Page 98 of Burning Skies
“Sure thing.” When I return, I hand it to her and then clean up the kitchen.
A few minutes later, she emerges, wearing another one of my t-shirts tucked into her jeans and cowboy boots. Damn, she looks good.
After we eat, I walk her out to her SUV. “I’ll be at the firehouse for the next three days. I can’t leave, but if you need anything, you can always swing by or call me.”
“I might do that.”
I open her door and help her in, then lean in to kiss her. “See you soon.”
She gives me a small smile. “Not soon enough.”
As she drives away, I suddenly start to wish I wasn’t a firefighter. Because my three-day shift feels like an eternity. What if she needs me?
36
HONEY
After I runhome to put on my work clothes, I cross the back parking lot and head for our office, which is bustling as my colleagues prepare for first period. I’m gathering the materials I need for class when my phone buzzes with a text.
Cyn: Did you see your sexy firefighter after I left last weekend?
Me: Yes. And my family knows I’m dating Beau. It’s a shit show.
Cyn: Tell me everything!
Me: I’ll call you after school. It’s bad.
I shove my phone in my bag and try to think through my day, the whole time trying not to vomit. I’m sure it’s just stress, but my stomach is in knots. I want to do nothing more than to go home, curl up in a ball on my bed, and pull the covers over my head.
Yesterday keeps running through my mind. I’ve always triedto stay in my father’s good graces. I’ve always tried to be a dutiful daughter. But everything that’s happened with my family is so wrong. My father’s affair. Him wanting to flaunt that other woman. His ridiculous accusations that I’m not loyal when he’s the poster child for hypocrisy.
And then there’s Trig, who’s every bit as hotheaded as Tybalt. When I think of how bad things could have gotten if Rhett hadn’t shown up, I could cry.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s how understanding Beau was about everything. My brother said some terrible things, but Beau didn’t react. I love how steady and calm he is. I love that he held me all night and made me breakfast and comforted me.
I can’t deny it anymore. I’m in love with Beau Walker.
As if in agreement, my heart kicks in my chest.
It’s an emotional overload. I feel like an electrical board that’s short-circuited. I adore Beau so much, but will being with him cost me my family, as dysfunctional as they are?
When my students pile into my classroom, I force myself to be cheery. “Morning! Get your notes out today because we’re prepping for a test this week.” That gets me a collective groan, which makes me chuckle. “It won’t be bad, not if we study. I promise if you do my worksheet today, you’ll be well prepared.” After I hand it out, I explain the exercise. “You need to match the name of the character on the left with the quotes on the right.”
“Miss Honey, this is hard,” Sarah says.
“It might be, but I’m letting you use your books to practice.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh, that’s better.”
“But fair warning, you won’t be able to use the book when you take the test.” Once the students are done, we review the answers. “Okay, who said, ‘Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast?’”
One of my kids in the back shouts, “The Friar.”
“Very good. Why are these lines so important to the story?”
It takes them a second, but then Nora Jean raises her hand. “Because if they hadn’t rushed, they might have gotten their parents on board with their relationship. That would’ve been better than Romeo and Juliet dying.”
“Exactly.” It’s a warning to myself. Maybe my father wouldn’t have freaked out if I had approached him with Baylee’s wedding first like I had planned instead of dumping everything on him at once. I was upset about my mom, and I couldn’t hold my tongue. I guess that’s on me. “Don’t forget that Juliet’s father told Tybalt not to fight Romeo at their masquerade party. He had heard Romeo had a good reputation, but Tybalt refused to listen.” It makes me wonder what I can say to Trig to get him to listen to reason.
