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I climb into the truck with a grunt, throwing my bag down on the floorboard before slamming the door and buckling in. She peels off the curb, blowing a stray piece of hair from her forehead as she does. “Tell me again why we needed to get up so damned early?”

“Still not a morning person, I see.”

“Oh, I’m fucking cheery in the mornings. Just not this fucking early.”

I chuckle and point over to the right. “Pull over. I need a smoothie.”

She groans and does as I ask, pulling into an empty spot in front of the Maple Lane Cafe. “They have a smoothie bar at the school.” She throws her hand up to motion at the front of the cafe. “Look at the line! We’re going to be here forever!”

“Hence the reason I told you to get me early. Come on, Sonnet, I’ve been to the gym, and now I need my smoothie. I’m not ruining my routine all because Jackson wants a new generation of mechanics in Maple Lane Falls.”

I slide out of the truck and hear her grumbling behind me as we walk through the front door of the cafe. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries washes over me as we make our way to the back of the line. As expected, we had to wait nearly fifteen minutes for our orders to be taken and another ten for our drinks to be ready, but the first sip of my blueberry and banana smoothie makes it worth it.

Sonnet is silent the entire time we wait, her fingers tapping on her elbows as she hums a song under her breath. I can practically see her radiating with tension, and I don’t have to look in the mirror to know I am, too. Half the customers and even Chelsie at the register gave me a wide berth the entire time we were in the cafe.

We pull into the parking lot of Maple Lane Falls High right as the clock on my dashboard hits seven thirty. Sonnet wastes no time grabbing her bag and exiting the truck, her coffee already half gone. “Come on if you want a tour! Class starts in half an hour!”

CHAPTER 4

Miles follows close behind as I lead him through Maple Lane Falls High, pointing out all the important highlights he’ll need throughout his time here. He never says a word, following behind me with a straight face and only emitting soft grunts when I point out the new teacher’s lounge and introduce him to a few new faces. Most of the buildings, and the people, are the same as when we went to high school here, which luckily cuts the tour down pretty short. Before long, we’re walking up to his classroom.

“All the electives are in this building now instead of being spread out like they used to be. This room has a door in the back that leads straight to the school garage.” I reach into my pocket and hand him a key. “Open it and check it out. There should be everything you need, but Jackson said there’s some room in the budget to order some things if you need them.”

Miles grabs the key from me and opens the door, flicking on the lights to show his classroom. There’s a large whiteboard in the front, along with a pull-down screen for the projector. Desks sit in rows facing the front of the classroom, while the teacher’s desk sits off in the corner. It looks a lot like my classroom did before I came in and freshened the place up with loads of color and decoration.

Miles motions toward the door in the back, only waiting long enough for me to nod before he walks to the back and pushes the door open into the garage. I pull my sweater around me to fight off the October chill that’s somehow made its way into the garage. My eyes follow Miles as he walks around, taking stock of the two trucks sitting in the middle of the room as well as the toolboxes lining the outer walls. He looks like he’s in his element, just waiting to be able to get his hands covered in grease and oil again.

I’m about to turn around and leave him to it when a throat clears behind me, causing both Miles and me to turn around and come face to face with Mr. Jackson.

“Good morning! It’s great to see you, Miles! I’m glad Sonny was able to talk you into taking the position.” Jackson walks over and takes Miles's hand in his, shaking it enthusiastically and completely missing the way Miles’s eyebrows rise in return.

A giggle slips past my lips at his expression, but I quickly stifle it when Jackson turns to shoot a disapproving look my way. I used to hate being on the receiving end of that look when I was a student here. It doesn’t look like that’s changed at all.

Jackson lets go of Miles’ hand and motions to the trucks, “These two have been out of commission for a while, and the board figured it would be a good first project.” When Miles doesn’t respond, Jackson reaches down to his clipboard and passes him a few papers. “This is your class roster until we can get you a login for the computers. Quite a few students have shown interest in the automotive program. Of course, if you need any help, I’m only a call away, or Sonny here is just down the hall.”

I shake my head behind Jackson’s back, making Miles stifle a smile of his own before I take a step forward. “I’ll just head to class. Have a good day, Mr. Jackson.” I nod my head at our principal before turning to Miles. “And you, too.”

“He’s looking at you again.”

I have to force my eyes down so they don’t look up and search for him. To my right, Marie, a fellow teacher and one of my closest friends, laughs and continues, “God, Sonny. If a man looked at me like that, I’d maul him right here in the cafeteria.”

I spin and smack her arm. “Stop it!”

Against my better judgment, I look up and find that Marie wasn’t lying - Miles is staring straight at me. Each of the teachers has shifts in the cafeteria during lunchtime, and of course, Miles gets put in my shift. I’m just glad I have Marie here, or I’d be freaking out about how it feels to have Miles stare at me.

He used to do this in high school. Same protective stance with his arms crossed over his chest. Same hard eyes as he stares directly at me and no one else. Same scowl across his lips if anyone else tries to speak to him - like many of the female teachers have over the last half hour. He hasn’t given any of them the time of day, but I hate how it made my blood boil to even see them try.

It shouldn’t. He isn’t mine, and he never has been. I’ve made peace with that.

You’re a damn liar, Sonnet Levine, and you know it.

Marie squeezes my elbow, breaking my thoughts and bringing my eyes back to her. “Go talk to him, Sonny.”

I shake my head and take a step back, as if putting more space between Miles and me would change how fast my heart is beating. “Absolutely not.”

“Come on. I may not have gone to school here, but even I’ve heard about how close you two used to be.” She comes to stand next to me, but her eyes stay on Miles. “He’s fine as hell, Sonny.”

I snort. “He’s a fine as hell jerk. And who told you?”