“Yeah.” I shook my head. It seemed like Jacob Matthews was always in trouble when we were in school. If you wanted booze or a party, he was the guy to go to. He had been trouble back then.
“He's a lot better now. There's no way I'd let him touch my kid otherwise,” Karina agreed. “Okay, I'll see you in a couple hours. Thanks for looking at the bite. ”
“Anytime.”
She hung up the phone and I did the same. I walked over to the kitchen and poured myself a cup of coffee. It was good and warm in my hands as I took a sip.
I looked out my window and toward town. My thoughts went to Dr. Matthews and how much he'd changed since high school. How much we'd both changed.
I wasn't quite such an ugly duckling. He wasn't the bad boy. I let my thoughts drift to the first day that we really talked. The first day that my crush went into overdrive.
Chapter 3
Fifteen Years Ago: Riversville High School
* * *
“You're late, Mr. Matthews.”
I peeked over the top of my book to see Jacob Matthews saunter into Mr. Elway's classroom. He had on a black leather jacket, tight jeans, and a careless grin.
“So add it on to my time,” he replied nonchalantly, spinning a chair to sit backwards at one of the classroom tables.
Mr. Elway sighed. “You have no idea how much I'm bending the rules for you. I don't allow students to retake the exams, but your parents...”
“Yeah, yeah. My parents.” Jacob rolled his eyes. “My mom is on city council and my dad's the police chief. They get what they want.”
“Yes.” Mr. Elway adjusted his tie. He always wore a dress shirt and tie to teach class. No other teacher dressed up like he did. They didn't need to in a small town, but Mr. Elway wanted the best for his students. “Your parents have convinced me to make a special case for you.”
Jacob shrugged and looked bored. My book lowered slightly as I tried to get a good look at him. As the nerdy goody-two-shoes, we weren't exactly going to the same social parties. We technically had gym class together, but Jacob almost never came. He almost never came to any of his classes, where I went religiously to everyone and as many academic activities as I could fit.
I was fairly sure that he didn't even know I existed. He was gorgeous. I was plain. My hair was cut too short and it frizzed terribly any time there was a hint of humidity. With summer only a month away, my hair was full on Bozo the clown.
I tugged on my shirt, wishing I hadn't had that extra cookie with lunch. I was terrible at sports, so marching band was the only physical activity I really had and the season had ended in November. It was May. As a result, I was on the chubby side. My mother promised me that I'd grow out of it, but I'd been hearing that promise for the past four years. I was beginning to doubt it.
“So what do you want me to do?” Jacob asked with a shrug. “You are the only teacher that isn't passing me.”
“I pass those that do the work,” Mr. Elway replied. “The others may let you off, but I see greatness in you. You're smarter than you let on.”
“If you say so, professor.” Jacob managed a cool shrug, but for a moment I thought I saw something cross his face at what Mr. Elway had said. I wasn't sure if it was fear or pride. “You still haven't told me what I'm doing here.”
“The work,” Mr. Elway replied. He motioned to a table at the end of the classroom. I'd spent the last twenty minutes setting it up as Mr. Elway's classroom assistant. There was a microscope and slides as well as some plant spores to look at. “You'll make up every lab and every test if you want to pass the class.”
Jacob looked at the microscope and looked completely unimpressed. “I didn't learn it the first time. What makes you think I'll learn it this time?”
“You didn't bother to show up the first time. And this time, Miss O’Leary will be teaching you,” Mr. Elway informed him. “She'll be making sure you pass.”
My eyes went wide and I dropped my book with a thud.
This was supposed to be my free-study hour. I was Mr. Elway's classroom assistant, not a teacher. I was supposed to help him grade papers and set up labs for the upcoming classes, not show the hottest bad boy in school how to use a microscope.
Jacob turned and looked at me, the full weight of his blue eyes hitting mine. He was so damn handsome it wasn't fair. I blushed hard and wished I could just sink beneath the desk and die.
“Hannah, you set up the lab. You know how it works.” Mr. Elway motioned to the microscope. “I have a meeting. I want a full report when I get back.”
“Wait, you're not going to be here?” I squeaked. I wasn't prepared for this. If I had known, I would have worn a totally different outfit. I would have attempted to do something with my hair. I would have been violently ill and missed the day entirely.
Mr. Elway picked up his suit jacket from the back of his chair and smiled at me. “You can do this. If anyone can, it's you.”