Page 34 of The Deadbeat Next Door

I was a wreck. Cody had stayed at my house until after ten. I’d graded papers and he’d read one of the books I kept stacked on my bedroom floor. He’d seemed quite content just to hang out and he’d left as soon as I told him I was ready to hit the hay. He’d suggested he stay over, but I knew I’d never get any sleep if he did. Even after he left, I couldn’t calm down. My body was alert and throbbing and wanting, still lit up from that kiss. I’d stared at the ceiling for a long time, before I’d given in and reached into my night stand drawer for my battery-operated boyfriend. It took the edge off, but I was still buzzing, still wanting. I managed to get through my work day without any problems, but as three o’clock approached, I started to get nervous about our performance for Missy.

What if Cody forgot? Or was late? Or couldn’t convince Missy? The last bell of the day rang and my nerves amped up to a million and ten. I sat at my desk, my feet tapping a nervous rhythm on the linoleum, as students fled my class. I gathered my stuff, my hands shaking.

“Miss Harrison.” I looked up to see Kayla, her expression sad, the usual spark and energy in her eyes, and in her usually almost kinetic movements, stilled. “You wanted to see me?”

“You didn’t turn in your last assignment,” I said. “It was only worth about ten percent of your grade, so your overall grade shouldn’t drop too much, but I wanted to give you the opportunity to make it up if you’d like. Or you could take on some extra credit.” I also wanted to make sure that her missing this assignment wasn’t a sign of decreased future involvement in class or of problems at home, but I didn’t think prying was going to get me anywhere with her.

Her lower lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. “I can’t…I don’t have time and…I’m sorry, Miss Harrison. I haven’t even read the book. Is there anything else I can do for extra credit?”

“Of course. I’ll…I’ll make up a list of options for you. Kayla, if there’s anything you want to talk about—”

“I have to go.” She turned and fled before I could ask her anything else.

I dropped my head over my interlaced fingers on my desk, fighting my own tears. I was worried about Kayla, but it was frustration as much as worry that upset me. I was a teacher, it was my job to be able to get through to my students and, if I couldn’t do that…What the hell was I doing?

“It’ll be okay.” Large masculine hands dropped over mine. “We’ve got this.” I looked up to see Cody, his big, brown eyes warm and open, his smile reassuring. He’d shaved and was dressed in jeans and a red button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show off his muscled fore-arms. He thought I was worried about our meeting with Missy, which I had been just moments before, but now…I straightened my shoulders and focused on Cody. If I was going to be of any help to Kayla, I had to keep my job.

“You dressed up,” I said, so grateful that he was taking this seriously.

“I want to make a good impression. Carrie Harrison wouldn’t be engaged to a slob.”

My heart warmed, but I couldn’t forget my worry about Kayla. I forced a smile onto my face and stood. He stepped back, dropping my hands and reached into his pocket. “I got you something, to make this more realistic. It’s not much, but it’s the best I could do on short notice.”

He slid a small black box across my desk and my heart raced. I’d absolutely been one of those little girls who’d imagined her wedding and her engagement ring and how her true love would propose. In all my pretend games and imaginings, it had never gone anything like this.

My hands shook as I picked up the box and flipped the lid. A ring with a small diamond in the center and sapphires on either side sat against black velvet. Tears filled my eyes, because I’d wanted this so much and now here it was, for pretend and maybe the best I’d ever have. It was depressing and sweet at the same time. “It’s lovely,” I said. “You didn’t have to.”

“I did,” he said, his voice a bit unsteady. “It’s not real. I can’t afford real right now, but it should do the trick.”

I slid the ring on my left hand, my heart breaking a bit for the dream I’d once had for this moment in my life. It was only pretend, I reminded myself, and didn’t mean I wouldn’t have the real thing someday.

I swallowed, swiped at the tears under my eyes, and looked up at Cody. “It’s perfect.”

His smiled dropped and concern filled his eyes. He walked around my desk and pulled me into a warm hug. “If it’s perfect,” he said, his voice gruff. “Why are you crying?”

His arms around me surprised me almost as much as the real concern in his voice. “It’s stupid. I just never imagined my first engagement ring would be part of a plan to lie to everyone I know.”

“I’m sorry. But I promise you this won’t be the last engagement ring anyone ever gives you. The next one will be for real.”

He sounded truly sorry and I realized what an ungrateful, sentimental idiot I was being. I pushed out of his arms and wiped my eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for. The ring is perfect. Are you ready to meet my boss?”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Lead the way.”

I took his hand in mine and led him through the halls to the main office. “How’d you find my classroom, anyway?”

“I asked at the front desk when I checked in at the office.” It was then I noticed his visitor’s pass stuck to the left side of his shirt.

“You’re really going above and beyond for this,” I said. “Thank you.”

He shook his head. “I think you’ve been out with too many douche bags, Carrie. I’m doing the bare minimum of what you deserve.”

I had no idea what to say to that, so I just shook my head and kept walking. Caroline, the school secretary, smiled when we walked in. She’d been working at the school since I was a student there. “Hi, Caroline,” I said. “This is my fiancé Cody Reynolds.”

Caroline clapped her hands and beamed. “I heard you were engaged, Carrie. I’m so happy for you.” My gut sank at the horrible lie I was telling, but Cody squeezed my hand before he dropped it to shake Caroline’s.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, all charm and good grace.

Caroline narrowed her eyes at Cody. “You treat our girl right, you understand.”

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