IT’S ALWAYS “WELL, GALLOWAY SAYS THIS, AND GALLOWAY SAYS THAT” LATELY. AS IF THIS GALLOWAY KNOWS THE FIRST THING ABOUT PARENTING MY PETE!
Well, parent-teacher conferences are tonight, and I can finally lay into them about how they undermine my authority as Pete’s guardian. Can’t they see I’m trying my best here?
I debated dressing up as the male version of some Karen for a moment, just to embarrass him a little. I could even go all out with the makeup, maybe some cherry red lipstick.
I shook my head, instead rummaging through my closet for something business casual. I was going to be professional. So professional that this Galloway will think twice in thinking I don’t know what I’m doing.
I stared at my reflection a beat longer than normal, chewing the inside of my lip anxiously. I never imagined myself in these shoes, supporting myself and my sister’s baby alone, on my way to a conference as if I had any right to be there. ‘Pray that this goes well for us, Amanda’ I thought.
It had been a little over a year since my sister was lost to us. I had very little time to get over it, as I was the only one willing and able to care for her son, Peter. I didn’t even hesitate before offering to take him in. I was there for her when she’d become with child, I was there for her raising him alone, and I would be there for her even in death. I’m sure she’d have done the same. Peter had only just recently started coming out of his shell again. He talks to me more, now, but… most of the time it’s about how he can’t wait to go live off on his own. How he can do all these things. I mean, the boy is barely 16–he hasn’t even presented yet!
Maybe I was just mad that all my gentleness hadn’t been what brought him out of his shell, but Galloway’s influence had been what did it.
I sighed, pulled my hair up into its ever present bun and left my room, where I found the boy slouched on the couch playing something on his handheld console.
“Finally.” He sighed, pausing the game. “Are you ready to go yet?”
“I wasn’t gone that long, is that what you’re wearing?” I frowned at his attitude, but said nothing to escalate it.
“They all already saw me in this outfit a couple of hours ago, so it doesn’t make sense to change now.” He shrugged, dragging his backpack onto his lap in preparation to leave.
“Alright, If you say so. Shall we go?” I gestured toward the door.
Without responding, he stood up and slung the bag over his shoulder, making his way over to the door.
I resisted the urge to sigh at his impatience, and slipped my shoes on before heading toward my car. It could be worse, I could have a teen who hated the idea of school. I was pretty lucky there.
“You know the way, right?”
“Of course, I took you here the first few weeks, remember?”
“Just checking.” He conceded. We were left in silence for a few minutes while I thought about him. Clearly he was eager to get there.
“So…” I began, fully expecting a one-word answer by the time I finished. “What has you so excited about this conference?”
“Nothing, I’m not.” He looked away.
“C’mon now, you don’t gotta lie to me. What’s on your mind?”
“… I’ve been doing really well lately…” He answered quietly, like he was embarrassed about it. It made me smile.
“Why don’t you show me your grades more often?” I was getting pretty close now. I was thankful to live so near the local high school.
He didn’t answer, just shrugged, still looking out the window.
The school was pretty busy from all the parents coming to visit tonight, I knew I’d have to search a little for a parking spot.
“So! I’m excited to meet this Galloway I’ve been hearing so much about.” I announced as I turned into the parking lot. Pete Surprised me by smiling back.
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“I’m excited for you to meet him too.”
That had me smiling to myself a little stupidly as I found myself a parking space, turning off the engine and waiting for Peter to get out before trailing after him.
Pete wasn’t lying when he said he was doing well lately, all of his teachers thus far had only good remarks to make, showing off his grades from when he started compared to lately. I wondered, what changed?
Finally the moment of truth arrived. I entered the classroom with the sign reading 201: B. Galloway, apparently just as he was finishing up another meeting, giving me a prime opportunity to size him up.
He had this beautiful golden brown skin, and his hair up in dreadlocks. He had this charming smile revealing white teeth, and big hands he used to shake the hands of the parents in front of him. I realized too late that I was more checking him out than sizing him up. Oh brother.
As the parents left, his warm amber eyes turned to meet mine, a move that had me breathless by just a look, before he was suddenly distracted by Pete coming over with a big grin, dabbing him up as they met over the desk.
