Page 145 of Double Fault

I have almost everything cleared out when an email catches my eye.

Position Opening

My heart stutters. “Huh.”

I click on the email.

Hello Ms. Howard,

I hope this email finds you well. I received your information from Terri Jaymes. She mentioned that you might be interested in a teaching position opening at my school. I wanted to reach out to you before posting the job, since Terri is a good friend and has sung your praises.

The position is for fifth grade and would start in August.

If you’re interested, please respond as soon as possible. I’ll need to schedule interviews soon since the position has to be filled before the start of the school year.

Thank you for your time,

Jessica Barrett

I read the email again and then a third time for good measure.

First, a zing of excitement races through me, but the sensation quickly disappears when I realize that taking this job would mean leaving Noah and Maddie.

When Noah hired me, I knew it was temporary, but I never expected to grow so attached to Maddie or her dad.

My feelings ping-pong, first one way and then the other.

The fact is, if Noah and I continue this… whatever our relationship is, then I can’t continue on as Maddie’s nanny much longer. That would be weird, right? I can’t imagine letting my boyfriend pay me a salary. That feels icky.

But if I take a teaching position, then I’ll never see either of them.

Okay,neveris an exaggeration, but it’s damn near close enough.

What Noah and I have is so new. It’s fragile. Long-distance like that, with different time zones and all his traveling, would be hard for even a long-term relationship to handle.

But can I base my decision on the potential that what we’re doing will last?

“Ugh.” No. I can’t allow my future to ride on the unnamed feelings Noah and I have been exploring. So I quickly compose a response asking for more information and send it.

There.

I sit back as the email swoosh sound echoes around the room. This way, Jessica knows I got the email, but it gives me more time to think about it and to bring it up to Noah.

I can’t imagine he’ll like the idea of being apart like that. The final decision is mine, of course, but it only feels right to give him a chance to talk about it with me.

With a heavy exhale, I close my laptop.

So much for my relaxing day. There’s no way I won’t spend the next several hours stressing about this.

The logical side of my brain tells me I’d be crazy not to take this job. It’s what I’ve been searching for.

But my heart—the organ to blame for the overwhelming emotions I have for my boss—says not to do it.

And I don’t know which part of me will win out.

CHAPTER 37

NOAH

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