

“This must be your family.”

No. Sadly, it wasn’t and never would be.

I pointed to my little towheaded son who was now clapping and jumping up and down after Brayden threw a strike. Gabe was wearing a big grin, but when I caught his eye, it slipped.

“That’s my son, Jake. We’re here with our friends, Gabe, Brittany, and Brayden.”

“I can’t wait until she can play.”

I stared at her sweet baby and mused, “It’ll be here before you know it. Love every second of every stage.”

“That’s what my mom says, too.” She looked over her shoulder and said, “My boyfriend is waiting for me, so I probably should get going. I just wanted to say hi.”

“I’m so glad you did.” I side-hugged her free shoulder. “It was great seeing you. Congratulations! And good luck in school!”

I returned to the group, and Gabe asked, “Who was that?”

“One of my former students. She was in the first class I ever taught.” I looked where she was walking out the door with her boyfriend and baby girl and murmured, “Now she’s in college and a mom.”

“One of your success stories. ”

I paused. I hadn’t thought of it like that.

“I guess so.”

“Ms. Kelly!” Brittany called. “Your turn!”

As I passed her on my way to get my ball, I told her, “When we’re not in school, you can call me Gretchen.”

She looked pensive as she tried it out. “Okay, Gretchen,” then wrinkled her nose. “I think it will take some getting used to.”

I laughed and patted her arm. “Maybe we can come up with a nickname.”

“How about Chilli?” she said with a smirk.

“Mmm, let’s keep thinking.”

Although, I probably wouldn’t be seeing her outside of school after a few days, so it wouldn’t matter anyway.