Page 4 of Winging it with My Ex
The birds are…well, they’re doves. They’re cooing like little maniacs.
But! It’s gorgeous at the park. Balmy mid-seventies, the golden sun is almost at its peak. Ducks are quacking, paddling around in the pond, like they’ve got places to be.
It’s the perfect day for the Briarwood High School Back-to-School bash. We’ve done this for the last four years, and each year it seems to get bigger. Burgers, dogs, face painting, bounce house, the whole nine. We give out backpacks filled with school supplies for families who need them. It’s a great community day.
It’s fun and wonderful and…
“Hey, Hadley.” That rumbly, super sexy deep voice hugs me from behind.
Not sexy. Annoying. Because it’s coming out of his stupid face.
I can’t throw a temper tantrum—I’m the principal. I sure want to, but I have to be a role model for the kids and all that jazz.
Casually, I throw a look over my shoulder. “Hi.” I was trying to make my voice sound cool, calm, collected, and nonchalant. But is it? Oh, no. It’s all squeaky. Like I like him. Like I think he’s hot.
Which Idonot.
Fine, maybe I do.
He’s hot. He’s always been hot. Always will be. He’s going to be a centurion McHotty.
I clear my throat and try again. “Hi.”
My heart’s pounding like a jackhammer as I face him.
Why does he have to look like that? Tousled hair, snug shirt, unfair levels of muscle. And that face. That unfair, sculpted-by-God face. Perfect eyes. Perfect lips. Perfect… everything.
I sigh, tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, and smile. Smile?
What am I doing?
I quickly drop the smile and pull my hair back out like that somehow resets my brain. I willnotgo gooey-eyed over the guy who dumped me by text.
“You look great.” His lips curl into that effortless, sultry smile. His gaze flicks over me. “You always do.”
“Well…you do too.” What are my lips doing?
I press my hand to my forehead and lightly bop it a couple of times. It’s like my whole body is in rebellion against my brain.
Then it hits me.
I’m in the middle of the park.
With all the kids.
And Jett.
And he’sgrinningat me.
I need a hole to crawl into. Or a time machine. Or a witness protection program. Something. Anything. Just beam me up, Scotty.
“Hey, you two!” Vivi bellows from the edge of the park. She tromps over and stops, hands on her hips. The woman is smiling too wide. “Isn’t this a gorgeous day?”
“Yeah, it’s freaking fantastic,” I deadpan.
My best friend just keeps smiling like her lips are sewn into that position. “Looks like Mr. Wednesday got the paddle boats here just fine.”
“Yeah.” I follow her line of sight to the pond. “We’re down one this year, but to be fair, most of the time they aren’t even used.”
