Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 88186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
The bell rings a moment later, and the kids file out of the room, leaving me thinking about Scott’s innocent words. And also thinking about what I’ll wear to the Halloween party. I haven’t given it much thought. My mind has been on making the chocolate candies I’ll be bringing.
“We still on?” Apple says, breaking me from my thoughts as she enters my classroom. Her brown hair is pulled into a tight braid. Apple is just as eccentric as her name. I can never guess what she’ll wear from one day from the next. It all fits her, seeing as she’s the art teacher.
She is the only friend I’ve made since I moved here. The other teachers are nice, but Apple made it clear she wanted us to be friends as well as colleagues, and tonight is the first night are going to hang out outside of school. I’ve been looking forward to it. Her husband is out of town this week and she doesn’t want to go straight home to an empty house. I have a feeling an empty house is something that would drive Apple crazy. Apple likes to talk. A lot.
I’ve been in Seattle for over two months, and haven’t made any other friends at all. She’ll actually be the first person I’ve ever had over to my condo. I’ve never had a place of my own and it’s exciting to have a space to call mine. Well, for the time being, that is.
When I first got to Seattle after I learned I actually got the job at Hartwood Elementary, I had to stay in a hotel until I could find a place. It wasn’t that bad, since I graduated college in the spring and left the dorm rooms at Berkeley to come straight here. I didn’t know where I’d finally land a job and didn’t want to put down roots until I knew.
It was hard, and most of the places were way out of my price range on a teacher's salary. I am lucky to have gone to college on a scholarship that had given me room and board. It left me without a giant pile of student debt, but my budget is still somewhat tight. Then I lucked out and found a place to lease in a fancy building that’s within walking distance of the school.
The only catch is I can only stay there until they find a buyer for the place, and I have to be ready to move at a moment’s notice. And I can’t be there if they need to show the place to a potential buyer. In the four weeks since I’ve lived there, it hasn’t happened once. That’s been a relief, because I haven’t had time to look for another place. I’ve been too wrapped up in my first teaching job.
“Yep.” I stand up, grabbing my cardigan off the back of my chair before sliding it on and smoothing out its wrinkles. “Just need to grab my bag.” I get it from the cabinet and bundle in all the papers I have left to grade.
“Miss Treat.” My head flies up at the sound of his voice. Jack’s voice. It’s deep and husky and not a voice that I would ever forget. It slides across my skin, making goose bumps rise. “Scott forgot his agenda.” A smile pulls at his full lips as his gray eyes roam over me, and his smile grows when they stop at the top of my head, reminding me I’m still wearing a pair of Halloween bunny ears. I quickly reach up and grab them off of the top of my head and try to smooth my unruly hair. My eyes go to Scott, who has a matching smile on his face.
I know he forgot it on purpose. “Go grab it,” I tell Scott, keeping my eyes locked on him, determined not to meet Jack’s. My knees are doing the weak thing again. My hand squeezes the poor bunny ears.
Scott runs towards his cubby, and Jack moves towards me, filling up my line of sight and giving me no option but to look at him.
“You’ll be at the Halloween party tomorrow?” he asks as his hand comes up to move one of my curls away, tucking it behind my ear.
My breath catches. He’s never touched me before. Heck, I don’t think he’s even been this close to me before. I open and close my mouth, and my face turns red. He leans in a little, moving his mouth to my ear.
“Breathe, Raven.” His warm breath hits the shell of my ear, and I do as he commands. “Now answer me, sweetheart.”
“Of course. Most of the teachers will,” I finally say, shocked I don’t stumble over my words.
He leans back, and I look anywhere but at his face. He’s so tall, I don’t have to try very hard. I barely come up to the middle of his chest.