McCoy
“McCoy, Mrs. Moretti is here to see you. May I send her in?” Bev asks on the other end of the line. Hmm. A superintendent visiting on the last day of school. Not so sure this is a good thing.
“Yes, thank you, Bev. Please send her in.” I go to meet her at my office door.
“Bella,” I smile, extending my hand as she crosses the threshold.
“McCoy. Good to see you. I wanted to stop by to wish you a good summer and have a little chat. Can we sit?”
“Of course. Please come in.” I gesture towards the small conference table.
“Any big plans for the summer?” she asks, making small talk as she sits and crosses her legs. Eastlyn pops into my mind at her question, but I say nothing. I do have huge plans for her and me, but they’re a little too R-rated to share with my boss. Mrs. Moretti is dressed down today, as am I (I figured since it’s the last day of the school year I could get away with a short-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts).
“Nothing major. Spending time on my boat and hanging out with family and friends. You?” I ask, taking the seat across from her.
“Same. Sam’s got us booked up in Bancroft for a week in late-July, but other than that I’ll just be golfing and relaxing with the family.”
“Sounds about right,” I laugh.
“Anyway, I won’t keep you, Coy. I just wanted to tell you that you’ve done a good job your first year here at Westwood. The school’s scores are way up, especially in reading, and that’s what we needed to see. And the staff are happy with you at the helm; I’ve heard nothing but praise.”
“Thank you. I know the staff worked really hard to get those results. They’re a dedicated bunch. I’m lucky to be here,” I tell her honestly.
“I did want to mention one thing, though. I received a call from one of the parents—a Neil Foley? Apparently, his son attends here and is in Ms. Hatfield’s class.” She eyes me, and I know exactly where this is going. Neil Foley, that son of a bitch. I knew he’d try to escalate this shit. I can only imagine what he’d had to say.
“I figured you might hear from him.” I shake my head, feeling my nerves kicking in. “He’s been harassing Eastlyn for the better part of the year, hence the trespassing order we issued in December. The guy’s pretty obsessed, if I can speak frankly.”
I’m fairly confident Eastlyn and I have done all the right things, but I won’t feel at ease until Bella tells me we’re all good.
“Yes, I got the impression of a lover scorned from the way he went on. But it seems he thinks you’ve used your position as principal to put Ms. Hatfield in a compromising one. He says you two are together, and he wants you removed for abuse of power,” Bella says flatly, and I feel my fists clench of their own volition. I knew I should have dealt with him my way. My only hope here is the knowledge that Eastlyn and I had beat Foley to the punch when she accepted the consulting job. And the fact that Bella knows me better than this; she’s known Eastlyn and me both for years. Christ, she and her husband are friends of Dave and Katie Hatfield. She knows I’d never force Eastlyn to do anything she didn’t want to do.
“Look, Bel—” I start to defend myself, but she raises her hand, effectively cutting me off.
“Funny thing was, though, I told him he’d been misinformed. Told him that you and Ms. Hatfield had been on an even playing field for years,” she chuckles. “I went off the record, of course, and told him frankly that it was about damn time you kids sorted yourselves out. I then went back on the record and in great detail and length explained how—seeing as she’s no longer going to be your direct subordinate—there’s nothing I could do, and I stressed that I didn’t see any reason why I’d need to pursue this issue. Which I didn’t. And since I’ve had nothing but positive feedback about you here in this role, I assured him I didn’t see any reasons for concern before thanking him for his call.”
“Thank you,” I say, letting out the breath I’d been holding in, both out of nervousness and to help contain my anger at the nerve of that asshole.
“Good thing Eastlyn decided to take that consultant job. Timing is everything,” Bella says. “I might have had to play the bad guy, and we both know how I hate that.” She pats my shoulder as she stands to go.
“I appreciate it, Bella. Eastlyn and I both knew what was at stake and made sure we did what we needed to,” I say.
“Have a good summer, Coy. Congrats on a great year, and give my best to Eastlyn.”
“Thanks, Bella. You too. Appreciate the vote of confidence.”
