Scandalous Scotsman - M.J. Fields Page 0,43
special requests?”
“No,” she whispers.
“Ye have yer phone, so if ye think of anything—”
“Can’t text at school,” she whispers again.
I shut off the vehicle and get out of the car, walking around and opening her door. “I’m going to talk to the counselor and principal so ye’ll be able to text me anytime ye need to, okay?” I reach in to unbuckle her.
“I’m not a baby.”
I squat down so I’m eye level with her. “Ye’re always going to be my baby, a sheòid.”
She looks between my eyes, back and forth, back and forth.
Kai has asked me several times in the past three days if I was going to leave, and she does it looking at me just like she is now.
“I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.” I smile as I pull down my sunglasses and grab the two apples off the seat beside her.
“Pickles,” she says as she unbuckles herself. “And peanut butter, the crunchy kind.”
“Yeah?” I smile as I take her hand and help her out.
When I start to let go of her hand, afraid she’ll feel like more of a baby with me holding it as I walk her in, she grips it tighter.
“Can I carry yer bag?”
“Why?”
“Because a man always offers to carry a lady’s bag.”
“Can I wear your sunglasses?”
“Why?” I ask.
She smiles. “Because they look cool.”
Fuck yes, you can, I think, pulling them off, and then she sets them on her face. They’re huge on her, but she holds them steady by lifting her nose in the air as she walks.
“Looking good, Kai.”
She grins.
As we stop at the crosswalk, I ask, “Remember the deal with the apples?”
She nods and whispers, “It’s weird.”
“It’s weird to give the smartest teacher an apple on the first day?”
“Uh-huh,” she says, focused on not letting the glasses fall and looking completely adorable doing so.
“Huh, then I guess it would be weird if I said it’s also tradition to get ice cream after school on the first day, too?”
“Not weird at all,” she whispers, balancing the sunglasses.
“Maybe swing by the sunglass store and get ye some that fit your head?”
“I like these.”
“Then let’s get ye a pair that fits good, huh?”
“But I have these ones.”
“Cool. Then I’ll get myself a new pair and ye keep those?”
“Okay.”
When a bunch of kids walk up beside her, her grip tightens.
“Hey, what’s up?” I ask the kids, trying to make her feel like it’s okay to talk to new people.
“Why’s she wearing those big, old boy glasses?” one of the little fucks asks.
“Because they’re cool, and so is she,” I tell him.
The little shit rolls his eyes at me.
“Sup, Dr. Stewart?”
I look beside me and see Simon and Bridget’s boy. “Hey, man, how are you?”
“Good.” He looks around me and at Kai. “Cool glasses.”
Her lips pucker and twist around as she tries not to smile.
“Kid’s got moves,” is whispered behind me.
I don’t even have to look back. “Good morning, Simon.”
“Hey, Kai. Cool glasses.” Simon squats down and holds out his fist.
She gives him the side-eye, and I can’t help laughing. Then she looks up at me and does the whole twisting lips, trying-not-to-smile thing again.
“He’s cool.” I nod toward Simon.
She bumps his fist, just barely, but it’s something. Then, when the crossing guard blows his whistle, she tenses up.
“So pissed I’m too old to go to school,” Simon mumbles.
“You owe the swear jar,” Brendan tells him.
“Christ,” Simon grumbles.
“Twice now,” Brendan calls as he walks ahead of us. Then he looks back. “You wanna walk in with me, Kai?”
She squeezes my hand.
“It’s her first day. We have a few forms to sign,” I tell him.
“Awesome. Maybe tomorrow then.” He turns and smiles at her. “See you later, Kai.”
“Smooth as silk,” Simon whispers. I give him a look, and he smirk then whispers, “Hot teacher at two o’clock.”
Before I can say a damn thing, he leans down. “Will the pool be ready for Friday night?”
She looks up at me.
“It’s been ready since we moved in.”
“I’m talking about a party, a pool party. Frozen drinks with little umbrellas, everyone wearing sunglasses, even dogs, pink flamingos all over the front yard, welcoming your guests, maybe a real one?”
You fucking asshole.
“Kai’s dog Scotch is allergic to real flamingos.”
“Pelicans?”
“All birds,” I say through tight lips.
“Cats?”
“Hates them.”
He smirks. “Ponies?”
Dick.
He gives me the “I win” look. “Or maybe something chill like water balloons, ice cream, and maybe unicorn cupcakes.”
“Kai and I will discuss it tonight and get back to you.”
“Awesome.” He holds out his fist to Kai, and this time, she doesn’t hesitate