42. Skylar

“What’s going on?” I glance around the room we use for meetings at school.

“Mrs. Good and Mrs. Meyers have been written up and told if there are any other incidents this year, they’ll be fired,” Leslie whispers.

“Who wrote them up?” My brows pinch together.

“You didn’t do it?” Leslie practically screams, her eyebrows stretching up her forehead.

“No. I’ve been a little busy since Friday.” I motion to my wedding band.

“I did it.” Mr. Green walks into the room with Miss Gilbert following behind him.

“I”m sorry, Mr. Green, I didn’t realize you were coming here today.”

“I didn’t tell you. Miss Gilbert informed me of everything going on in this school and I”m tired of dealing with the childish behavior. I believe that should be left to the actual children. You’re doing a great job here, Skylar, but I believe Mrs. Good and Mrs. Meyers are set on seeing you fail. I”m tired of them attacking you and Miss Donahue. I will be making quite a few in-person appearances over the rest of the school year and I’ll have eyes and ears here all the time.” Mr. Green winks at Miss Gilbert before he exits the room.

“Why do I feel like I”m missing something?” I eye Miss Gilbert.

“Because ya are, honey. I’ve been dating Mr. Green for years. He’s proposed to me half a dozen times, but I keep turning him down.”

“Why?” Leslie stares at her like she’s crazy.

“I don’t need to be tied down to a cranky old man for the rest of my life. I’m willing to be with him for as long as he makes me happy, but then I”m gone. I like my freedom and getting married doesn’t sound like freedom to me… Oh! Congratulations on the wedding. I”m sure you and Tucker will be happily married long after he’s a cranky old man.” She pats me on the shoulder before following after her boyfriend.

“That was… surprising,” I murmur under my breath.

“I’d say so.”

We head back to my office and before the bell even rings, signaling the start of school, there’s a knock on my door.

“Come in!”

The door opens revealing Riley. My gaze narrows on her, she couldn’t have gotten into trouble already.

“Riley, what happened? It’s not even nine in the morning, did you get in trouble already?”

“No, silly! I just wanted to give you a hug. You left before I woke up today and I missed you.” She runs around my desk, throwing her arms around my waist. She presses several kisses to my stomach and tells Duke good morning.

“I missed you too, pretty girl. But we need to get you to class before you do get in trouble.”

Taking her hand in mine, I lead her out of my office and down the hall to her classroom. When Mrs. Goods sees me, she gives me a blank expression and welcomes Riley to the classroom. Maybe she won”t be giving me trouble after all.

“And at lunch time, she ran into my office with two brown lunch bags in her hands. She told me she wanted to eat with her mommy. Tuck, I almost started bawling right then and there.”

“She loves you and she’s so excited to finally have a mom. Do you want me to talk to her about school? I can tell her she has to treat you like the principal and not her mom.” He scratches the back of his neck. He’s clearly uncomfortable with the thought of telling Riley she can”t do these things.

I close the distance between us, molding my body against his. I wrap my arms around his neck while his hands instantly grip my hips.

“I’d never want that. If Riley wants to eat lunch with me every day until she leaves elementary school, then we’ll do it. I could take her to and from school if she doesn’t mind hanging out in my office for a little bit every day.”

“Really? That would be awesome. I could go into work a little earlier and not have to stay past dinner time anymore. Maybe I could even take Saturdays off.” A slow smile spreads across his face.

“We could be home more as a family,” I whisper. I capture his lips, kissing him slowly, showing him how much I love the idea.

“I like the sound of that.” Tucker sweeps me into his arms and carries me into our bedroom. He drops me on the bed and climbs up my body. We spend the rest of the night wrapped up in one another, telling each other exactly how we feel without a single word.