Stopping at the door, she turns and gives me a sly smile. “I wouldn’t have placed you here at Westwood if I didn’t think you’d be the right fit. I knew it was a good idea.”
Thank fuck that’s over. I run my hand over my face. And, Jesus, she’s as bad as Katie.
I need to see Eastlyn.
*
It’s hard to believe that the school year has come to a close, and it’s a bittersweet feeling as I walk down the now-empty hallway towards Eastlyn’s classroom for the last time. As with March Break, I’m usually excited for the last day with the students, having waved goodbye to them as their busses pulled away, signalling two months of freedom. Today, however, I find myself wishing that I could hold on to the day just a little longer. Funny how the right woman can change even the smallest things.
Eastlyn leaving her job here wasn’t an easy decision, truth be told. Up until she saw the IT consultant posting—which she thought seemed like the perfect fit for her—I had been the one who was going to put in for a transfer. I had no issues being the one to make the move so we could be together without worrying about assholes like Neil Foley undermining us and making accusations.
There is one thing I’m excited about, though, in all of this—the surprise I have for Eastlyn tonight after our year-end staff party. I’ve been stressed all day, hoping I can pull it off and make it a day she’ll remember. I’m also somewhat nervous about how she’ll react when I admit I’ve been holding on to an important piece of her for a while now.
“Hey, baby,” I greet her, walking into her near-empty classroom, all of her personal belongings packed away into boxes and totes.
“Hi, yourself, handsome. Why the long face?” she asks, giving me a concerned look. “You should be happy. It’s freedom time, baby!” She walks towards me shimmying her shoulders, then plop! She lands right at my feet, having tripped over one of the many Rubbermaid containers scattered around the room.
Helping her to stand, I pull her close as she giggles and calls herself a klutz.
“This is exactly what’s wrong,” I say into the top of her head, giving it a kiss. “I’m going to miss having you falling at my feet.” I hold her close, loving how she fits me so damn perfectly.
“Ha, I’m sure you will. Damn things are always jumping out at me, I swear.” She pulls back, giving me a shy smile.
“Could just be those two left feet?”
“Could just be that you make my knees wobble?”
“Oh, I like that better,” I tell her, because I really do. Knowing I affect her the way she does me is an indescribable feeling, one I hope works out in my favour when I get her alone at my place tonight.
“Well, it’s the truth. Even when you’re a jerk, I like it” she laughs, pulling me in and kissing me.
“What can I do to help?” I ask, moving her under my arm at my side.
“I’ve got everything pretty much packed. Maybe we can get the flatbed cart and start loading the car?”
“Sounds good.” I start to make a move when Kami comes in.
“Well, look who we have here: the man responsible for this bullshit.” She waves her hands around the room. “I can’t believe you’re leaving me for good, Eastlyn,” Kami pouts, pushing out her bottom lip and everything. “I blame you!” She scowls at me.
“Oh brother, it’s not like you won’t still see each other every day.” I roll my eyes.
“You may be my boss, mister, but we’re officially no longer on the same team. You two just had to go and finally admit all your feelings and shit, eh?” She pretends to be mad, but the smile pulling at the corner of her mouth gives her away.
“We sure as hell did. Do you see how hot my girl is? How good we look together? How happy we are?” I chuckle, kissing Eastlyn’s cheek before I start walking out to find the cart so I can help move this shit ton of boxes.
“Yeah, yeah, I see it all right,” said Kami. “The whole world sees it. You still suck.”
Laughing, I stack a few boxes out of the way before I go. “Wouldn’t want these guys to up and attack you while I’m gone,” I wink, giving Eastlyn a kiss on the cheek.
“Har, har.”
“I’ll let you two be,” I say. “Get your anger out now, Kami. I’m not listening to you bitch all through dinner about how I ruined your life.” I ruffle her hair as I walk by.
“Hey, you’re just lucky…” she calls.
“I am,” I agree, looking past her to Eastlyn.
“…lucky you make her happy.” Kami smiles, nodding her head. I know she’ll adjust to the change.
Now, to pray that Eastlyn will let me make her the happiest.