Page 95 of Love and Other Chances

I can’t help but smile. “Not entirely inaccurate.”

“Can we please pause to recognize the fact that you very nearly ended things with Brooks when you got scared, so you can stop giving me so much grief about temporarily breaking up with Mateo?” Lana huffs.

“She listened to his voice of reason a lot more quickly than you did, though, Lana,” Amaya teases. “A certain someone stubbornly tookmultiple weeks—and multiple people—challenging her to think differently before she made amends.”

Lana rolls her eyes, and I burst out laughing. I reassure her. “Okay, okay, I’ll commiserate a little bit, Beef. I do understand the knee-jerk reaction.”

“Thank you,” she says, fighting a smile.

“Oh, and P.S., I’m officially leaving Arrow staff and getting my teaching license next year,” I say as an afterthought.

“You are?!” Lana exclaims as Amaya yelps, “What?!”

“May as well just get all the big life developments out there,” I say. “But you’re the first two to know. I haven’t told anyone else yet.”

They both hum with understanding. “Keep us posted on how that goes. You know we’re in your corner, ’kay?” Lana affirms.

You can do it, Teegan. You have so many people behind you. You’re not facing the scary things alone. Stop avoiding.

“I’ve decided I’m not coming back to Arrow staff next year,” I say.

My knee is bouncing manically under the table as Kent and Rachel sit across from me. I asked them to meet me before staff meeting, and thankfully a neighbor was able to watch the twins so they could both be present. I downed half of my latte from Raelynn’s in thirty seconds. My esophagus might have second-degree burns, but my bloodstream was fully caffeinated and sugared before making this declaration.

Their expressions are a mix of shock and sadness. As tempted as I am to mentally fly away from their reactions, I take a deep breath and brace myself to face their response.

“What are you going to do next?” Rachel asks. Her eyes look sad, but her voice sounds genuinely interested.

“I’m going to get my teaching license and apply for special education positions,” I say, forcing confidence into my answer. Because Ifeelentirely confident about this decision—just terrified to speak it out loud to the people sitting in front of me.

“You’re going to be an amazing teacher,” Rachel responds, eyes soft.

“I . . . I am?” I ask, caught off guard by her affirmation.

Rachel gives a small laugh. “Of course you are!”

“You’ll be incredible at anything you decide to do,” Kent adds. “And anyone who has any involvement in your life will be blessed for it.”

I sit in stunned silence, which is far from my usual self, at least in their experience.

Kent speaks again. “Don’t misunderstand us—we’re sad to have you leave staff because you’re a joy to work with. You’ve made all of us better the past few years, and the impact you’ve had on students could never be measured.”

“Yes, of course, we’re devastated that you won’t be back next year,” Rachel jumps back in. “To be totally honest, I’ll probably go home and cry this afternoon. But that’s only because we love you, Teegan. We’ve loved having you here, and we’ll miss you so much. But I trust your discernment to follow where God is leading you. Even if that’s away from here.”

“So, you’re not disappointed in me for pursuing something different?” I timidly ask.

“Goodness, no!” Rachel exclaims. “We know you’re going to change lives for the better regardless of your vocation. And we’ll be cheering you on, but please keep in touch, okay?”

I blow out a long, relieved breath. “You guys are the best. Thanks for being supportive and for inviting me on staff in the first place. I’ve learned so much from you over the years. Not to mention, I’ve personally grown in ways I never would have otherwise.”

“Do you want to tell the rest of the staff team today, or would you like to wait a while?” Kent asks.

“Let’s rip the Band-Aid off,” I reply, and we all laugh. It feels good to laugh when I came into this conversation prepared to . . . well, not laugh.

Gina, Lucas, and Connor are equally as supportive and sentimental when I share my plans at staff meeting. I know that telling all the students in my small groups will be more difficult conversations, but the reassuring responses thus far are boosting my confidence.

“So, who’s going to plan social events and After Parties now?” Connor asks.

Gina and Lucas simultaneously yell, “Not it!”

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