Chapter 16
“If those kids are giving you a hard time, I don’t want you going back to that job. We can find you something else that won’t stress you out as much.” Garrett was growing more furious by the second. Reese had barely said two words to him since he’d driven her home from her first day of teaching, and he had no idea what was going on.
She’d been so excited to get the job, but now it seemed like she was shutting down on him, and he couldn’t stand it. Did she hate teaching? Were the kids mean to her? He’d already experienced first-hand just how awful teenagers could be. The last thing Reese needed right now was more stress in her life.
“It was fine,” Reese finally assured him, even as she wrung her hands together in her lap. She’d finally been able to take off the bandages the other day, and the scrapes on her hands and legs were almost entirely healed much to Garrett’s relief.
“You don’t sound fine,” he pressed.
Reese sighed. “I probably just made it harder on myself because I’ve decided to start looking people in the eye at work.”
His gut sank at her admission. That was the last thing he’d wanted her to put herself through. “Reese,” Garrett said, softly. “You don’t need to do that. The stress and anxiety, I don’t want you having panic attacks. You don’t need this job. If I had my way, you wouldn’t even be leaving my house at all right now. I’mnot trying to be controlling, I just want to keep you safe from Russell.”
“I feel perfectly safe at the school,” she said. “I like the kids, and most of them die a peaceful death well into old age.”
“What is it then? Garrett hated seeing her like this and not knowing what was wrong or how to fix it.
“Me.” She looked like she wanted to crawl inside herself and hide there forever.
Garrett put his arm around her and pulled her in closer. They were back on his dock, their legs dangling off the side. His toes were grazing the water, which was now a warm purple hue from the reflection of the beautiful sunset they were out here to watch. He wanted to urge her for an explanation, but he just waited for her to keep going.
“The kids were fine. I don’t think they even noticed anything when I saw one of them die in a car accident years from now, but I just - it’s been a long time since I’ve had to address a room full of people like that, and teaching young minds is such a huge responsibility…” Garrett was about to say something when she quickly added, “But I want to do it. I have to do this.”
The steal in her tone was back and it had him sitting up straighter. “Can I ask why?”
“To prove to myself that I can. Before Russell put me in that hospital, I wasn’t exactly going out of my way in search of large groups of people, but I didn’t have this never-ending anxiety about going in public. I mean, if you had met me back then, you would not have had to turn out your lights for me to talk to you, or for me to meet and hang out with your friends. I used to be this strong, capable, brave person. And I think this is my chance to find her again.”
“You arestillthat strong, capable, and brave person, Reese. Even more so because you’re not letting what you went through define you.”
Reese sighed. “I think it’s a little too late for that. But if what Russell did is going to define me, I want it to be for the better, not for the worse. Does that make sense?”
“Perfect sense.” He pressed a kiss to the side of her head, and brushed his lips along her temple. “I’m proud of you.”
She smiled. “Thanks. And the kids really were great. I mean, it took them a few minutes to settle and get into learning about art mode, but that was to be expected. I swear, I was shaking on the inside the whole time, but I also couldn’t get this feeling of intense joy out of my mind. I was actually really happy to be out in the world doing something meaningful.”
Garrett couldn’t even put into words how happy he was for the woman sitting next to him. Not only had she been through hell in the last year, but she’d come out of it stronger and more determined than ever to get her life back on track. He’d met a lot of people who’d endured a lot less, and were all too happy to wallow in their victim mentality. Seeing Reese face her fears head on was inspiring. “You know what, we should celebrate.”
“How?” Reese asked.
“Well, I’m sure you need things for your classroom. Let’s go shopping for art supplies tomorrow after school.”
“You want to go shopping with me? I mean, I do need to get some supplies for my classes, but I just figured I’d do that on my own time.”
“I’d love to go shopping with you.” Garrett wasn’t someone who usually volunteered to go shopping, but the idea of spending time with Reese and seeing her in her element, was definitely something he wanted more of. “Maybe you can teach me a little about art.”
Reese smiled, and leaned into him. “The art of what exactly?”
“You are something else,” he breathed, pressing a kiss to the side of her head just before she turned and caught his mouthwith her lips, sealing it in a breath-stopping kiss than had him going hard in seconds.
They’d been kissing and making out almost every day since he’d moved her into his house, but it was getting harder and harder to stop before things went too far. It was silly, really. They were both consenting adults, and it was no secret Reese wanted him as much as he wanted her.
When she pulled back, the glare of the sun prevented them from looking into each other’s eyes, and Reese stayed perfectly still, her face just inches from his. “I’ve been wanting to do that since we got here.”
“Don’t stop on my account,” Garrett teased, already lowering his mouth to hers. He would take every opportunity he could to kiss her, touch her, be close to her. Despite everything Reese had been through, there was something about her that was pure sunshine and love, and Garrett wanted to soak in every drop.
***
“Hard day?” Reese was sitting in the passenger seat of his truck the next day. They were on their way to a local art store and while she was excited, she could sense Garrett’s mind was elsewhere.