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Riley ducks his head. “I have to go.”
Uh-huh. “Tell you what, forget this book. I have an even better one about video games.”
“You do?” he asks, brightening right up.
“Yup, and I have a secret to share.”
His eyes sparkle. “What?”
“You’re the only one I’ve let read them.” Really, that’s only because I bought them this week, but he doesn’t need to know that. All he needs are books that’ll interest him and practice reading aloud, something he can’t do with the summer school’s typical workbooks.
The books are behind my desk, and I check in on some other readers and their helpers. The school started taking high school volunteers, and surprisingly, a lot of kids showed up to help. Lucky for me, I got a great batch to help with reading hour.
Riley needs targeted attention though. He’s not where he should be to continue to the third grade, and the literacy program helped him during the school year, but he needs to make some strides this summer. I grab the first book about a bunny working through a video game and fighting some bad guy with bushy eyebrows.
“All right,” I say, sitting beside him again. “How’s this look?”
Riley takes it and flips through the pages, and while we should be reading, I give him a few minutes to check out the pictures, trying not to rush the process. He needs to fall in love with reading, not be prodded through it. “This is cool,” he finally declares, flipping back to page one. He struggles through it, but he’s more engaged than he was, and I have confidence that we can get him caught up if I can keep him interested.
Good thing there are sixteen more of these books.
The rest of the day flies by, and when it’s quitting time, I make sure the room is mostly picked up and head out to my truck, spotting Jax waiting in his. I lift my hand and wave, saying bye to the other teachers and heading his way.
“What’s up?”
“Figured we’d go get Knox, help him wrap up whatever he’s doing, and then go get Callie.”
I nod, toss my satchel in my passenger seat, and get into Jax’s truck. “You look well rested.”
“Apparently everyone is being safe this summer.”
“Thank fuck for that.”
He grunts in agreement. “Josh almost took out the side-mirror.”
“No shit?”
Smirking, he fills me in on training the rookie while we head to the shop. I’ve never seen him so animated or happy. Or even so responsible. Firefighting really took hold, and I’m proud of the man he’s become. That he took initiative all on his own to start the training and that Callie encouraged him to chase his dreams. Jax has always been capable, he simply needed a little support.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I bristle. “Like what?”
“That dopey smile is freaking me out.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “I’m happy for you, is that a crime?”
“It is with a face like that.”
I lightly punch his arm. “Fuck you, it’s your face too.”
“Nah, I’ve always been prettier.” Jax winks at himself in the rear view.
“You’re such an asshole.”
“You’re an asshole,” he volleys.
“I’m not bickering with you.”
