Without You by Julie Prestsater

pass.”
    “Fine,” I told her. “Send him over.”
    Evan was one step away from the looney bin for coming to my work. What in the world was he thinking? My colleagues didn’t know I knew him. Once word got out that he was there, people were going to flip their shit. It’s not as if I could keep something like that under wraps. It was a small school and the rumor mill spread faster than germs in a petri dish.
    Turning back to my eager students, I had to think of something quickly to keep them busy. “Change of plans, everyone. Take out your independent reading books and read silently for fifteen minutes. Remember, I’d like you to use your sticky notes for any times you feel any kind of emotion while you’re reading. Books should evoke feelings within you. If you’re not feeling it, you need a different book. Go.”
    Immediately, there was chatter and clatter as my seventh graders dug into their backpacks. For some unknown reason, these kids hadn’t mastered the art of doing anything without opening their mouths.
    A gentle knock at the door didn’t faze my students, but as soon as Evan walked in, the noise killed to silence.
    My evil stare fell on them again. With a finger pointed in their direction, I said, “Read.” Instantly, they were all facing forward, books in hand, pretending to do as I said. Like I didn’t know they were giving our visitor the once over.
    Taking him by the sleeve, I ushered him to the corner of the room where my desk was. “What in the world?”
    “Wow. That was something else, Sunshine. I don’t want to be on the other end of that look.” He fluttered his brows at me and my knees went weak. He held out a bundle of flowers. White and yellow daisies. My legs wobbled even more. I had to place my hand on my desk to steady myself. “These are for you, Sunshine.”
    I didn’t notice them in his hands when he came in. This was all new to me and it was making me very nervous. “Thank you, but what are you doing here?”
    Evan gave me that sexy grin. I wished he would stop turning me into a pile of sappy mush, especially in front of my class. “I was out shopping and I saw these flowers and thought of you. You’ve seen me in my element many times. I thought it would be cool to see you in yours.” He tugged his ball cap off his head and ran his fingers through his messy brown locks. Damn, I had always thought he looked adorable with hat head.
    Sudden gasps had us both looking in the direction of my students.
    “Holy shit, that’s Evan James,” one of the boys in the back shouted.
    Zeroing in on that section of the room, I gritted my teeth. “Watch your mouths.”
    Abigail, a sweet shy thing raised her hand.
    “Yes, Abbi?”
    “Ms. Grey, is he really Evan James?”
    I sucked in a gulp of air and exhaled a long slow breath. Then, I gestured to Evan. He had started it, now he had to finish it.
    Evan put his cap back on, this time backwards so my students could see his face. He walked over to Abigail and held out his hand. “Hi, Abbi. I’m Evan James.” She put her shaky little hand in his. “Nice to meet you.” The exchange made my heart swoon.
    “Nice to meet you too, Mr. James.”
    He dropped her hand and waved her off. “Call me Evan.”
    Another student raised her hand and I nodded. “Ms. Grey, why is Evan James in our classroom?” My students had the old deer-in-the-headlights expressions on their faces, and that girl looked like she was about to vomit.
    Again, I deferred to Evan.
    “Ms. Grey and I went to high school together. We’ve known each other most of my life. I thought it would be fun to see what she does for a change. Plus, I wanted to give her some pretty flowers.”
    More hands shot up.
    Goodness. Looking at all the hands, I decided to call on one who I could count on not embarrassing me. “Jessica.”
    She looked in Evan’s direction. “Are you hooking up with Ms. Grey?”
    Obviously, my impression of Jessica had been wrong. This time, I answered the