I quietly cleared my throat, and avoided eye contact for the time being before making my way over to meet them. Pete already sat himself in a chair, leaving the one closest to Briar’s desk to me. I dragged it slightly away, giving me a bit of space. I gave him a polite smile, shaking his hand over his desk. His skin was warm, and I caught the barest hint of spice in the air. He had to have been an alpha, with the way he was built.
“It’s nice to meet you, my name is Liam. You must be Mr. Galloway?”
“Please, call me Briar. So, you’re Pete’s uncle, right?”
“Ah, sure am. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Likewise.” There was that smile again. I had to avert my gaze, subconsciously avoiding checking him out again. What was wrong with me?
“So.” I cleared my throat again. “Let’s talk about Pete.”
“Lets.” He agreed.
I DIDN’T NOTICE HIM IMMEDIATELY WHEN HE ENTERED MY CLASSROOM, BUT I WISH I HAD.
Even as the last couple left my room, my attention was immediately on him, until Petey came over to greet me. So this was Liam, Pete’s uncle.
He was short, and carried with him this regal prowess that reminded me of a large cat, like a Jaguar, maybe. I almost frowned as he dragged his chair further away. If only he didn’t avert his eyes when I met them, my instincts wanted to drag those pretty gray eyes back to mine. His skin was lightly tanned, with features that made me believe he could be of Mediterranean descent, perhaps Spanish or Greek.
When he spoke, his voice carried the sweetness of his personality with him. When his smooth hand entwined with my own, I caught the hint of something floral on him, unsure of whether it was a perfume or his natural scent, I resisted the urge to lean over to get a better sense of it.
I caught Pete giving us both a look, and reminded myself that we aren’t here to flirt. So went the meeting. We went over all the important bits, how he was improving, what he could do better, and things like his general demeanor in class. All good things, he was, admittedly, probably one of my favorite students.
I had to wrap the meeting up soon, I noticed with reluctance that there were other parents waiting at the door.
“I need to get to other parents now, but there are a few other things I’d like to discuss about Pete. If you’re willing to keep the discussion going, would you be willing to send me a text or a call at my personal phone number?”
“Oh! You don’t mind that?” Liam’s surprise was not lost on Briar.
“Not at all. I insist.” I smiled, passing along a sticky-note I’d prepared while we talked. Of course, I didn’t really have much else to share about Petey, but the wolf within me was furious by the thought of watching this man walk away from me. I had to do something to appease it.
“Well, thank you for meeting with me, Briar. We’d better let you get on to the next group.” Liam reached across the gap between him and Pete to give him a proud pat on the shoulder, before standing.
I followed suit, taking the opportunity to subtly scent the air as we met to shake hands one more time. I still couldn’t tell if it was perfume, regardless, it was addicting.
I watched the pair walk away, giving a last grin and wave to Pete as he retreated, before shifting my attention to the new parents. I gave them a polite grin before we started, taking my seat to start the meeting all over again.
SITTING BACK IN THE CAR, LIAM WAS LOST IN THOUGHT. SOMETHING ABOUT THAT MAN WAS SO ENTICING, I COMPLETELY FORGOT MY INITIAL CRUSADE AGAINST HIM.
“Liam?”
“Oh, hmm?” My attention went back to Pete.
“I said that went well…” He was giving me a weird look now. Pete was a smart kid, he probably suspected why.
“You’re right, it did!” I pushed Briar out of my mind for now, Pete was more important. “Agh. I’m so proud of you, all of your teachers, every single one!”
“Yeah.” He gave me a sheepish grin as I reached across to ruffle his hair.
“I know you said you were doing well, but after hearing such good things!..” I couldn’t hide my grin. “I think this deserves a treat, what do you think? Ice cream?”
“This late at night?”
“It’s never too late for a celebration, Peter.” I said in a mock serious tone of voice, before snorting a laugh. He joined in.
“Hell yeah!”
“That’s what I like to hear. Let’s go.” I peeled out of the parking lot, our moods jovial the entire way to the ice cream shop, and even until we made it home that night.