Page 53 of Guarded Deputy
I glare at her with pinched lips.
“Oh, fine.” She lifts her hands. “I don’t understand why you’re being so secretive.”
“I’m not. There is nothing going on between Nate and me. You know I’m focusing on my career at the moment.” It’s a white lie because we did kiss, but she’d hire a cheer team to congratulate us.
“Yes, I know.” She sighs. “And I’m proud of you for going after your dreams and all, but it doesn’t mean you can’t date a nice guy.”
“How do you even know if he’s a nice guy? You just met him today.” I look at her incredulously.
“I am good at reading people. Something about him reminds me of your father.”
“Really?” I stare at her with furrowed brows.
“Not sure what it is, but he does.”
“Maybe it’s the uniform,” I say softly.
“Could be.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, are you sure you’re okay?” She signals to my forehead with her hand.
“I am. Once I’m home, I’ll wash my face again and add some more cream.”
“I think you should do that now. It’s spread to your cheeks.”
“Really?” I touch my face, and sure enough, I feel some bumps on my cheeks. “I’ll be back.” I speed-walk to the building and go into the teacher’s bathroom and remove the hat, looking at myself in the mirror.
I groan when I see my mom was right.
I splash my face with cold water in hopes that it alleviates the burning sensation and go to Nate’s desk in search of ointment he gave me earlier. I know he had that First Aid Kit here somewhere.
“What are you doing?”
I leap back, guilt written on my face. The school secretary looks at me, her head tilted.
“I was looking for Deputy Moore’s First Aid Kit.” My chest rises and falls with each breath, knowing this looks bad.
“Why would you look there?” She arches a brow.
“He lent me some ointment earlier, so I was hoping to borrow it again since my face has a rash.” I point to the obvious.
“Oh, my.” She gasps. “I have some.” She rushes to her desk and opens a drawer, handing it to me. “Keep it.”
“Thanks.” I press my lips together and head back to the bathroom, adding a thick layer in hopes that it kills the itching. I could use some Benadryl, but I’d fall asleep in the middle of the field and get trampled. Or worse, get drowsy enough to confess how hot Nate is, telling everyone that he gave me a damn good kiss.
I’ll pass on the account that I like my job and have already embarrassed myself enough to last me a lifetime.
When I head back to the art station, without the toy hat, Nate lifts his eyebrows.
“Not a word about her comment.” I point a finger at him. “She doesn’t know when to stop talking.”
“She’s being a mom.” He shrugs, thankfully cool about the situation.
“Right, but my mom loves to give her opinion about everything and everyone, inserting herself into my life as she sees fit.”
“She cares about you. Don’t take her for granted. It must be nice to have someone that loves you that much.”
I look at him, and he offers a forced smile before he walks away. What in the world does that mean? Does he not have a good relationship with his mom?
Nate has reverted back into the mystery I admire from afar. It seems there are layers to him left to discover, and it doesn’t all have to do with his good looks and kissable lips.