Free DrawnTogether by Wendi Zwaduk Page B

she’s
stuck.”
    “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” She winced and
massaged her temples. She hadn’t planned to sound so curt.
    “Yeah.” His shoulders slumped. “You know what? I’m not going
to dance around this. I’m tired of games.” He crossed the room in five large
strides. “Tessa, I love you. You might not care about me, but I’m crazy in love
with you.” He cupped her face in both hands. “I’m the bastard son of a married
man and his secretary. He lied to her, told her he’d marry her then stopped
seeing her altogether when I was six. She married another guy who tried to be
my dad. I knew better and knowing I didn’t belong to Gerald really fucked with
my head. I didn’t know where I belonged. I decided I wasn’t going to put myself
in her position. I’d get a good job and have a stable life with a wife and kids
I loved. Except I’ve realized my mom followed her heart. She loved me the way
she knew how. I’m not perfect but I love you in the only way I know how. My
heart belongs to you and I can’t walk away.”
    “Graig.” She wobbled on her feet. His words seared onto her
brain. She gripped the sides of his T-shirt. Her eyes burned with unshed tears.
    “Tessa, you make me laugh, cry and want to rip out my hair
sometimes. When I realized you were the woman dancing for me, I knew I belonged
right here in this building and this school district. We were drawn together
and I belong with you. I volunteered for this hallway.”
    “But—”
    He placed his index finger on her bottom lip. “Let me
finish. When you gave me the freedom to sort things out, it hurt. Bad. I poured
out my heart to you and you took the high road. But I understood. The shit with
Lila wasn’t fair and I needed to prove myself to you. Dennis never knew how
special you were. He didn’t see the beautiful woman too scared she’d be pushed
away again. I’m tired of letting your fear and hesitation win. I’m not going
anywhere. I love you and I’m sticking around until you see that. I’ve never
lied to you. I couldn’t.”
    “Dennis sorted out your paperwork?” she blurted. Tears
slipped down her cheeks.
    “Yes, I revoked the bogus transfer.”
    “I hoped you would say that,” she whispered.
    “Right before school started, the board threatened to put me
on the permanent sub slot for another year. I didn’t want to sub. I wanted to
teach history. I filled out the paperwork somewhat then forgot about it because
the school called and gave me my job. The more time I spent around you on a
daily basis, the more I realized our friendship mattered more than anything. I
never signed the papers and left them on my hard drive. I didn’t want to go,
but someone else hit the Send button.”
    “Lila?”
    “She didn’t want to stop until she got what she wanted.” He
sighed. “Dennis noticed the forged signature. My handwriting has never been so
curly. But the paperwork snafu didn’t matter. McKinley wanted someone else.”
    “Mr. Case?” A freckle-faced teen poked his head into the
classroom. “We need the keys to the batting cage.”
    “Time to practice.” Graig swiped his thumb across her bottom
lip. “Give me a moment, Teddy.”
    “Got it, Coach.” The student disappeared behind the door,
but his voice echoed in the hallway. “Coach is in there with the art teacher.
Women screw up everything.”
    Graig glanced over his shoulder. “I love coaching the
baseball team, but they’ve got some fantastic timing.” Another sigh. “Practice
is over in the rec center and open to the public tonight. I’d love to see you
there and maybe we can grab supper afterward.”
    “I’ll think about it.” She suppressed a snort. Yes, she’d
check out practice. She needed to see the man she loved, even if she’d make him
wait a little bit first.
    Graig grinned. “By the way, I like the blouse. It’s a little
more daring but still very you. Wear it again.” He turned on his heel then left
the room.
    She