Page 31 of The Sunny Side (Rojo 2nd Generation: Rojo Police Department #3)

C LANCY

“This is the final question, and it will determine which team competes on Friday,” I reminded my students.

I looked from one group to the other and then turned around and swept my eyes over my other students who were relaxing in the auditorium chairs.

“Even though your teams didn’t make it to the final round, I’m proud of all of you.

Now I need you to cheer on your classmates. ”

There were a few hoots and whistles and a smattering of applause, but I took that with a grain of salt.

The kids really didn’t care where they were as long as they weren’t sitting at their desks in my classroom.

Friday was the last day of summer school, and my students were “done with this shit” , to quote one of the other teachers I’d spoken to in the staff meeting this morning.

I turned back to the two teams on the stage before I held up the stopwatch I’d borrowed from the football coach. “You have three minutes, and the first group to finish this question will win this part of the competition. Using your whiteboards, list all of the continents in alphabetical order.”

I hit the button on the stopwatch and then watched as the kids huddled together, their captains furiously writing down the answers they were given. It only took a minute and a half before Dayton hit the button I’d confiscated from Max’s crate, and I heard my own voice announce, “Answer!”

“Team B, please put down your marker,” I ordered. “Team A, read your answer aloud.”

Dayton, a student I wasn’t too sure of at first but grew to really like as I got to know him, smiled confidently before he said, “Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.”

“Correct!” I cheered. Over the sound of my other students hooting and hollering from behind me in the audience, I loudly announced, “Congratulations, Team A! You’ve made it to the final challenge. And great work, Team B. I’m proud of all of you!”

I got hugs from a few students and high fives from others and then made sure to talk to the kids from Team B, who were unfortunately the losers in this final round.

Once I made sure that I’d spoken to each of the kids, I turned to address the rest of the class, who were eagerly awaiting the bell to announce that class was finished for the day.

I was surprised to find the principal waiting for me near the door as I walked out to go back to my classroom.

“Mrs. Weathers! How are you today?” I asked cheerfully.

Mrs. Weathers smiled at me before she said, “It’s been a joy to see how much the students have enjoyed this adventure. I can’t wait to watch on Friday”

“I’ve been truly impressed to see how well they’ve pulled together and how much they’ve retained,” I said as I walked by her side down the hall. “I know it sounds crazy, but I am kind of sad that we’re almost to the end of the term.”

“Well, I hope what I’m about to propose cheers you up,” Mrs. Weathers said mysteriously as she led me into my empty classroom. “I’ll get right to the point. I spoke to Mrs. Proctor a few days ago.”

I smiled before I said, “I hope she’s feeling better.”

“She is, but she’s not well enough to come back. She’s decided to retire.”

“Oh!”

“Which means I need to fill her position quickly since school starts in just a few weeks.”

“Okay,” I said hesitantly as I pushed my glasses up and steeled myself for what she was about to say. I tried to act non-chalant, but inside, I was screaming, “Please give me a job! Please, please, please offer me the position!”

“You’ve been a joy to work with, and the kids adore you, Ms. Middleton. I’d like to offer you a full-time position.”

“Yes!” I shouted as I thrust my fist into the air. I realized how unprofessional I was acting, so I pulled my hand down and cleared my throat before I calmly said, “Thank you, Mrs. Weathers. I gladly accept.”

“Excellent! I already have all of your necessary paperwork, and I’ll submit my request to the school district this afternoon.

Mrs. Proctor is going to come in on Friday to collect her personal belongings, and then you’re free to make this classroom your own.

Unfortunately, we don’t really have much of a budget for decorations, but we do have a supply closet that you’re welcome to rummage through. ”

“I’ve got quite a collection at home that I’m excited to put to use,” I assured her. My heart was still racing, and I could feel the tears coming on, so I hurried to say, “Thank you so much for this opportunity!”

I was surprised when Mrs. Weathers put her arms up and gave me a tight hug.

As she pulled back, she said, “Welcome to the staff, Clancy. If you need anything at all, just ask, and I’ll do whatever I can to help.

