49. Leah

CHAPTER 49

LEAH

Tay

Leah!!!! Where the hell have you been?

That's a fair question. I have spent the last two months completely consumed by Sawyer. They've flown by so quickly I didn't even realize spring break was next week until one of my students mentioned going to the beach this weekend.

Me

Your brother's bed.

Shane

crying laughter emoji fireworks emoji

Ruby

Hell yes.

Lauren

You asked for that one, Tay. Where the hell else would she be?

Me

face with halo emoji

Tay

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PRETEND HE IS A RANDOM HOCKEY PLAYER IF YOU DIRECTLY ADDRESS HIM AS MY brOTHER?!?!?!?

Shane

Stop shouting babe. It'll give you wrinkles faster.

Lauren

True statement.

Ruby

I'll be a raisin before 40 at this rate.

Me

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Have I missed a lot?

Tay

No, I'm being dramatic. I just miss you guys. I've had a shit schedule lately anyways.

Shane

I've been busy getting my next exhibit ready to ship to Hugh and chasing Cece around. Nothing to miss here.

Lauren

I'm not even adding to this convo because yall think my problem is hot and I'm still mad about it.

Ruby

Poe is rolling over now. Other than that, not much to report.

Me

I went to a club and danced with a girl I thought was dating Sawyer earlier this year. We're in love now.

Ruby

You and Sawyer or you and this HARLET?

Tay

You tramp!!!

Shane

Divorce. Immediately.

Lauren

How could you do this to us?

Me

I think you guys would really like her. Her name is Lyssa, she's dating Matty.

Tay

Oh I've met her before! She is really nice.

Ruby

You switched sides really fast.

Me

Should we invite her to girls night?

Shane

Sure. Margs for six, coming right up. margarita emoji

I've just finished sending a picture of my feet propped up on my desk and sent it to Sawyer asking if it's spring break yet, when I hear someone knocking on my classroom door.

Knock knock knock.

God, that was the saddest knock I've ever heard.

I look up from my desk to see Jackson standing in the doorway and my stomach twists uncomfortably. He has actively avoided me for the last two months and I can't say I've minded it. The way things ended with us left no sorrow in my heart or mind for this man.

"Hey, can we talk for a minute?" He takes a cautious step inside my classroom, and I straighten my posture.

"Sure, come on in." I wave a hand in front of me and he walks a little further in, sitting on one of the small desks. "How can I help you, Jackson?" My tone is nothing short of professional, and while I believe that to be the best course of action here, he must disagree. His brows knit together, and he looks at me with a sadness in his eyes that makes me want to roll mine so far back in my head that I can't see him anymore.

I refrain from doing so.

"I don't know if you got my text or not, after Christmas, or if you did and you're just ignoring me."

Ugh, is he serious?

"I really am sorry for what I said. I didn't want things to end like that between us. I didn't want them to end at all. We had something so good up until then. Didn't we?"

Um, no.

"Jackson," I lean forward, folding my hands together on top of my desk. "Do you like my friends? Yes or no."

"I said I would try?—"

"Yes. Or. No." He lets out a sigh that tells me this whole conversation is a huge waste of time.

"I like you, Leah. In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter if I like your friends or not? I can really picture a future with you."

I can too, and it's freaking terrifying.

"Is that so?" A new voice joins the conversation and I look over to see my six-foot-four, perfect hockey star of a boyfriend filling the doorway. His posture is rigid and intimidating, his head is tilted and the most beautiful bouquet of wildflowers I've ever seen is in his hands. His eyes drag from Jackson over to me with a stoic look in his eye. "Why do so many people seem to think they have a future with you, when they so clearly do not?" His features completely relax when I smile at him.

"Sawyer, what are you doing here?" I am up from my seat and rushing over to him leaving the conversation that was happening with Jackson when he showed up in the dust. He glances at Jackson again, a look of disdain in his eyes when he does, then his gaze softens when it's back on me.

"I wanted to bring my girl some flowers, give her something almost as beautiful as her to look at—" he stops and leans down to whisper in my ear low enough that Jackson can't hear him. "Until you get home and can watch yourself come apart around me." He leans back up and winks at me, making my cheeks heat instantly. He hands me the bouquet and I breathe them in, they smell just as lovely as they look. Then Jackson clears his throat, reminding me of his very unwelcome presence.

"Your girl?" I turn around, seeing that he has stood up and has his arms crossed over his chest. He looks so small in comparison to Sawyer, it's almost laughable that he's trying to make himself look intimidating. "Aren't you the same guy that flew off the handle when I kissed said girl in question." He smirks and I can't hold my eye roll back any longer. I hate awkward encounters such as this, but I am not here for the dick measuring contest that is about to break out in the middle of my kindergarten classroom.

"The very same," Sawyer answers, shoving his hands into his front pockets. He's keeping himself more composed than I'd expected, but that may be because he's in a kindergarten classroom. Jackson turns a worrisome shade of red as he scoffs. Narrowing his eyes as he looks between Sawyer and me.

"Was this why you broke things off with me? It wasn't the stupid friend thing; it was because of this date ruining asshole?"

"No, Jackson. I ended it for exactly the reason I told you."

"Sure, Leah. Whatever you need to tell yourself to feel better." He gives me a look so condescending it makes me want to throw something at him. When he makes it to the doorway, Sawyer grabs my waist, moving into the classroom with me to move out of Jackson's way.

"Just remember, she was mine first." Jackson brushes past him and Sawyer stops him with the back of his hand.

"Oh, weasel. She was never yours." Jackson frowns at Sawyer, then looks at me—possibly waiting for me to correct him—then nods.

"Good to know," he mumbles, pinning me with the same distasteful stare as before.

