Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“About twelve a day,” I admit. “But I’m a new teacher at this school, and I want to make sure that the administration’s happy with me. I want my kids to be happy.”
“That’s my sister, always the pleaser.” Alex shakes her head, but she’s smiling at me with a lot of love in her blue eyes. “I promise you, everyone is going to be more than happy, Dani. You give your heart and soul to your classroom every year. I thought there was going to be a riot in Bozeman when you quit to come here because so many parents wanted to request you for their kids. It’ll be that way here, too.”
“I hope so. I’m trying to make a good impression on everyone, so yeah, I’m putting in extra time, but I have to make sure that everything’s perfect.”
“You’re so type A,” she says with a sigh. “You need to learn to relax a little, my friend.”
I think of last weekend and all the relaxing I did. That was fun.
“I can almost hear your thoughts,” Alex says with a laugh. “You pervert.”
With a satisfied grin, I shrug a shoulder. “Do you want me to relax or not?”
“Hey, whatever works, babe.”
Every morning since my weekend with Bridger, I’ve woken up to a text from him that simply says, Good morning, sweetheart.
I never knew that three words could make my heart erupt in my chest, but they do. Every time.
It’s Thursday, and when I check my phone, there’s no text waiting for me.
My heart sinks, and I open my messages, bringing up Bridger’s thread, just in case my phone glitched or something, but no. No text today. But then I think about his words and take a deep breath.
“The fires don’t scare me because we’ve been trained extensively on how to handle them. We have gear and tools, and we’re never careless. Don’t ever think that if I walk into a fire I might not walk out.”
“He’s just sleeping or something,” I assure myself as I get out of bed and pad into the bathroom. I know that we’re both busy with our lives, but dang it, I miss him.
I miss him a lot.
By the time I leave for work, there’s still no message from him. However, his truck is in his driveway, so hopefully that means that he’s safe.
I can’t think about the alternative.
Besides, this is a small town. If something had happened, I would have heard about it by now. He’s just busy.
And so am I.
Give the man a break, Dani.
Chapter Nine
BRIDGER
“Birdie, you’re going to be late. Let’s go, peanut. School starts in twenty minutes.”
It’s the first morning I’ve been home to take my daughter to school all week. Between my sister, Millie, and Merilee, they’ve handled the drop-off and pickup all week, and I feel guilty as hell about it. I know that I shouldn’t. It’s not my fucking fault that some asshole has decided to torch my town. We’re all on edge and working more than our share of hours.
I finally dragged my ass home at two this morning so I could shower and sleep and be here to take my daughter to school myself.
But she’s whiny this morning, and I get it. She’s like this when she hasn’t spent enough time with me.
“Daddy, I need help.”
“Okay.” I walk down the hallway and find that she hasn’t even gotten dressed yet. “Birdie Mae.”
My daughter frowns and crosses her arms. “What?”
“You’re not dressed. We have to go. Now.”
“You didn’t tell me what to wear.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I set your clothes out on your bed.” I point to them. “Right there.”
“I didn’t know.”
“I’m not arguing with you right now. We don’t have time for this. Come on.” I tug her to me and help her strip out of her pajamas, then I quickly pull the fresh clothes on.
“I hate this shirt.”
“No, you don’t. You told me last week that it’s your favorite.” I sigh, not wanting to lose my temper with my daughter. “What’s up with you today, peanut?”
“I’m hungry.”
“You ate two poached eggs on toast. Try again.”
She doesn’t answer me, just glowers as I try to get her into her shoes.
“Honey, I love you.” I pull her into my arms and hug her tight, but she doesn’t relax against me. “I love you a lot. You know that, right?”
She nods, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Are you sad because I haven’t been home much this week?”
There’s a pause, and then she nods again.
“I know. It makes me sad, too. I miss you. But my job has gotten complicated, and I have to pay extra attention to what’s going on there. Have you been okay with Bee and Merilee and Millie?”
“Yeah.” Her voice is so small, and it makes my heart hurt.
“Listen, I have to go to your back-to-school night tonight, and it’s just supposed to be for parents, but how about if I bring you with me, and then we’ll get dinner at the diner together?”