Page 113 of Guarded Deputy
“Don’t you dare.” I fist his shirt. “He’s better off without ever knowing you. We don’t need him to feel unwanted the way we did.” I’m inches from his face, my other hand clenched by my side.
I hear footsteps and step back, smoothing out his wrinkled shirt. My dad barely flinches.
“I know you’re angry, and it’s my fault. Let me make it up to you. Give me a chance to prove I’m determined to be a father.”
“You’re twenty years too late. I have to get back to work. Leave,” I warn harshly. “Don’t ruin this job for me. The last thing I want is to escort you out of here.” I may have that power, but I don’t want people in town talking. There’s no denying I’m his son when people see our similarities.
“Not until you give me a few minutes of your time.”
I hear whispering and more kids looking at us. Causing a scene here is the least thing I need. I see Sheriff McCall coming down the hall with a woman, and I step back.
“Fine. Get out and wait until I call you.”
“Thank you, son.” He nods, smiling.
The past twenty years haven’t been easy on him based on the wrinkles marking his face, but they were worst for my mother so I can feel zero compassion for this man.
“Deputy Moore,” Sheriff says, eyeing my dad.
“Hi, Sheriff.” It doesn’t look good that I’m not doing my job if the superintendent is here to observe me. I’ve left the students alone to deal with my father. I swear if he ruins this for me…
“You’re done with your current class, right?” Sheriff widens his eyes.
“Yup. I’ll be starting my next one in ten minutes.”
“Great, Superintendent Cramer and I will wait for you in that classroom. I have your schedule here.” I hold up the paper.
“Okay.” My jaw is tense, and I glower at my dad to get the hell out of here.
I walk back into the classroom, and the students race to their seats as if I were an idiot. I hope to hell that Sheriff drags the superintendent away from here so she won’t see the kids leaving the classroom and catch me neglecting my duties.
“Was that your dad, Deputy?”
I glare at Scott.
“Obviously. They look alike,” Tessa says, rolling her eyes at Scott.
“Did you write your list?” I arch a brow.
“Uhh…the thing is that we were brainstorming together.” Scott smirks as if he’s a genius because I know they were spying on me.
“Well, then you have homework to do.” I smile.
The bell rings as they groan, and I clap my hands to get their attention.
“Bring your list of thirty reasons next week.”
“Thirty?” The kids call out.
“Let’s make it forty, then.”
“No, thirty is fine.” Rob, another student, calls out. “Right, guys?” He stares at them with wide eyes.
“Yup,” they say collectively.
“Great. See you next week.” I wait for them to walk out of the room before I grab my things and leave. My hands tremble with anger as I fish my phone out of my pocket and send Brooke a warning text that our father’s in town.
Brooke: You’re kidding.