Chapter 15
Gage hit print and ran his fingers through his hair while he waited as the machine whirred to life. When the sheet of paper cleared the printer, he grabbed it and headed out of his office. If he didn’t hurry, Carly would think he’d forgotten about their meeting.
He reached Carly’s open classroom door and was surprised to see Dr. Crawford once again storming out of Mrs. Taylor’s room. He straightened to his full height when she screeched to a halt and changed directions. Gage’s jaw clenched at the click-clack of her high heels on the linoleum floor as she marched toward him.
Before the scowling assistant principal could open her mouth, a sweet voice piped up from behind him. “We’re just having a parent conference. Gage’s son is in my fourth-period class. We’ll leave the door open, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Make sure you keep your hands to yourself,” Dr. Crawford replied, turning to Carly and shaking one finger as if she was a troublesome student.
Gage gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to put the haughty woman in her place. But it wouldn’t do to cause more problems for Carly, and he had a feeling it would if he said anything. He stood still and continued to glare as Carly stepped to his side.
“Yes, ma’am. We will,” Carly replied, and Gage’s lips twitched at the saccharine sweetness in her voice.
Stilling his features, Gage watched as Dr. Crawford turned in a huff and walked away, bypassing the stairs and heading down the hall toward the Science department. After she disappeared, he turned and followed Carly into her classroom, making sure the door stayed open.
“Have you had a chance to ask Mrs. Taylor what’s going on?” Gage asked as he took a seat next to Carly at the small table by the window and laid the paper in his hand face down.
“No, but I intend to tomorrow. Things seem to be getting worse. I’ve seen Dr. Crawford in her room three times this week, and she’s been in here twice for walk-throughs. She hasn’t posted her notes in the evaluation system yet, so I have no idea if she gave me good marks or not.”
“All right, but let me know what you find out. I don’t trust that woman.” Gage crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back. “What did you want to talk about concerning Jonathan?”
Gage’s heart thudded, and warmth filled his veins as Carly sucked in her bottom lip as she reached over and handed him a paper. Mentally willing his twitching dick to calm down, he looked down at the report. Various assignments and Jonathan’s grades for each one filled half the page. He slumped forward as he scanned over the barely passing grades.
Carly reached over to pat his arm, and Gage nearly jumped at the electric shock that raced up his skin at her touch. “Don’t worry. If he keeps coming in for tutoring, he should be able to keep his grade up. But it wouldn’t hurt if he got some extra help,” she said, trailing her hand over his forearm, the fine hairs standing on end as she pulled away.
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking the same thing. I don’t know how with all the time football takes up. Jonathan loves playing, and I’d hate to take it away from him, but his education is more important.” Gage looked up at the ceiling and scrubbed a hand over his face, the budding desire he’d felt quickly fading as concern for his son took over his thoughts. “I should have paid more attention when his mother died. He’s always struggled with math and his grades dropped, but I didn’t push him since he needed time to grieve her loss.”
“I have an idea,” Carly said, squeezing his arm.
Gage lowered his head and looked at her smiling face. “Okay,” he said. “I’m open to anything as long as I don’t have to take away his football.”
“Well, what if I tutor him. If I’m going to be over at your house anyway, it won’t take any time away from football.”
Gage leaned back and let out a huge breath. “Thanks, but I don’t want to ask you to work during your time off.”
“You wouldn’t be. I enjoy working with students one-on-one, and I want Jonathan to succeed as much as you do,” Carly replied with her brown eyes shining back at him.
Gage leaned over and took her hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. What’s that?” Carly asked, pointing at the paper lying face down on the table.
Picking up the forgotten page, Gage turned it over and handed it to her. “I think you’re perfect just the way you are, but I’m also a firm believer in staying fit.”
Gage’s lips twitched, and his chest filled with warmth as Carly scanned the flyer and her face lit up with excitement.