Page 4 of Only You

His biceps bulge, just sitting there, his shirt sleeves clinging tight.

His light brown hair longer than he used to wear it, tousled on top of his head in elegant, yet somehow disheveled waves.

To say Tatum is stunning doesn’t even do him justice.

But I try my best to rein in my instant, gut-punch attraction to him.

“Tatum.” I look around the table, seeing plates in various varieties, suggesting they sat down to eat a while ago.

I recognize Tatum, of course, Raegan, and Cason and Raegan’s older brother, Kellan, from our meeting.

But other than that, I’m staring at complete strangers, all staring back at me.

I once again feel the need to bolt, but Cason is ready for it, apparently, shutting the door and then walking up next to me.

“Dinner was ready earlier than normal, and I didn’t want to spoil the surprise of you coming to dinner, so I didn’t tell them to wait.

” He shrugs. “And I didn’t think you’d show. ”

“You invited your principal to dinner?” Kellan asks, his eyebrows raised.

“Yeah, is that so weird?” Cason says, his confident and sure stride not breaking before he grabs a seat next to Raegan.

She gives him a death glare. “Why, exactly?”

“I told you our principal and Tatum have history. Thought they should catch up.”

Tatum, just as calm and cool as always, stands up from his seat and goes to a closet in the kitchen, coming back with a black folding chair he opens to sit next to his chair.

“That’s a great idea.” I notice a good-looking man, who’s wearing slacks and a nice button-down, hop up from his spot next to Kellan and quickly head into the kitchen.

“Please join us,” Tatum’s deep voice rumbles.

My feet move without my permission, and I’m sitting next to Tatum before I know it, and a plate from who I’m assuming is Kellan’s partner materializes in front of me, full of delicious-smelling food.

I can see a large piece of chicken but don’t say anything about not eating meat. I’ll just work around that.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your dinner,” I say carefully. All eyes are still on me as I shift nervously on the metal chair.

“Not at all. We’re happy to have you,” Kellan says from his spot directly across from me. “It would have been nice to have a heads-up though, Cason,” he says through gritted teeth, clearly not missing the mischievousness of his brother.

Cason is unbothered, poking a piece of chicken with his fork. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Kellan doesn’t look mad though, just shaking his head at his brother and turning to me with a grin. “We’re happy to have you here.” He puts his hand on the man’s shoulder next to him. “This is my boyfriend, Phillip.”

“The social worker who was in charge of our case,” Cason tells me. I’m sure it’s supposed to be scandalous, but they’re clearly very deeply in love, and who the hell am I to judge?

“Not the whole time. I stepped back by the time they went to the final hearing,” Phillip says, his cheeks a little red.

I offer him what I hope is a reassuring smile. “I’m just happy it all worked out for the best.”

“It did,” Tatum says firmly from my side. “These two are so in love, it’s gross.”

I smile at that, having no doubt. Kellan is grinning at his man, and yeah—it’s a little gross—in a way that makes my heart ache because I’m not sure I’ll ever look at anyone that way.

Or have it returned, but I break out of the melancholy when Kellan continues with his introductions.

“You know Raegan, and that’s Kieran, who will be at your school in no time. ”

I look at the young boy, who I’m pretty sure is more focused on the Kindle in his hand than dinner, but I can’t help but smile at that. “What are you reading?”

His eyes snap to me like he’s been caught—which is comical since no one around the table seems bothered by his reading during dinner. “ The Odyssey .”

My brows go up to my hairline, and I can’t hide my surprise. “That’s...”—I smile—“advanced. What grade are you in?”

Cason chuckles, taking another bite. “He’s the genius of the family. But he’s only in sixth grade. So you don’t get him for a few more years.”

Kieran looks embarrassed, but I don’t want him to be. “Are you enjoying it?”

He shrugs. “It’s interesting.”

“You’re reading for fun, dude. I’m not sure you know what interesting means,” Cason says, and Kellan glares at him.

He gives him a quick command, “Stop.”

I barrel on, “I enjoyed that in high school when it was required, but I think my favorite was Beowulf .”

Kieran’s eyes light up. “I read that over the summer. It was really good. I think I’m going to add it to my re-read list over Christmas break.”

A smile flits over his mouth before he shutters his expression, and I feel an instant kinship with the child—knowing how hard it can be when your interests in school lean more toward reading than sports and messing around.

Kellan looks proud of his younger brother though, and then he moves on to the younger boy sitting next to Kieran. “And this is Braylen. The youngest.”

The little boy perks up, having been making some sort of volcano with his mashed potatoes, but is fully in tuned to the conversation now. “You’re the principal?”

“I am, yes. At the high school.”

His nose wrinkles. “But you’re not that old.”

I let out a quick laugh. “Do I need to be old to be a principal?”

“Yes,” he says instantly, going back to his makeshift potato volcano. “My principal is super old. Gray hair and everything.”

“Braylen . . .” Kieran sighs, but I just chuckle.

“I won’t tell Grace you said that,” I tease.

His eyes go wide. “You know her first name?”

Kids . I don’t regret going into high school, but when I first started college, I thought I’d work with younger children. And I have no doubt that would have been quite entertaining. “I do.”

Kellan and Phillip both chuckle. “But why are you here?” Raegan asks, pushing her food around on her plate and not looking at me.