I know you’ve become friends with some of the other teachers, and they’ll be there for you too. ”

“Thanks again.”

“I’m sure there’s a special someone you’d like to talk to about your new position, so I’ll leave you to it,” Mrs. Weathers said as she walked toward the door. “He’s usually here by now, isn’t he?”

“Officer D is in training with Max this morning, but I’ll call him at lunch to give him the good news.”

“I’m sure he’ll be happy for you. I fully trust that both of you will act professionally at work, regardless of your relationship status.”

“Of course,” I agreed easily, understanding that the principal was passing along a gentle warning.

“Welcome to the staff, Clancy. We’re happy to have you.”

The second Mrs. Weathers pulled the door closed behind her, I gave in to the emotion coursing through me, crying happy tears as I danced around the classroom. I finally flopped down onto my chair and pulled my phone out.

I sent a message to Brawley and then to my sisters, Aunt Steph, and my cousins, letting everyone know my good news. Within seconds, my phone was blowing up with replies, all of them encouraging, which just made my smile even bigger.

I never would have let myself imagine a life like this a year ago - being in a house I loved in a neighborhood that made me feel welcome and safe, loving a man who treated me even better than I could have ever hoped, and having a job I knew I’d love in a town that was quickly becoming home.

Life was good - no, it was great, and I couldn’t wait to live surrounded by my family and the new friends I’d made.

And then came even more tears, but they were good ones, so I welcomed them.

◆◆◆

brAWLEY

“I wonder if we can get some kind of carrier so you can haul the little princess around with you,” I said to Max as Cupcake bounced up and down, trying to get his attention. “Maybe a saddle. What do you think?”

Max huffed, and I knew he was probably fed up with her antics and wishing she’d calm down, something I was also thinking, so I reached into my pocket and pulled out a bit of kibble before I said, “Cupcake, sit!” She stopped moving mid-bounce and her little butt hit the floor with a thump.

I bent over and gave her the treat as I whispered, “Good girl!”

“You’re going to have to figure out another way to commend her for good behavior. It’s not right that I’m jealous of a six-pound dog.” I looked up and grinned at Clancy, who was standing in the doorway of her bedroom with one hand on her hip in a seductive pose. “How do I look? Biker chic?”

I walked across the room and pulled her into my arms before I moved us backwards to the bed. “You look gorgeous in anything you wear, but I assure you your clothes would look better on my bedroom floor.”

“It’s a good thing we’re in my bedroom then because if we don’t leave now, we’re going to be late to your parents’ house.”

“They’ll understand,” I said as I tried to get her to sit down on the bed.

“No, they won’t, because if we’re ever frisky and late to dinner with them, you will not be telling them why,” Clancy insisted as she squirmed out of my arms.

“Oh, the teacher voice. New kink unlocked!”

Clancy rolled her eyes as she shoved me.

I lost my balance and fell over, which caused her to giggle as she left.

I ran my hands over my face, resisting the urge to chase her because I knew we would really be late once I caught her.

After I talked down my raging erection, I got up and walked down the hall to find her in the living room, packing treats and other things into Max’s full bag.

“Are you sure they won’t mind if I bring Cupcake?”

I groaned before I said, “They won’t mind, but Cupcake’s stomach will. Mom insists that it’s her job to spoil Max like he’s a human baby until she gets a grandchild. She’ll feel the same way about Cupcake, I’m sure.”

“She’s eager for grandchildren, huh?” Clancy asked without looking up.

“Eager isn’t exactly how I’d describe it. Rabid sounds about right. We should probably discuss that on the way.”

That brought Clancy’s eyes to mine immediately. She timidly asked, “You want to talk about having kids together?”

“Well, I’d assume it would be a joint effort since I don’t have a uterus.”

Clancy swallowed hard before she asked, “How many do you want?”

“Two or four. An even number, please.”

Clancy tilted her head and asked, “Why an even number?”

“So no one will feel like the odd man out. If there are two, they can fight it out together, if there are four, then they can choose teams.”

