Page 38 of I'm Yours

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, but I don’t believe him ‘cause you’re a girl and he’s a boy.”

“You don’t think boys and girls can be best friends?”

“Nope.”

Sadie chuckles. “Are you ready for class today?”

“She was a little nervous on the way here.”

“Daddy!” Emmy protests and shushes me.

“What? She asked!” I point at Sadie and Emmy stomps her foot, clenching her fist in a five-year-old rage that she’s perfected. She’s not really angry, if the grin on her face is anything to go by.

“It’s okay to be nervous, Emmy. I was nervous today, too.”

“You were? Why?”

Sadie’s brief glance in my direction tells me that what she’s about to say is a crock of shit and the real reason is the same one for why I’ve been nervous today. “Well, I want to be the best teacher possible for you and the rest of the students. I love dance so much and it makes me so happy when others fall in love with it, too, but that means I feel pressure to make that happen. And, want to know a secret?” Emmy nods. “Sometimes I get scared meeting new people, too.”

Emmy visibly relaxes then suddenly gives Sadie a hug. She sits stunned for just a second before she returns the hug and embraces her.

“Thanks, Miss Sadie.”

“You’re welcome. You ready for class now?”

Emmy just smiles and runs over to me, giving me a big hug around my legs then takes off out of the office when she hears her name being called by who I assume is Erica. I came to this assumption because Emmy squealed her name as she was running. I know. I’m a master of detection.

“She’s adorable, Reed.”

Sadie’s still looking out the door where Emmy just left. “Thank you.”

“She’s your mini, isn’t she?”

I let out a little laugh and scrub a hand down my face. “She is. Poor thing.”

Sadie grins and blushes again and I wonder what she’s thinking. I have to admit, I’m not sure what I’d think of meeting her kid if she had one.

“Well, I’d better wrangle in the kids and get started.”

“Have fun.”

“Oh, I will.”

“Good. Emmy really is excited. Nervous, but in that she wants it to live up to her expectations kind of nervousness.”

“Oh thanks, no pressure there.”

“Right? You were basically on a pedestal before she even met you. She’s been dreaming of the day she could learn to dance for a long time now.”

“That makes me ridiculously happy. This age is so much fun to teach.”

“I bet. Like herding cats.”

She giggles and nods in agreement. “Pretty much exactly like that.”

“Well, have fun. I hope Emmy listens.”

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