“If it’s too uncomfortable for you for me to be here, I can absolutely leave,” I assure her.

She just shifts slightly in her seat, letting go of her fork. “No. It’s fine. I’m done eating anyway.” She looks over at Kellan. “Can I go to my room?”

“Uh, yeah,” Kellan says, clearly choosing peace, and I can’t blame him. I’m around teenagers every single day.

“Can you please take your plate to the kitchen first?” Phillip asks, and he gets no pushback. Raegan just nods and takes her plate into the kitchen before heading off to the hall.

“I’m sorry. I probably should have turned Cason down on his invitation.”

“Oh no. You’re more than welcome here,” Phillip says, seemingly very genuine. “Raegan is always the first to leave the table.”

“Always,” Braylen says exaggeratedly.

“Please stay,” Tatum says from next to me and hands me a fork. I take it, trying to ignore the spark soaring through me when our fingers touch just slightly. “But also... tell us what brought Cason to you in the first place today. I doubt he just sought you out to invite you to dinner.”

Cason rolls his eyes at that, unbothered as he pushes his now-empty plate back from him. “I may have shoved Blake a little.”

“Damn it, Cason,” Kellan starts, but Phillip places a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

“What happened?” Phillip’s voice is steady and calm.

“Nothing. He just won’t leave me the hell alone, so I made him.”

I grimace, the tension thick now, feeling Tatum’s large body stiffen next to me. “What did he say?” Tatum’s voice is not nearly as calm as Phillip’s—pure rage dripping from him.

“Nothing. It’s not a big deal. I handled it,” Cason says, his annoyance ratcheting up.

“Isn’t there something you can do to keep this kid away from Cason?” Tatum asks me, and I don’t hear anything accusatory in his question, just concern.

“I’ve asked my staff to keep an eye on the situation, and I assure you I have been too. I need Cason to report it to me or a teacher instead of resorting to physical violence though.”

Kellan’s jaw is set tight before he gives me a clipped nod. I want to scream that I understand. That bullies piss me off, but even outside of school, I’m the principal, and I have to keep up a certain standard.

“We’ll talk about this more later,” he says to Cason as the kid stands up.

“Fine. Whatever.” He looks over at me. “Can’t believe you showed.”

“Thanks for the invite,” I say and get a smirk from him before he leaves. Soon, Kieran and Braylen excuse themselves too. Phillip has to make a phone call as I finish the delicious food, leaving the chicken.

Kellan is watching me closely as I place my fork down on my nearly empty plate. If Kellan notices that I didn’t eat the chicken, he doesn’t mention it. “That was delicious.”

“Yeah, Phillip really knows his way around the kitchen.” He grins, but then his expression becomes fairly serious. “I know Cason can be a little...”

“He’s a little shit,” Tatum finishes for his friend, and I try to hide my smile.

“He’s been through a lot,” Kellan says fiercely, and I nod, having assumed that.

“I know, and he’s a good kid. Smart. Loves to push buttons. But I can’t say I’d have any patience for Blake either if I wasn’t the principal.”

Both men are visibly stricken with intense anger just hearing Blake’s name, and I can’t blame them. My eyes absently roam toward the hallway where all the kids disappeared after dinner. “Is Raegan okay? I tried to have our school counselor talk to her once, but she...”

“Was really hostile and told her to shove it?” Kellan guesses.

I don’t fight the smile now, a small chuckle leaving my lips. “Pretty much. I can’t blame her for that though. Trauma is reflected in many different ways.”

“She’s doing okay. She talks to Phillip when she’s having trouble, but we’re keeping an eye on it. I promise,” Kellan assures me.

“That’s good. Please know the school will help in any way we can.”

The conversation stills pretty much after that, and I know I need to get on my way. I try not to look at Tatum longingly but want a private conversation with him.

When I thank Phillip and Kellan for dinner and start toward the door, I get my opportunity though. “I’ll walk you out,” Tatum says, and I don’t fight him on it as he leads me outside to my car.

“So...” he starts, and he seems kind of nervous—which is not at all how I remember him.

“I’m sorry I crashed dinner.”

“I’m not,” he says almost instantly, and it takes me aback for a moment. The raw honesty—that’s definitely Tatum.

I smile. “You seem to be doing well.”

“I am.” He says it confidently. “You too.”

It’s awkward, and I hate this feeling. I want to ask him so many things.

I want to know without a doubt he’s doing well and how he got here.

Where he’s been. But it’s all too raw and painful.

I should just walk away, but I can’t seem to do it, so I settle on somewhere in the middle.

“We should get together sometime. Just us. Catch up.”

When he hesitates, it feels like my chest bursts wide open. I’m about to call it back when he says, “I’d like that.” He unlocks his phone and hands it to me. “Your number?”

I take his phone with a shaking hand and then type my number into his contacts before handing it back. He does something, and I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.

“Texted you so you’ll have mine too.”

I nod dumbly, blinking up at him. Unable to believe we’re really standing here all these years later.

“I’ll be in touch.”

He’s quiet for so long, I think that’s it, so I pull open my car door. But his voice stops me—so soft, I barely hear him. “I hope you will.”

With that, he turns and walks back to the house, and I climb into my car, my heart thundering in my chest.

I should stay away, but I know deep down, that’s impossible.