Page 54 of Perfectly Complicated
His expression doesn’t change. “This is me being enthusiastic.”
Rourke isn’t making this easy on me. “Then at leastmakean effort? You look like you’re having a root canal.”
“A root canal would be preferable,” he mutters. He waves the pages in the air. “Maybe we could add some sarcasm? I’m very good at sarcasm.”
Despite everything, I almost smile back.
“He doesn’t sound like Santa at all,” Lily announces, fists on her hips. “Santa’s supposed to actually like Christmas.”
“That’s because I’mnotSanta,” Rourke corrects. “I’m Saint Nicholas now.”
“Who’s that?” Emmalynn asks, eyeing him suspiciously. “And what did you do with Santa?”
“I didn’t do anything with Santa because Santa’s not even?—”
“Here today!” I practically yell, my teacher instincts kicking into overdrive before Rourke can traumatize my entire class by telling them Santa’s not real. “He’s just tired from all the toy-making. Instead, we’re telling a story about a generous man who helped children,” I add quickly, shooting Rourke a warning glare. To my relief, the kids seem to accept this answer.
He shrugs, looking uncomfortable in the too-small costume we scrounged up—an ill-fitting jacket straining across his broad shoulders and a red Santa hat because I haven’t found a better option yet.
“Okay, let’s try a different approach,” I say, moving closer to the edge of the stage. “You need to feel the character. Christmas is about joy and hope and…”
“Presents!” Emmalynn says.
“Well, yes,” I say. “But more than that, think about what kids like other than presents.” I turn to Rourke. “What do you think?”
He furrows his brow, thinking about it. “Um…no school?”
The children giggle, and I resist the urge to throw my pencil at him. “Rourke, be serious.”
“I am being serious,” he says. “Kids love Christmas break.”
“What about family?” I join the cast on the stage. “It’s about love and people caring about each other…” I stop myself from saying more, remembering that Rourke’s Christmas memories were never like that.
Rourke glances away for just a second too long before he catches himself. “This is why Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year…” And then he pastes on a grin for the students. “Because of no school!”
The children erupt into cheers.
I move directly in front of him and mutter, “You’re being a pain inmy you-know-what.”
He smirks. “No, I really don’t knowwhat.Please enlighten me, Ms. Bennett.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop thinking too much, especially about your past. Just feel it.” Without thinking, I press my hand to his chest, right over his heart. The second we connect, something shifts, and an unmistakable current passes between us.
His gaze locks on mine, darker now. “Oh, I feel it,” he says, his voice low.
I pull my hand back quickly. That wasn’t meant to be a moment. Especially not in front of the kids.
Lily glances between us. “Is there love in this pageant?”
“No,” I say quickly, whirling around. All the kids are watching now, which means I’m going to be fielding questions about this for weeks.
“I’m just giving Mr. Rourke an acting lesson,” I clarify, my cheeks burning.
“Are you gonna kiss, then?” Preston asks bluntly. “My mom loves shows with kissing.”
“That’s not even in the script,” I say, frowning.
“You know,” Rourke says with an amused grin. “We could add that part.”
