Page 90 of My Only

This was the first time since then.

And suddenly, dinner wasn’t so good anymore.

“Aw, these are so beautiful,” Monica gushed as she and a few other teachers, including Janae, approached me from behind.

Her voice yanked me back to the present, forcing me to focus on the flowers again.

I fixed a smile onto my face and turned to them.

“From Hassani?” Monica asked.

“From Hassani.” I smiled. “I have no idea how I’m getting these home. Might have to just leave them in my classroom.”

“Mm-hmm. What he do?” Janae asked next.

I giggled nervously. “Huh?”

“They always do this,” Janae said, nodding toward the bouquet. “Distract you with pretty things so you forget why you’re mad at them.”

I exhaled sharply… then forgot to inhale again.

“Janae, do not start with this.” Monica laughed, shoving her playfully. “Always acting like Debbie Downer from Saturday Night Live. Y’all remember her?”

“Of course!” Kaedee chuckled. “I used to love her skits.”

The ladies all laughed.

I tried to, but I couldn’t get into it.

Because although Janae was jaded…

She might have been right.

And she would know.

Was I getting these flowers just because?

Or was this the start of another one of Hassani’s unspoken apology tours?

I didn’t let my face show the doubt creeping in. Instead, I forced a smile and lifted the bouquet from the desk.

“All right, y’all,” I announced. “I’m about to take my garden to my class and plant it on my desk, so I can get ready for my babies. Y’all take care.”

“Enjoy them, Ayla,” Monica called after me. “Hassani did good.”

“Thank you,” I replied, as enthusiastically as I could manage.

And he did do good. The flowers were beautiful. Thoughtful.

But for the first time, I found myself wondering if he was doing good with us.

Or if we were already starting to crack.

CHAPTER 12

THEN – EARLY SPRING 2023… FOUR MONTHS LATER

Ayla

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