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1
AUSTIN
“Looking tan, Mr. Campbell.”
I waved at Stephen as he hurried past me in the crowded hallway. The first day back to school after Christmas—oh, wait,winter—break was always a little extra chaotic. The kids weren’t excited to be back. To be honest, neither was I.
“Regretting your life choices?”
I didn’t have to turn to know it was Kayla. I laughed and held my index finger and thumb about an inch apart. “Maybe this much.”
“You’re getting spoiled.”
Now I did turn. I shook my head. “I’m not the one who bummed a ride to the Caymans.”
“Hey. I didn’t say I wasn’t also spoiled. I can own that. Happily.” She let out a hefty sigh. “I’d kill to be back there with my toes in the sand. The only sounds the lapping waves and a muscular, shirtless waiter asking me if I needed anything.”
“I don’t seem to recall you doing a whole lot of that when we were there.” I forced myself not to dwell on the waiter fantasy. She was a grownup and could paint whatever mental pictures she wanted. It wasn’t like I wanted her to fantasize about me. “Weren’t you the one determined to make sure we learned how to paddle board?”
“You had fun. Admit it.”
I held up my hands. “No question. I’m already thinking we need to make another group trip back at spring break. This time without a detour to Kansas on the way home for a friend’s wedding.”
Kayla brightened. “Wasn’t that the best ever?”
I shrugged. Weddings weren’t really my thing. I was a firm believer in the institution of marriage, but I’d never understood the need to get all fancy and then have a party. Not that Scott and Whitney had gone overboard. No, the living room ceremony and lunch at a local restaurant had been good. Nice, even.
“Oh, come on.” Kayla punched my arm. “It was romantic and perfect. The two of them are perfect for one another. And Beckett was the cutest ever in his little suit. They’re going to make a great family.”
“That’s true.” I was glad my friend had found love. Maybe I was a little jealous, but I was working on it. I certainly didn’t envy him having a child dropped in his lap in order to get there. “It definitely all worked out. Are you in for another trip to the Caymans at spring break?”
Kayla’s eyebrows lifted. “You’re serious? You don’t want to go somewhere new?”
“I don’t know. I guess we could, but it’s a week, you know? I’m already thinking about this summer. Maybe taking a month and hitting up the train in Europe.” If I did, it would be the first summer I hadn’t taught summer school since becoming a math teacher. The change in plans might not go over so well with my principal. But she’d get over it. Probably.
“No summer school?”
I shook my head.
“Wow.” She looked like she was going to say more, but the warning bell rang. “Hold that thought. See you at lunch?”
“You know it.” I grinned. Because this year, we actually had lunch and our planning period at the same time, we tended to choose a classroom and hang together for those times. “I’ll come to you.”
“Works. Later.” Kayla hurried down the hall toward the computer lab, and I turned and walked to my classroom door.
A handful of students were already at their desks, chattering with one another. More poured through the door after me, racing to get to their seats before the bell rang. Three stragglers made it in just as I was starting to close the door.
“Skin of your teeth, boys.”
“Sorry, Mr. Campbell.” Knox ducked his head and aimed for a desk at the back of the room.
I shook my head and went to the front of the class. “Welcome back, everyone. Let’s do some algebra!”
Groans greeted my statement and I laughed. “It’s not as bad as that, is it? First class after Christmas break, and we’re going to spend time solving for X. This is the life, I’m telling you.”
I didn’t miss the eyerolls or the additional groans, but I grabbed a marker off my desk, uncapped it, and strode to the whiteboard anyway. “We’re in chapter fourteen. You’ll have some practice exercises to do tonight, and you never know what Friday holds. Maybe a pop quiz?”
The morning passed quickly. My first two classes were algebra one. Most were freshmen, but I had a couple of sophomores who were taking it again. That meant they couldn’t get the advanced diploma, but very few of them cared. I had my sole geometry class for third period—I hated that one almost as much as my students. I’d never understood the need for formal proofs or what benefit they added to adult life.
