Page 7 of An Unexpected Turn
I introduced Mike to Mrs. Lopez, and he was a completely different kid once they started chatting about the program. He asked all kinds of questions, his eyes lighting up when she told him about the different tournaments the club had participated in last year. His excitement was infectious, and before I knew it, it was five minutes after dismissal.
“It’s a good thing the buses don’t start until Monday,” I told Mike as I led him outside the school’s double doors. The building vacated quickly at the end of the day. My voice echoed down the hall. “I wouldn’t want your father to worry.”
“I would have gotten a text if he was.” Mike scoffed as he scanned the parking lot.
“There you are. I started to worry that maybe I missed a side entrance.” I didn’t have to turn to the deep timbre to know where, or whom, it was coming from.
“Sorry, Dad. I was talking to the teacher who runs the robotics program. She said I could join next month.”
Jake’s mouth broke out into a wide grin. I could feel the poor guy’s relief radiating off him.
“That’s great, Mikey. I told you you’d like it here.” When his eyes found mine, a familiar grip took hold of my tongue. Jake was twice as gorgeous as I remembered. The same broad shoulders and chiseled jaw were locked into my teenage memory, but now gray bristles mixed in with his dark hair and scruff dusted his cheeks.Jesus, he was beautiful.
I wasn’t an awkward teenager anymore—or shouldn’t have been. But the temptation to hide my face and the redness I knew was singeing my cheeks was still just as potent.
There was no time or place to entertain a silly crush, not then and especially not now, as his son was one of my students. My teenage fantasies were not only wrong, but now professionally inappropriate.
Been there, done that. Zero interest in revisiting what I considered to be my lowest point.
With Jake’s eyes holding mine for what seemed like a yearslong moment, my breath caught. I cleared my throat in the hopes of bringing myself and my morals back to reality.
“I’m sorry, I have no manners. I’m just so thrilled that my son looks like he had a decent day at school.” There was that deep chuckle again. “I’m Jake Russo.”
My heart fluttered at his blinding smile as he extended his hand. The last time I’d seen Jake, I wasn’t much older than his son. His gaze had an intensity that I hadn’t remembered, at least from when he looked at me all those years ago. It would probably stop as soon as he realized who I was, but I couldn’t help enjoying it, even for only a second.
“Peyton Miller.” I took his hand, stifling a laugh when his jaw dropped.
“You’re kidding me.” He didn’t drop my hand, instead draping his other one over my wrist. Heat ran up my arm from where our skin made contact. “Your uncle said you were working here, but I ...” He dropped our hands to run a hand through his thick hair.
“You didn’t recognize me. I was about Mike’s age the last time you saw me, so that would make sense.”
“See? She calls me Mike. Why can’t you?” A deep groan rose from Mike’s throat.
“Sorry, Mikey.” He smiled at me as Mike let out another groan.
“Mike and I bonded over being in a new school and new town, but I think we’ll both be fine, right?” I raised a brow, trying to ignore the urge to glance at Jake in my periphery.
“Right.” The tiny smile curving Mike’s lips relaxed me and brought me back into the present, where I was a high school guidance counselor and he, along with the rest of the students, was my focus.
Or was supposed to be.
“I’ll make sure you get the sign-up form for robotics, and you can come to see me anytime.”
“Thanks, Ms. Miller,” he said before climbing into the passenger seat of his father’s truck.
Jake stepped closer to me, his hands stuffed into his pockets. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was as jumpy as I was.
“I’m glad you’re here. It makes me feel better that Mikey—Mike—has someone looking out for him.”
“That’s my job.” I hated my knees for wanting to melt at that stupid smile of his. “I’m here if either of you needs anything.”
“I appreciate that.” The husky rasp of his voice kicked up my heartbeat. As much as I hated the thought, I needed to figure out a way to get back out into the dating world, so I wouldn’t swoon over fifteen-year-old fantasies.
“I’ll tell my uncle you said hello.”
He nodded, blinking a couple of times as his grin shrank. Maybe that slipped out because I needed to remind myself of another reason why it was wrong to be attracted to Jake in the first place.
“I may see him before you will.” He held my gaze, his lip curling into a smirk.
