Hardwood - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,56
for me on the sidewalk outside Livi’s school, just like when we came for the parent teacher conference. I let go of Livi’s hand so she can give her mother a hug, and I smile at the memory of that day over a month ago. If I hadn’t run into Watson that day, would I ever have worked up the courage to go back into Jack’s to talk to him again?
What a tragedy that would’ve been.
We’ve managed to find time for a couple more interesting phone calls this week, and in exactly twenty-four hours, he’ll be all mine again.
“It’s a fun fair,” Val answers my question. “It’s to raise money for…something, I can’t remember.”
Inside, the place is crawling with kids and harassed looking parents. There are colorful decorations made from construction paper hanging from the ceiling and taped up on the walls. We follow the arrows to the gymnasium where there are all kinds of booths—games to play, overpriced food to buy, you name it.
“Oh look, I can win a pet fish at that game,” Livi says, tugging on my hand and pointing at the nearest booth.
“I think we have to buy tickets to play the games. Come on.” I point at the ticket stand. The three of us get in line.
While we wait, Val tells me all about her week, and I fill her in on everything Livi and I did together as well.
As we near the front of the line, the ticket counter comes into view, and I spot Watson manning the register. My heart stops beating and then kicks into overdrive. He looks up, and our eyes lock, a slow smile spreading over his lips.
I’ve built such a firm mental wall between Watson and everything else that it didn’t even occur to me that he would be here today.
“Daddy, you’re squeezing my hand,” Livi complains.
“Sorry.” I mutter, releasing my grip and shoving my hands into my pockets.
Luckily, Val doesn’t seem to notice my sudden fidgeting. She starts gossiping about one of the mothers she knows who apparently found some incriminating texts on her husband’s phone. I’m only half listening, nodding and mmhmm-ing while continuing to stare at the man who’s been front and center in my mind for the past few weeks. He blushes and smiles while helping the people in front of us.
“Next,” Watson calls as the people in front of us walk away with their stack of game tickets. “Oh, hi there.” He smiles politely, acting surprised to see us as if he wasn’t squirming under my gaze for the last five minutes.
“Hi, it’s good to see you,” Val says sweetly.
I order enough tickets for Livi to play every game twice if she wants, and as I’m handing over the cash, our fingers brush, a jolt of warmth flowing from his hand to mine.
“You’re not going to be stuck doing tickets all day, are you? It would be a shame if you missed out on playing the games,” I say casually.
“My ticket shift ends in an hour, so plenty of time to play games,” he assures me with a grin.
“Good,” I say, and he nods in agreement.
“Have fun, Livi,” he says, waving to her before we walk away.
“That was weird. Didn’t he call her Olivia the last time we met with him?” Val asks.
Oh shit. “No, uh, I don’t think so,” I lie quickly. She crinkles her forehead, clearly trying hard to remember correctly, and then simply shrugs.
“Weird, I must’ve misremembered.”
“Guess so,” I agree.
We spend the next hour working our way through the games and booths, not to mention a ridiculous amount of cotton candy. And Livi does manage to win a fish, which the lady running the booth graciously agrees to let us pick up before we leave so it won’t die being carried around in a plastic bag all afternoon. All the while, I keep one eye on the ticket booth.
When Watson is finally replaced by another teacher, I jump at the chance for just a minute alone with him.
“I’m going to run find a bathroom,” I tell Val.
“Okay.”
I slip away, heading out through the same side door into the gym that Watson disappeared through. I’m trying to remember the way to his classroom when I round the corner to find him leaning against a set of lockers.
“Hey, stranger,” he greets me with a flirtatious smile.
“Hey.” I lick my lips and check behind me to make sure we’re alone.
“Come with me,” Watson says, jerking his head and leading me a little farther down