"You know what, Jackson. Maybe it did have something to do with Sawyer, because if I'm being completely honest—which I always am—I felt more with him during one kiss than I did with you the entire time we were "dating" . But that still doesn't change the fact that I would never be with someone who tried to have a relationship with me and keep our life completely separate from the one I have already established as well as the people in it. Nor does it give you the right to stand here and disrespect me just because we weren't compatible, and your feelings are hurt over it." His face goes completely red, and he scoffs his final goodbye.

"Have a nice life."

I almost feel bad, until I remember how truly awful he is as a person.

Yeah, I don't feel bad at all actually.

"I don't like that you see that guy every day," Sawyer growls.

"Me either," I sigh, letting go of some of the pent-up aggression towards him. Then I smile as I turn my attention completely back to Sawyer. "So, you really just wanted to bring me flowers?"

"Well, not entirely..."

When I finally got back to the group text after Sawyer stopped by, we managed to throw together the world's most last-minute girls night that even Lyssa was available to make on such short notice—which just felt like a miracle.

We're all sitting around the island at Lauren's house with take-out containers covering every inch of the counter as I finish telling them about Sawyer's visit at school today.

"Oh my gosh, he asked you to go with him?!" Shane squeals.

Sawyer ended up asking me to go to his away games with him this week since he knew I'd be out of school, and I think that might just be the most romantic thing ever.

"Yessss. They're playing in Minnesota, and he said he really wanted to take me somewhere special while we're there."

"That is so romantic, I can't wait to hear all about it." Lyssa squeezes my hand before taking another sip of her margarita. "Holy shit, Leah. You weren't lying, this is the best margarita I've ever had." Shane takes a very humble bow, and we all start to laugh.

"I don't know how you're not drinking one yourself." Lyssa adds, pointing to Shane. I frown when I realize she's right. Shane hasn't poured herself one yet and the pitcher is almost empty.

"I was wondering how long it would take someone to notice." We all look like meerkats when we realize.

"Are you pregnant?!" Taylor screams. Then Shane pulls an ultrasound out of her back pocket.

"OH MY GOD!" We all begin screaming and sobbing in unison.

"Congratulations!" Lyssa tells her, joining our little group hug.

"Thank you, welcome to girls' night," Shane laughs.

"They're pretty much all like this," Lauren says. "Dramatic, I mean. Not someone being pregnant at every one of them. That would be insane." She waves one hand around as she explains, wiping the tears from her eyes with the other.

"Let's not wait to have girls' night for so long anymore. We clearly missed more than Shane let on," Ruby says in an accusatory tone.

"Well, I wasn't going to let it slip in a text . I needed to hear the joyful screams." We all break from the group hug.

"Are you guys waiting to find out what you're having again?" Lauren asks, as we all use napkins to dab our tears away.

"Yep! Just like with Cece." She slides the ultrasound onto the counter, leaving it there for us to look at while we keep chatting.

"When do you guys leave, Leah?"

"Tomorrow, actually. I'm supposed to stop by my parents' house tonight to see them before I go. I feel like I haven't seen them in years ," I groan. I've missed them more than I could ever accurately describe.

"Well get out of here then. Tell Loretta and Allen I say hello." Taylor grins at me and I roll my eyes. She's fully taken on the task of calling them by their first names like Mom told her to on Thanksgiving and it is so weird.

I pull up to my parent's house and hope my dad hasn't already gone to bed. It's just past nine so I'm hoping maybe he stayed up if he knew I was coming. I walk in and head straight to the living room to see my parents both sitting on the couch together, even though Dad has his arms crossed over his chest and is doing the dad sleep.

You know, when they're in an upright position but are passed the hell out. That one.

"Hiiii," I sing out softly.

"Hey sweetheart. Allen wake up," Mom greets me first then elbows my dad in the side. He doesn't get startled or jerk awake, his eyes simply pop open, and he scans the room until he sees me.

"Hey Sweetpea. Good to see you." He pushes himself up off the couch and walks over to wrap me in a hug.

"Hey daddy, it's good to see you too. How are you?"

"Oh I'm right as rain." He gives me a playful shake and I smile at him.

"How about you? You good?"

"I'm really good," I assure him.

"No drives necessary then?" He grabs his keys from his pocket and spins them around his finger, making me realize he's still in his street clothes and not in his pajamas like he always is at this hour.

"None necessary, but always appreciated." I lean up on my toes and kiss his cheek, pulling him in for another appreciative hug.

"Maybe we'll go just for fun when you get back next week, huh?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Good, I wanna hear all about this new exciting life you're living." He gives me a wink and kisses my head. "Alright, your old man is going to bed. I love you Sweetpea."

"Love you, Dad."

"Love you, Lettie." He calls to my mom, who is still snuggled on the couch knitting.

"I love you too, dear."

I hope Sawyer and I stay in love for as long as they have.

I kick my shoes off and join Mom on the couch, snuggling under my blanket like I always do.

"Fill me in, Honey. What have I missed?" I let out a sigh, thinking about all the things I've done over the last two months—that I can comfortably share with my mother.

"Everything, and nothing." She laughs like she understands. "How is that possible? How does life feel so different but still the same?" She looks over at me, placing her project in her lap as she takes my hand in hers.

"I'm sure if you took a step back and really looked at it, you would see just how much your life has changed since you fell in love. It's just that your life with Sawyer is your new normal so it feels natural, almost as if nothing has changed at all. And that is a truly beautiful thing to experience."

Does everyone's mom just know everything about everything or is it just mine?

"I love you, Mom."

"Oh, I love you too, Sweetheart." She leans over and kisses the top of my head. "What time do you need to leave?"

"I'm in no rush." She returns my smile when I answer.

"Then grab that remote, get Aaron Hotchner on the TV and make some popcorn."

"Yes ma'am."

I love coming home.