Free Chemistry Lessons by Rebecca H Jamison Page B

her
room, unloaded it, and returned to the library, expecting to load it up again.
But Destry had already loaded another cart with biology and chemistry texts. “I’ll
trade you,” he said, taking the empty cart from her.
    She was just pushing the loaded cart out through the supply room door
when Tanner appeared, startling her.
    “Where did you come from?”
    He grinned. “I just signed a contract.” He wore his suit, tie, and
cowboy boots.
     “What do you mean, you signed a contract?”
     He held his arms out as if he expected a hug. “The job they offered me
at the middle school last month—I decided to take it.”
    She resisted the urge to turn and see whether Destry was watching. That
would only alert Tanner to Destry’s presence, and now was not the time to tell
Tanner who got Ms. Klein’s old job. “I’m so happy for you!” She threw her arms
around him.
    He kissed her. “How about we celebrate with lunch out?”
    “I’d love to. I just need to finish up with—”
    “Go ahead,” Destry said, walking out of the supply room. “I’ll be okay
on my own. As long as there’s no earthquake.”
    She swallowed. “Okay. I shouldn’t be gone long.”
    Tanner glared at Destry. “We can go ring shopping while we’re at it.”
    Destry paged through a chemistry textbook. “Take as long as you want. I’ll
just be here studying up on my high school chemistry.”
    She pulled on Tanner’s arm, leading him toward the library exit. “I
only have an hour for lunch,” she said. “That doesn’t leave much time for ring
shopping.”
    Tanner lowered his voice. “Don’t tell me he got Klein’s job.”
     “He did.” She studied Tanner’s expression, worrying how he would
react. “I’m just as upset as you are about it, but at least the middle school
is close enough that we can still have lunch together every day.”
    He held the library door for her. “He was flirting with you.”
    Waiting for the door to close behind them, she took on a serious tone. “He
was not.”
    “I saw the look on his face, Rosie.”
    She took his hand. “That’s just his personality. I’m not interested in
him anyway.” It was time for her to accept Tanner’s proposal—just not here, at
her work place. She’d wait until they got outside.
    As they walked down the hall, she told him about her new class
schedule. The fact that she would be teaching health again didn’t seem to faze
him.
    “I’ve got seventh and eighth grade science,” he said. “I’m also
coaching the debate team.”
    “Debate? I thought the English teachers did that.”
    “I was on the debate team that placed first in state when I was a
senior.”
    “Oh. I guess I forgot.” She’d been away at college during Tanner’s high
school years. “I’ll have to come to some debates.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “If you have time.” He was right. She probably
wouldn’t have time. He opened the front door of the school for her.
    “I’ve made up my mind,” she said, stepping out into the hot desert air.
“I want to get married.”
    He hugged her, picking her up off her feet and spinning her around. “Whoohoo,”
he yelped, setting her back down on her feet. He dipped his head, and their
lips met. His kiss was smooth and strong with the pleasant taste of mint.
    She stepped back, suddenly aware that they stood right in front of
Principal Moore’s office window. Had he seen them? She glanced through the
window to see the principal staring at his computer monitor. Maybe he hadn’t.
Then she noticed the window was open.
    Tanner leaned his head in, as if to kiss her again, but she pulled
back. “Principal Moore can hear us,” she whispered.
    “Why should we care? Pretty soon the whole world’s going to know we’re
getting married.”
    She hurried down the ramp toward the parking lot. “I’ve been meaning to
ask—have you said anything to Grandpa? You know how old fashioned he is. He’ll
probably expect you to ask for my hand and all that