Page 109 of Fall Fake-Out

“Tell Sadie thank you.”

“I mean, I’m the one who brought them, but…” He swats the air with his hand. “You’re right. Sadie should get the credit. I’ll tell her.”

The bell rings.

Wade stands there for a second, like he’s unsure what to do next. “I guess I should go.”

My brows lower in confusion as I watch him walk out the door.

Incident #3 - At the faculty meeting on Wednesday:

By the time I arrive at the faculty meeting, nearly every chair is taken—except one. The seat beside Wade up front. He has his arm draped across the back of it, but the second he sees me, he taps the empty chair, mouthing, “Saved you a spot.”

I weave my way through the staff and drop into the chair just as he starts the meeting. For the next twenty minutes, teachers discuss grades, parent conferences, and a dozen other things.

Then Wade pulls up the fall festival agenda.

“Okay. Let’s look at the student-led activities during the week.” He scans the page. “We’ve got kids helping at the apple cider press. Looks like Miss Langford is over that.”

“I am.”

“I'll help too.” He adds his name to the spreadsheet in real time. “It looks like you’re also in charge of overseeing the face painting on Tuesday. I can help with that as well.”

Again, he types in his name on the spreadsheet.

“Wednesday, it looks like Mr. Heath and the FFA students are doing the pumpkin weigh-in.” He looks at Mr. Heath in the back of the room. “Are you good to handle that by yourself?”

“Yeah.” Mr. Heath nods.

“Mrs. Baker, you’re in charge of the pumpkin bake-off. I’m sure you don’t need any help with that.”

Mrs. Baker nods.

“I’m in charge of the spooky movie Thursday night.” Without even glancing up at me, Wade says, “Miss Langford, I’ll need your help with that.”

I frown, noticing a strong pattern here. “For what?”

“Extension cords.” He looks at me with complete seriousness, holds my gaze for a moment, then goes back to the spreadsheet. “And then we have the teachers-versus-students football game on Friday with the tailgate to follow. That’s also Miss Langford”—he adds his name to the spreadsheet—“and me.”

By the time Wade’s finished, he’s somehow volunteered himself for every single activity I’m overseeing.

Incident #4 - Inviting himself to my fall festival meeting on Thursday:

Wade

What time is the meeting with Rosie tonight?

Ari

7:00 p.m.

Wade

Perfect. I’ll pick you up at 6:50.

Ari

Why?