Chapter 17

chapter

seventeen

OWEN

"How bad was the storm for you? Mom said her azaleas are completely wrecked." Whitney's voice sounds through my phone speaker as I pull up to the school. Huck makes noises in the background like he's playing. "You okay?"

"I'm great, actually," I chirp as I ease into my parking spot. "The storm did me a favor, to be honest."

"How so?"

"It opened a door, and I ran through it." I smirk as I find Addie walking into the school, her large tote bag in place as it is every morning.

"Super cryptic of you," she mumbles, and Huck's little oohs and aahs interrupt like he's trying to join the conversation.

"I'll tell you more at family dinner tomorrow night. You and Huck will be there, won't you? No poetry slam or class happy hour or arts and crafts with your neighbors or whatever the hell you've been up to this week, right?"

"Your imagination has no bounds, does it? As if I have the energy for anything more than half a cup of coffee." She coos, presumably for Huck's benefit.

Even though she can't see me, I grin. "I thought we agreed to live a little, sis."

"And I tried last weekend. I had a date set up and everything with a guy from my psychology class, but Huck came down with a fever. Instead of enjoying a meal by the river and making googly eyes over our forks, I was racked with pure terror from head to toe as I raced Huck to the ER, where of course, they said I was overreacting."

"I assure you, you weren't."

"Thank you, but in hindsight, I definitely was." Her sigh mixes with a soft laugh.

"He's okay, though?"

"Perfect." She hums. It's the tune she usually hums when she rocks him, and I imagine her doing just that in the middle of her bedroom, Huck tucked into her arms.

I check the time. "I need to get going, but I'll see you tomorrow."

Once we end the call, I climb out of my truck and head inside, my muscles aching with each step. Yesterday's leg workout was nothing short of brutal, and I'm feeling it tenfold this morning, especially in my right knee.

At the door to the gym, I shake my right leg to the side in hopes of loosening it up, and I accidentally kick someone.

"What the hell?"

"Lockhart, shit!" I reach out to grasp her arm. Thankfully, it's not like I kicked her with the force I'd use on a punching bag, but still—it doesn't work in my favor to kick the woman I'm trying to win over.

"Are you practicing the moves from Footloose ?"

"It's jujitsu, actually."

"Are you taking Keenan's class?" she asks, the shock worn off completely.

"I was just kidding." I give her a tight-lipped smile. "But does he have a jujitsu class here in Sapphire Creek?"

She nods. "He opened a studio recently."

Instinctively, my eyes fall onto her lips. They're a deeper pink color today than usual, and they're distracting as hell. "I'll have to try it out," I say absentmindedly.

"I'm glad I ran into you like this."

"Need me, did you?" I lean my shoulder against the door and flash her my best smirk.

"I did." She presents a stapled bunch of papers from the monstrous bag over her shoulder. "If this is going to work between us, we need itineraries, schedules, and rules. Otherwise, we're just in the jungle with zero food and supplies."

I reach a tentative finger out for the pamphlet. Is this about us? When I proposed she and I get together, I knew it'd be hard to navigate, but I didn't expect her to draw up a list of demands and rules.

Then again, this is Addie. She makes a list for everything, so I shouldn't be that surprised she'd go this far for a romantic entanglement.

I thumb through the stack and release a low whistle. "Is this a contract I need to sign?"

"It's not that extensive," Addie clips. "I expect to have yours by Friday, and it can be as detailed as you'd like."

"Are you giving me homework?"

She shrugs. "If that's what you want to call it…"

I tilt my head, studying her every delicate feature. Behind those crystal eyes and the easy dip of her top lip exists the spontaneous woman who came on to me last weekend. She kissed the fucking breath from my lungs like a swift kick to my stomach—and I liked it.

I like Addie, both the strict list fanatic and the wild kisser of the night, but if she's going to great lengths to instill structure into a relationship before it's even begun, it's hard not to think she's uncomfortable.

And I don't want to cause her any discomfort.

"Listen, Lockhart," I start, softening my tone from before as my eyes land on hers. I press off the wall and move toward her as I say, "We don't have to follow any kind of rule sheet. We can take it day by day and see where it leads."

"A little organization and boundaries never hurt anyone," she presses.

"No, and if this is what will put you at ease, fine. I'll have my details to you by tomorrow. But I just think defining this from the beginning will put too much pressure on us."

She jabs a finger onto the packet. "This is supposed to help alleviate the pressure. Trust me, it's a good idea, Owen."

"Is this really so hard for you that you need guidelines?"

"I've never done this before. Have you?"

"Not like this." I wiggle the chapter book, the pages flapping in the morning breeze. "But I guess there's fun to be had somewhere in these pages."

"This isn't about having a jolly good time."

"Then what's it about?"

"The kids. I want what's best for them and their future."

"Kids?" I blink. She won't even let me kiss her again, and now we're talking about kids? This woman is going to be the death of me.

Addie leans onto her heels, her lips pursed. "You keep trying to convince me you're more than fun, but all you do is prove you're not. This is all just a big game to you, as always."

She whirls around, her scent lingering over my senses as her hair flips over her shoulder with a vengeance. I'm so distracted by her that I don't immediately realize she's heading away from her new classroom.

"Where are you going?" I call out, which grabs the attention of other teachers and a few students milling about.

All I get from Addie in return is a flick of her wrist, shooing me off.

I thumb the edges of the papers, skimming over the top, and my heart plummets into my stomach like a batter diving for first.

What I thought was a love contract is absolutely nothing of the sort.

Rather, it's her class schedule, laid out with red tabs along the days of testing when she requests I take my class outside or use the Health room in order for her students to focus. I whip the packet open to the final page, which outlines her plans until Christmas break, just in case construction on her own classroom is delayed.

We were told it'd take no longer than a month, but she's right—a little organization never hurt anyone. I'd like to add foresight and preparation to said harmless list.

I just wish I would've realized what I was holding before I stuffed my size thirteens into my mouth and played right into what she thinks of me.

And we were making such good progress before this misunderstanding.

I lean on the door again as the bell rings, the shrill alarm practically shaking the ground beneath me.

Instead of entering the building, I stare after Addie as she disappears into Building A, her large bag nearly catching the door, but she saves it at the last second.

I'm so glued to her every movement when the door behind me opens and smacks into me.

"Oh! Sorry, Mr. Conrad." One of my students grimaces.

"It's fine," I assure him, then mumble under my breath, "I deserved it."