Page 41 of Burning Skies
Do we really have to go out again? I tuck the note into my planner and turn to Gladys. “Would it be okay if I left them here until the end of the day? I don’t have room for this on my desk.”
“Of course, dear. I love roses.” She sighs so sweetly at the flower arrangement, it makes me feel guilty for not appreciating it more. “Oh, before I forget, you can’t meet in your classroom for the Harvester Club meeting next month. There’s a conflict, but I can book you in the room next door.”
“That’s fine. Thank you.” Glancing back at Beau, I let out a relieved breath when I notice he’s deep in a discussion with the fire chief. I return my attention to Gladys. “Actually, why don’t you keep the flowers?”
“I couldn’t do that.”
“Of course you could. I’m allergic to roses. My eyes get puffy, and my throat gets hoarse. You’d be doing me a favor.”
Her eyes light up. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Consider them yours.”
She leaps up and runs around the desk to hug me. “Thank you, Honey!”
“You’re welcome.” It would be one thing if Ian and I were really an item, but I know he’s just trying to butter me up.
My temple throbs whenever I think about our next date. Would it piss off my father if I cancelled?
I’m halfway back to my office when my phone buzzes with a call. When I see “Dad” flash on the screen, I groan. It’s like he can sense I want to back out of that date.
I duck into the office supply room and hit answer. He doesn’t even wait for me to say hello before he begins yelling. “When were you going to tell me that goddamn fire was practically in your backyard?”
His voice is so loud, it makes me wince. “It wasn’t really in my backyard,per se. It was?—”
“This is why I hate your job. You work with little hooligans who don’t appreciate what you’re sacrificing to be there.”
I roll my eyes. “As much as I’d love to think I’m God’s gift to education, I have a lot of really talented colleagues. In fact?—”
“When’s your next date with Ian?”
Has my father always treated me like this? “I’m not feeling great.” Trying to channel my best Ferris Bueller, I fake-cough. “My throat is a little sore. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go out with Ian again this weekend. I really need to rest.” My dad is headed out of town, so hopefully, he won’t hear that I’m at tonight’s football game.
“It’s that damn job.”
“Thanks for checking on me,” I say sweetly. “I’m going to go make some hot tea. I’ll talk to you soon, Daddy.”
I hang up before he can jump on my ass again.
Because I have bigger fish to fry. Like figuring out why the sheriff thinks I might have started that fire.
16
BEAU
As soon asthe meeting concludes, I head for the English department, but there’s no one there. I wait around, hoping to spot Honey, but a hall monitor yells at me for trespassing and escorts me out.
It’s clearly not my day.
Christ, Honey thinks I accused her of arson. What the fuck?
I realize we haven’t spent much time together, but I hope she knows me better than that. This entire fiasco resulted because I followed the chain of command. I spoke to the chief, who spoke to the sheriff, who fucked up everything. The man needs to retire.
Since there’s another half hour of school left, I head for my truck and park a few houses down from her place. This is the second time in two days I’ve staked out her house. I’m starting to feel creepy about it.
Sitting here gives me time to fume about her being on a date last night. Is that what she wants? A man who lavishes her with a bouquet his assistant picked out?
I’m out of my depth here. Maybe Honey McAllister shouldmarry that rich asshole. Because she and I bring out the worst in each other.