“Before they fight it out? Like in a ring?”

“You never duked it out with your sisters?” I asked.

Clancy smiled before she said, “We may have slapped each other once or twice, but I wouldn’t say we ‘duked it out.’ Did you throw down with yours?”

“All the time.” I reached up and rubbed my chin before I said, “Posie’s got one helluva right hook, Lotus always goes for the gut, and Scout fights dirty as hell. I’d put him up against anyone in a street fight.”

“That’s good to know. My sisters can scream loud enough to rupture your eardrums and make you wish you were dead.”

“I guess that could be considered a skill,” I mused.

Just because I knew it would fluster her, I asked, “So, when are we going to start making kids instead of just practicing?” Clancy had just taken a sip of water, and she sprayed it onto the counter between us before she started coughing like she was about to choke to death.

Without a word, I reached over and grabbed a paper towel to clean the mess. “Too soon?”

“Maybe,” she croaked.

“I suppose we should figure out how to co-habitate successfully before we bring little ones into the equation.”

Clancy coughed a few times before she said, “That sounds like a good idea.”

“Since my house is a rental, I guess we’ll live in yours, which I’m sure you’d prefer since you’re doing all that work.” Clancy nodded, but she looked like a deer in the headlights. I raised my eyebrows as I asked, “Should I renew my lease? It’s up at the end of next month.”

“We’ll have been together for two months by then, almost three.”

“Right. I know it seems like I’m rushing things, but I was talking to Zane about you, and he said something I found prophetic, or at least as prophetic as a man like Zane can get.”

“What did he say?”

“In that amount of time, you either know it’s right or know it’s wrong.”

“I guess that’s . . . I don’t know if I’m . . . You know what?” Clancy stammered as she pushed her glasses us, something I still thought was fucking adorable. “That is prophetic. And yes, I’d like for us to live at my house.”

“Next month?”

“We’ve already been spending every waking moment with each other. Even before we were sleeping together, you spent almost as many nights at my house as I have at yours, so it only makes sense that we consolidate and move in together.”

“I don’t want to do it because it makes sense, Clancy. I want to do it because I love you and want to wake up next to you every morning for the rest of my life.”

“Oh!”

“Too soon?” I asked again.

“That sounded a lot like . . .” Clancy cleared her throat before she continued with, “A marriage proposal.”

“Oh, it’s not. That will come later when you’re least expecting it.”

“Telling me it’s going to happen makes me sort of expect it.”

“Don’t rush me, woman.”

Clancy’s eyebrows rose up almost to her hairline before she asked, “Don’t rush you ? We’ve been together for a month, and you’re already making plans to move in together, but I’m the one that’s rushing?”

“I’m going to say this now because I know you’re not really mad and you’ll probably think it’s sweet. If I ever say it again in the heat of the moment, then you can look back on today and remember how it didn’t make you even angrier.”

Clancy narrowed her eyes before she asked, “What?”

“You’re really hot when you’re irritated.”

“In certain circumstances, that sentence would make you the star of your own Netflix special.”

I burst out laughing and walked around the counter to pull Clancy into my arms. I kissed her cheek before I hugged her and whispered in her ear, “I love you, and I’m excited to settle down and start our forever, so forgive me if it seems like I’m rushing.

If you’re not ready, I’ll understand. I’m willing to wait as long as it takes. ”

“Saying things like how hot I am when I’m pissed and following it up with something like that may be what keeps you alive, Officer D.” When I narrowed my eyes at her, she asked, “Your friends still don’t know about your nickname, do they?”

“Blackmail is a crime, Clarisse.” It was Clancy’s turn to frown, but I kissed her frown away before I said, “My Clancy.”

“Yeah, you’ve got the pattern down. I’m suddenly not thinking of killing you anymore.”

“What are you thinking about?” I asked.

“Things that will make us late. We need to go!”

As Clancy pulled out of my arms and headed for the door, I groaned. I might not end up with a Netflix special, but she was going to be the death of me either way.