Once and Again
Page 12

“What’s it to you?” one of them, Paulie, if she remembered right, said as he smoked.
“You’re nothing to me actually. But he”—she grabbed Chris’s hand—“is everything. So, I guess, to be blunt, what I mean is, will your parents care that y’all are here when you’re supposed to be in school?”
Chris groaned. “Let’s go.”
“You don’t have to go with her. What’s she going to do, carry you?” Paulie sneered and she pitied his parents.
“Knock it off, Paulie.” There he was, the sweet kid she got to see a few times a day. The one she knew could make it if she pushed him. And she was going to, even if she had to pick him up and drag him.
He got in the car without another word.
“You know, Chris,” she said, pulling out of the lot and heading toward the school, “I was in the middle of a piece when the school called me. I told you they would. This bullshit is beneath you. Those dipshits you hang out with are too.”
“I just lost track of time.”
She sighed. “Don’t insult me. You can lie to your friends and even Mom, but don’t waste my time. I love you, kid. I think you are worth the effort.” She parked and got out, loving the look of panic on his face. “But we’re on my time now and you’ve broken your word. You didn’t lose track of time. You shouldn’t even be off campus to start with.”
“I just needed some caffeine. I’ll bring soda tomorrow. You don’t have to go in. I’m going. I promise.” He scampered toward the front doors.
“Unfortunately I do. Because I can’t trust you, and the state would frown on my kicking your ass. And, because the school has had it with you. Come on.”
“Other moms don’t use bad words around their kids,” he muttered.
“You’re fond of reminding me that I’m not your mother.” She hauled the door open and waited. “Also, dude, if the worst thing you ever did was say some bad words, we’d be ahead of the game.”
She signed him in at the front office and, to his horror, accompanied him to class where she sat in the back, ignored the curious looks and worked quietly while class went on.
By the time the bell rang, Chris seemed more than ready to get to his next class so she let him go without her escort, but she did watch to be sure he made it inside. She would laugh when she got into her car, but for that moment, it was enough to remember the horrified embarrassment on his face. If he was a smart kid, he’d not do it again. But if he did, she’d sit next to him.
“Hello there.”
Oh that voice.
She had been avoiding him all she could. Which wasn’t always easy because he had a way of turning up wherever she was.
Nothing to be done about that now. Though she wanted to turn and run, she faced him instead, catching Nathan Murphy standing in the doorway to his classroom. His unruly dark hair tousled around his face. A sinfully handsome face. Lush lips, an honest-to-God cleft in his chin, big hazel-brown eyes. He was tall and currently filling out black jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt hugged his upper body. Good grief he melted her butter.
Years later, she had more…developed sexual tastes, and still he did it for her. The teacher thing rang her bell like it was dinnertime, and even though she knew him, flaws and all, that click between them hadn’t died. Thick enough that it took work to shake herself free. Familiar enough that she didn’t entirely want to.
“Mr. Murphy.”
He quirked up that very talented mouth. “Nice to see you backing up your word.” He moved to her, and she felt that energy between them, warm and distracting.
She shrugged, and he thought, of course she did. She was precisely the kind of woman who kept her word.
“You received the first batch of his assignments?”
“I did. He and I talked about it yesterday. He told me he was nearly finished with the first extra-credit assignment too.”
What a f**king delight it had been to hear the rumor about Chris’s older sister sitting in on his class and to have it be true. To have her standing right there before him cool and collected, while still managing to look as if she was ready to slay dragons and kick ass on her brother’s behalf. It was ridiculously hot.
That morning she wore a pretty sundress, navy blue with white polka dots. Her hair was away from her face, held back by a pretty flower clip just below her right ear. She looked effortlessly fashionable and definitely feminine.
She sped his pulse, hardened his c**k and made him fist his hands to keep from touching what was once his.
“Okay then. Have a nice day.” She spun, the hem of her skirt swaying in time with her ass as she walked away.
He followed her out. “I have a free period. You want to grab a cup of coffee with me?”
She paused at her car door. “No, Nathan, I don’t.”
“We used to be friends. I’d like that again.”
He wanted more than that. Had accepted that he really wanted to kiss her again, wanted to taste her and feel her skin bare and warm, against his own. But they could start at friends.
“We used to be a lot of things. I’m not that girl anymore.” She opened her car door and suppressed a growl of frustration. Even managed to stay casual.
“And I’m not that guy anymore. I’m sorry, Lily. I’m sorry for a lot of things.”
She paused, emotion washing over her face for a brief moment and hope surged. It wasn’t over. There was a chance to still make something with her if he handled it right.