Page 7 of A Royal Menace

“Who?” I ask, confused.

I get along pretty well with my neighbors, so I have no clue who he’s talking about until he grins and waggles his eyebrows. I blow out a long breath, and he smiles even wider.

“Miss Barnes,” he sing-songs like he’s one of my students.

Whenever he asks about my job, the conversation inevitably turns toward her and whatever squabble we’ve been engaged in recently. Linc is convinced there’s something more going on between us. Some electric undercurrent neither of us wants to acknowledge, even to ourselves.

He couldn’t be more wrong.

“We actually called a bit of a ceasefire today,” I say.

“Really?” he asks, his tone disbelieving. “She backed down and let you run your classroom like you want to?”

“No,” I say. “Not exactly.”

“So, you surrendered,” he says knowingly.

“It’s not a war, Linc,” I grumble. “I just added another element to the game my students were playing.”

“Quiet game rules?” he asks, arching a single brow.

He knows me too well.

“The kids loved it,” I say, my tone turning defensive.

He cocks his head. “You know, if you could get the district to approve it, I could come in and install a wall façade with some soundproofing insulation between your classroom and hers. Problem, solved.”

It’s not the first time he’s offered it, but just like before, I shake my head. “Our budget is too tight.”

While that’s true, it’s not the real reason I always shoot down the idea. And I refuse to go into the actual reason, even to myself.

“Oh,” I say, changing gears. “Speaking of budgets, we got the zoo trip.”

“You did?” he asks, smiling. “That’s great, Royal. I know you’ve been fighting for it for years.”

“I’m so stoked,” I say. “The fall festival apparently pulled in twice the money this year than it usually does.”

“Because you finally let your students smash whipped cream pies in your face,” he says with a chuckle.

“That didn’t hurt,” I say, laughing with him. “Between that and the dunk tank I climbed into later, I probably pulled in most of the excess.”

“Are you sure your students actuallylikeyou?” he asks.

“Of course, they do. They love me,” I say, edging the words with a haughtiness that makes Linc laugh again.

“Sure they do,” he says, and before I can respond, the waiter shows up with our drinks and tells us the nachos will be out shortly.

Linc and I continue to talk and laugh through dinner, and by the time we finish, I feel more relaxed than I have all month. I’m glad we’re so close, both emotionally and geographically. I don’t know what I’d do without him, and I know he feels the same way about me.

And as we close out our tab, and I think about heading back to my empty, quiet apartment, I stifle a sigh. I consider inviting him over, but he mentioned he has an early job tomorrow that can’t wait until Monday. I know he wants to head home and get some sleep.

So, we hug and pound fists against each other’s backs before leaving the bar. I give him a wave as we part ways in the parking lot, then I climb into my car, letting that sigh I suppressed blow out of my lungs.

Then I start the motor and head home. Alone.

CHAPTER FIVE

Callie

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