Free Always In: The Shore Series Book 2 by M.R. Joseph

thinking how very strange this must look.
    Mid bite, he smiles at me like a little boy. His amber-colored eyes shine under the fluorescent lights and motion for me to eat.
    Damn, his eyes are pretty.
    I snap out of my gaze quickly and open my bag to take out my sandwich. Reluctantly, I take a bite because I am starving, but I feel sort of, I don't know, nervous maybe?
    "There you go. See isn't this much better than listening to all the old-timers in the teachers’ lounge bitch about their students or their awful home lives? This is much more relaxing." I keep my head down. I really don't know what to say to him. I feel a bit awkward but in a different way. I think I’m more ashamed as to why we are in the position we are in than feeling awkward. The man ran down to get me my lunch. We again sit in silence as we munch on our sandwiches.
    "You don't talk much, do you, Harlow?"
    I look over at him, not really wanting to finish eating. My head pounding the way it does makes me lose my appetite. I shove the rest of my lunch back into the bag.
    I shift trying to get my one crutch to help me stand up. Daniel hops up to help me.
    "I talk a lot actually. I’m just...I need to get back into my classroom before the bells rings and I’m knocked down again." He grabs my other crutch and my arms and helps me stand. Daniel retrieves my lunch sack from the ground.
    "That would never happen", he tells me in a low voice.
    "What would never happen?"
    Daniel shrugs and leads me back to my classroom, the handles of my lunch sack swinging from his wrist, and I wait for his answer.
    "You getting knocked down again. I wouldn't allow it."
    Umm...okay.
    We walk back to my classroom, slowly. Daniel not moving forward or behind me, just beside me.
    I stand at my door way and feel a little ballsy, so I ask him, "And why is it that you wouldn't allow that to happen?"
    He walks into my classroom and places my sack on my desk and makes his way back to the doorway I’m standing in. We are close, only about a half a foot apart, he leans his long lean body against the doorway, his hands hooked behind him. His blond hair a bit disheveled and a curl flopping in the front of his forehead.
    "Because I feel as though you are precious cargo, Miss Hannum. I wouldn't want to kick the arse of a thirteen-year-old boy for knocking you down again, so just know I have my eye on you." He winks at me and flashes a smile that would make any woman melt. Except for me. I just shiver like it's not almost one hundred degrees in this doorway.
    I shiver.
    Fucking hell?
    We stand, me looking at my feet, him, I’m pretty sure he's staring again.
    "So, um are you going to the dance tonight?"
    I feel my cheeks heat up and I let out a small giggle.
    He rolls his eyes and then covers them, shaking his head.
    "I apologize. That's not how I meant to say that. What I was clearly trying to say or not so clearly saying was, have you been selected to chaperone tonight's dance?"
    I smile at him, getting a glimpse of his megawatt smile and obvious reddened cheeks.
    "Yes, I have. It's sort of required. Um...how about you?"
    He rubs his face with both hands and lets out a sigh.
    "Yes, I have but I’m so terribly tired. I’ve been up at night a lot lately so sleep hasn't been so welcoming lately."
    "I’m sorry to hear that. Sleep is also not my friend."
    After I say it, I’m not really sure why I just told him that. He yawns, covering his mouth.
    "Oh, good God. I’m so sorry. That was rude of me to yawn in your face. What a pillock. Not a gentlemanly thing to do. I apologize."
    I laugh, cause it was - well - cute.
    "No need to apologize. I do it all the time." He smiles at me and the bell for the next session starts to ring.
    “Well, I’ll be off. The children will return shortly.” I agree and nod. "Yes, you're right." I can't really think of much more to say. It's like my tongue is frozen or something. Since when does that happen to me?
    "Yes, well I guess I'll be seeing you this