Page 17 of The Overdue Kiss

I’m barely listening, my eyes catching a familiar leather jacket.

“There he is,” I say, pointing to Des’s back as he enters one of the last classrooms like he’s on autopilot. A jolt of excitement fills me at the thought of talking to him again, and I rush to catch him, weaving between a cluster of staff. Just as I jog up to his door, it swings toward me, slamming closed inches from my nose.

“Oh.”

My excitement fizzles away like air deflating out of a balloon. A few teachers turn to look at me clutching my stupid Tupperware. Their pitying stares have me questioning my goodwill gesture.

I turn away as the same ripples of rejection flow through me as they had months ago with Felipe... a feeling I didn’t miss.

Why did I allow myself to get so worked up over Des? I go on one bike ride, and I make him cookies like we’re dating.Maya, what on earth are you thinking?This is exactly why I made a resolution to remain single. I get too caught up in a moment and overthink it.

“Hey,” Julia calls out, rushing to my side. “Don’t take it personally. He obviously didn’t see you. What I’ve seen of Desmond, he’d never purposely be cruel to someone. Perhaps he had a meeting or last-minute preparations before his students arrive.”

“Yeah,” I mumble and slowly back away from the door.

“How about I introduce you to some of my friends and then you can try to deliver these again before homeroom starts?”

I smile and nod, thankful to have her support.

“Trust me, once he has one of your delicious sugar cookies, he’s going to kick himself that he didn’t get to eat them sooner.” She throws an arm of solidarity around my shoulder and squeezes.

“Thanks, Julia. What would I do without you?”

“Probably fail chemistry.” She winks, and we walk back to the east wing.

With a frown, I realize how quickly my feelings toward Des shifted without me noticing. I’ll have to watch it with this guy. Even the sweet ones could break my heart.

Chapter Five

As soon as I walk into my classroom, I notice the brand new Smart Board taking up half the wall behind my desk. When did the school approve this purchase? A glossy red bow is taped to the corner of the screen with a note attached. The handwriting looks suspiciously like the only billionaire’s I know.

Chris . . . what did you do?

A throat clears and I pivot, surprised I’m not alone. I was so absorbed with the electronic that I didn’t notice Robbie Maiser, one of my returning sophomores, sitting in the first desk. His cheeks are more hollowed than the last time I saw him, and a pungent smell of body odor reeks from his direction, so strong that my eyes start to water.

“Hey, Mr. B.”

My heart breaks at the defeated way he says my name. Robbie won’t even look at me. Asking for handouts always takes a hit on your pride. I should know. But he doesn’t know that I’ve been in his shoes before.

I shut the door to my classroom, giving him the privacy he needs, and slip into the desk beside him. “Hey, Robbie. How was your summer?”

He swallows. “Hard. I juggled two jobs and babysat my brothers in my free time. School is chill in comparison.”

“Is your mom still driving the city bus in Golden?”

“Nah. She’s selling some protein shakes online. They’re vomit inducing, but it’s better than nothing, you know?” He forces a laugh and averts his eyes.

His mom’s viper-like temper has lost her too many jobs to count. Even when I called in a favor with the school and landed her a custodial job, she couldn’t handle her supervisor’s constructive criticism without throwing a tantrum. But while she struggles for employment, poor Robbie bears the weight of everything at home.

This is the hardest part of my job. Knowing the difficulties these students face on a daily basis but not being able to do more for them.

“You know I’m always here for you—even in the summertime. Next time call me. The church always has donation boxes if you’re in a pinch.”

Robbie nods, his attention more on the invisible pattern he’s scratching into the desk. “We have the basics. It’s just that my two younger brothers eat about as much as me now. I give most of what we have to them.”

“I understand.” I ball my hands into fists under the desk and release them slowly. It’s the best I can do to hide my frustration as I calmly say, “So, you are looking for some items?”

He nods again, still not meeting my eyes.

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