Hot SEAL, Confirmed Bachelor- Cynthia D'Alba Page 0,22

he wasn’t on the beach that day. When she didn’t hear from him that night, she shrugged it off. This was a fake deal anyway. Anything that would keep her brothers—and the rest of her family—off her about dating was welcomed, even made-up, fake dating.

Monday began the last week of school for her second graders. With summer vacation—i.e., freedom—staring them, and her, in the face, keeping her students in their seats was akin to putting lotion back into a bottle…Doable but difficult. She didn’t blame them. Her vision focused on Friday also.

But she’d been a teacher long enough to have enough activities planned to keep the students having fun while still learning. She only wished she had some activities planned that could keep her from wiggling in her seat in anticipation.

Tuesday evening, she and Katie were finishing up dinner when Holly’s phone rang with an unfamiliar number. Local area code.

Katie’s fork froze on the way to her mouth.

“Probably a sales call,” Holly said, pushing the phone off to the side.

“Answer it, Mom,” Katie said. “I think it might be Craig Butler’s mom.”

Holly gave her daughter a querying look but answered. “Hello?”

“Holly? Leslie Butler.”

Leslie taught fifth grade at the same elementary school where Holly taught.

“Hey, Leslie. How’s it going?” She glanced at her daughter who was staring at her with wide eyes.

“Trying to get through until Friday.”

Holly laughed. “You and me both. My kids wiggle nonstop all day.”

“So do I,” she replied with a chuckle. “Not sure who’s worse, me or them.”

“Ditto. So, what’s up? My daughter is staring at me like I have three eyes.”

Leslie chuckled. “Tom and I have agreed to let Craig have a cookout and movie party at our house on Friday to celebrate the end of sixth grade. Five boys and five girls.”

“Ohh,” Holly said, now understanding her daughter’s pleading face and crossed fingers.

“I know. First boy-girl party. Scary, huh?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well, Craig wanted me to call you and the other parents. He’s invited Katie and four other girls. Tom and I will be there, as will the parents of a couple of the boys. The boys are staying overnight, but we told Craig the girls could come at about six-thirty and their parents could pick them up at eleven. Now, they will be chaperoned the entire time. I wanted you to know that.”

Holly glanced at her daughter who now had her hands pressed together in a praying pose. She stifled her smile. Man, her baby was growing up too fast.

“As long as you and Tom will be there, I think it would be fine.”

Katie screamed and yelled from the table. “I have to go call Hillary.” She ran from the room, then ran back to hug Holly, before racing away again.

“That scream was Katie, I gather?” Leslie said, her tone dry.

“She’s a little excited. Thanks for the personal call. I’ll talk to you tomorrow and get your address and everything.”

“I get to make four more of these calls.”

“Expecting the same degree of screaming?”

“Oh, yeah. I had all these girls in class. Your sister-in-law is up next.”

“Tell her I said the sleepover is at her house for those girls.”

Leslie laughed. “Will do. See you tomorrow.”

Holly cleared the table, a small smile on her lips. She remembered her first boy-girl party. Sixth grade. Mike Verb’s house. It was her and her best friend Sandy Dillard, along with three boys. They’d played Spin-the-Bottle and kissed on the cheek. She’d have to call Sandy tomorrow and tell her about the big party on Friday.

Getting Katie off her phone and into bed took a mean mom look, and then a threat of not letting her go on Friday. The threat was completely hollow, and she suspected that her daughter knew it. However, Katie put her phone in the kitchen on the charger—the house rule to prohibit nighttime use—and then turned off her computer.

“Night, honey,” Holly said.

“I don’t think I can sleep,” Katie whispered. “What am I going to wear?”

Holly leaned on the doorframe. “Ask the other girls what they’re wearing. If need be, we can pick up a new outfit tomorrow after school.”

Katie leapt from the bed and raced across the room. When she threw her arms around Holly, she almost lost her balance.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” Katie said. “You’re the best mom ever.”

“Yeah, I want to hear that the next time I tell you to vacuum the house.”

“I will. I swear. I’ll vacuum and even dust.”

“Don’t get carried away.” Holly kissed her daughter’s head. “Now, go to bed. Try