Page 17 of Interpreter

Cade had the idea for me to work with kids, and Hayes knows Principal Moorehouse from school events where he and Theo linger from time to time, scouting the high school’s baseball team.

The point is: I expected my family to use their connections to get me this position. What I didn’t expect was how deep those connections ran. Somehow Anniston knew this school had someone fluent in sign language. Somehow she managed to hook me up with probably the only other person, sans my family, that could sign fluently. And said person is also fucking hot. So hot that I don’t want to talk to her at all. Gibberish and faces of ecstasy should be the only thing coming out of her mouth.

My head throbs as I push down the lust while the reality of what I’m about to do sinks in.

I’m leaving the safety of the foundation where everyone is attuned to my condition. The kids and the teachers here won’t know they need to face me so I can read their lips or that they need to sign along with their words if the lighting is low. All these things I’ve grown accustomed to, and right now, I feel like I’m being pushed out of the plane at 37,000 feet without a parachute.

I’m overwhelmed, and I’m not digging the new me at all.

“Okay, tough guy,” Milah signs with this dainty little shrug. Her purple nail polish distracts me while she speaks, her tongue darting out to wet her lips briefly. “Follow me.”

Anniston stands, and for one second, I think about dropping to my knees and begging her to let me have the job of watching Aspen. I don’t know that I’m cut out to work in a social setting. Maybe I could go work on cars with Mac and Bianca at the garage as an alternative? Why did I let Cade convince me to work with children? Just because I love Aspen does not mean I will like all the kids of the world.

I smother a groan, and Anniston rises on her tiptoes and wraps her arms around me. I’m man enough to admit that I relish every bit of strength she is giving me right now.

I don’t want to do this.

Ireallydon’t want to do this.

But that’s always the thing with change, right? It’s never easy. It’s never carefree. Change is scary as fuck. And while I follow my commander and Milah down the hall, to the gates of terror known as a fifth grade class, I realize one thing: Milah’s skirt is the devil luring me to an early death.

Swishing and fanning against her toned legs, that damn skirt calls to me—reminding me I’m not a saint and my dick works just fine no matter what Hayes and Theo say. The poor bastard is lonely though. I don’t go to clubs or approach women at the grocery store like the other guys in my family. I don’t ask them out. I don’t keep their numbers when they shove them in my pocket. I don’t swipe right on the app Hayes set up for me. Nothing. I do absolutely nothing about women. Women and I ceased to exist together. Why? Because I have nothing to offer.

Women want a man who can earn a living and give them babies. I can do neither of those things. Sure, I can earn a living. I haven’t for the past few years, but that’s because I’ve been sulking in the world’s biggest pity party. I also can have children, but I won’t. I won’t doom another person to the future I’ve inherited.

Sweat is beading on my forehead, and I quickly swipe it away just as we reach Milah’s classroom.

“The bell already rang,” she tells me because, obviously, I wouldn’t know.

I nod, but she isn’t finished.

“This is my free period. I only have one student.”

One student. I can handle one student.

“Come on in.” She makes a sweeping motion and steps in, not bothering to check if I’m following.

I’m not, if you were unsure. I plant my feet and turn, cutting Anniston one more desperate look.This is not necessary,I say silently, hoping my eyes relay my thoughts.

One recommendation from Dr. Parker.

One!

And the whole family latches on to it. What the fuck is happening to my life? It’s like giving a kid tough love or something.

Anniston smiles in the direction Milah just went and grins, mouthing to me, “Have a good day at school, kiddo.”

She’s got jokes. It’s so not appropriate right now.

“Aspen and I can’t wait to hear all about it when Daddy picks you up.”

Theo has warped her, and I can’t help the laugh that burst out of me. “Fuck you.”

Her eyes go wide, and she puts her finger to her lips, giggling.

Fuck. I can’t even say “fuck” because I’m in a fucking school full of fucking kids!

My head drops back, and I groan. “This is a nightmare.”

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