The New Teacher by Erin Lark Maples

Author:Erin Lark Maples [Erin Lark Maples]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lodestar Literary
Published: 2022-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

33

Kade hovered near her car, tire gauge in hand. He twirled the skinny, metal tool between his fingers. “Your front driver’s side is low. You’ll want to get that looked at. Might be a slow leak.”

Elizabeth stooped to pick up her bag and collect the lipstick, keys, and book scattered in the gravel.

“How dare you touch my car!” She twisted her fear into indignation before it got the better of her ability to breathe and think. The parking lot was empty. She needed an escape route.

“Hey, I was doing you a favor. I noticed—“

“I don’t care what you noticed. I don’t care if it was flat. I don’t want you to touch my car. Ever. Again.” She punctuated her last two words and glared at Kade.

A flash of vulnerability crossed his face before he narrowed his eyes into slits. “Why is it always about Justin Hart with you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“This.” He held up a hand to her, waving at her as though she were a slate to be cleaned. “Hostility.”

It was about Justin. She wouldn’t admit this, though.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Liar, she thought.

“Last time I’ll be your friendly mechanic. Got it.”

Maybe people here did the neighborly thing. Looked out for each other. This wasn’t working for Elizabeth, though. She needed boundaries.

“I’m asking you not to touch my car, my things.”

She watched his face harden from confused to bristling. “Fine,” he said, stepping back and sweeping his hand in a wide arc. “Don’t let me get in your way.”

Stomping forward, she wrenched open the car door, threw her purse on the passenger’s seat, and started the car. Her reverse was deft, kicking up rocks and dust, before she shifted gear and exited the lot. Kade watched as she left, a statue of judgment.

On the approach to Cloud Nine, Elizabeth lifted her foot from the accelerator and exhaled, the spite leaching from her veins. Why did Kade matter? Why did she let him get under her skin? She needed to focus on her family, the people waiting inside the beautiful ranch house in front of her. She would miss this view, a poor trade for the teacherage, cold and lonely on the hill.

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