Read Online Rookie Mistake (California Dreamers #4) by Dakota Madison - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dakota Madison
Ads: Link
everything?” I ask.
“Yup.”
Once we enter the high school we make a quick stop at the main office to let them know we’re visiting. Mrs. Myers, an older woman who sits at the front desk, gives me an enthusiastic wave when she spots me.
“Mr. Duncan is waiting for you in his office.”
The hallway is quiet as we make our way to the guidance office. The kids must be in class.
Mr. Duncan shares the guidance area with Ms. Reeves, the freshman/sophomore guidance counselor. I thought she’d be retired by now, but she’s still going strong even as she approaches seventy.
Mr. Duncan, on the other hand, is not even forty yet. When I was in high school he was in his mid-twenties. Back then he was the hot, new counselor all the girls had a crush on. Even now, in his thirties, he’s still crush worthy.
His sun bleached blond hair is cut shorter than the last time I saw him. It makes him look younger. He could easily pass for someone my age.
He gives me a big smile as soon as he sees me. “Maya! Look at you!” His blue eyes twinkle as he gazes at me.
Hurrying out of his office he stops just short of embracing me. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m a little afraid of your gun.”
That makes me grin. Mr. Duncan was always a bit of a liberal, hippy type. Not someone you’d imagine toting a gun. More like hugging a tree.
“Is this your partner?” Mr. Duncan indicates Cody.
“This is Officer Jackson,” I tell him. “Officer Jackson, this is Mr. Duncan.”
Cody gives him a polite nod.
“I know this is short notice. Things have been a little hectic this week. The Assistant Band Director had a family emergency and quit. It’s horrible timing, two weeks before our spring recital. We’ve been scrambling to find someone to work with the string quartet. They’ve still got a lot of practicing to do before they’ll be ready to perform.”
“Hadley mentioned there was a problem.”
“I’ve asked every music teacher in town to fill in, but everyone is booked up. After school hours is their busy time. Most of them don’t have any time to spare.”
“What time do they rehearse?” Cody asks.
Mr. Duncan and I look equally surprised by his question.
“After school,” Mr. Duncan says cautiously. “Four thirty to six thirty.”
“Our shift ends at three,” he says. “I could help out.”
Mr. Duncan’s blue eyes narrow. “Are you a music teacher?”
“I didn’t finish my student teaching, so I’m not certified. But I do have a degree in Music Education.”
My jaw drops. Cody did have quite a number of instruments crammed into his small bedroom. And he does seem to be a little obsessed with music. But a music teacher? He never mentioned anything about it. He never mentioned much about his personal life at all.
Of course I never asked either.
“That would be great,” Mr. Duncan says, although he doesn’t sound too sure about it.
If the school is that desperate to find someone, even if Cody isn’t a great teacher he’s probably better than nothing.
“I’ll let the band director, Mr. Julien, know that I’ve found someone. Could you meet with him after school today?”
Cody nods.
Mr. Duncan turns his attention to me. “Now about career night. Can I count on you to give a talk about the life of a police officer?”
As uncomfortable as I am about the prospect of getting up in front of several hundred teens to speak, I’d look like a jerk if I said no. Especially after Cody just volunteered to work with the string quartet.
“Of course,” I tell Mr. Duncan. “Anything for you and the students.”
He gives me another one of his winning smiles. “Thank you so much.”
I have to admit that even after all these years I still have a bit of a crush on Mr. Duncan. I’m sure I’m not alone either. There’s probably not a girl I went to high school with who doesn’t still get a little giddy thinking about him.
When he says, “We’ll talk again soon,” I take that as my cue to leave.
As
“Yup.”
Once we enter the high school we make a quick stop at the main office to let them know we’re visiting. Mrs. Myers, an older woman who sits at the front desk, gives me an enthusiastic wave when she spots me.
“Mr. Duncan is waiting for you in his office.”
The hallway is quiet as we make our way to the guidance office. The kids must be in class.
Mr. Duncan shares the guidance area with Ms. Reeves, the freshman/sophomore guidance counselor. I thought she’d be retired by now, but she’s still going strong even as she approaches seventy.
Mr. Duncan, on the other hand, is not even forty yet. When I was in high school he was in his mid-twenties. Back then he was the hot, new counselor all the girls had a crush on. Even now, in his thirties, he’s still crush worthy.
His sun bleached blond hair is cut shorter than the last time I saw him. It makes him look younger. He could easily pass for someone my age.
He gives me a big smile as soon as he sees me. “Maya! Look at you!” His blue eyes twinkle as he gazes at me.
Hurrying out of his office he stops just short of embracing me. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m a little afraid of your gun.”
That makes me grin. Mr. Duncan was always a bit of a liberal, hippy type. Not someone you’d imagine toting a gun. More like hugging a tree.
“Is this your partner?” Mr. Duncan indicates Cody.
“This is Officer Jackson,” I tell him. “Officer Jackson, this is Mr. Duncan.”
Cody gives him a polite nod.
“I know this is short notice. Things have been a little hectic this week. The Assistant Band Director had a family emergency and quit. It’s horrible timing, two weeks before our spring recital. We’ve been scrambling to find someone to work with the string quartet. They’ve still got a lot of practicing to do before they’ll be ready to perform.”
“Hadley mentioned there was a problem.”
“I’ve asked every music teacher in town to fill in, but everyone is booked up. After school hours is their busy time. Most of them don’t have any time to spare.”
“What time do they rehearse?” Cody asks.
Mr. Duncan and I look equally surprised by his question.
“After school,” Mr. Duncan says cautiously. “Four thirty to six thirty.”
“Our shift ends at three,” he says. “I could help out.”
Mr. Duncan’s blue eyes narrow. “Are you a music teacher?”
“I didn’t finish my student teaching, so I’m not certified. But I do have a degree in Music Education.”
My jaw drops. Cody did have quite a number of instruments crammed into his small bedroom. And he does seem to be a little obsessed with music. But a music teacher? He never mentioned anything about it. He never mentioned much about his personal life at all.
Of course I never asked either.
“That would be great,” Mr. Duncan says, although he doesn’t sound too sure about it.
If the school is that desperate to find someone, even if Cody isn’t a great teacher he’s probably better than nothing.
“I’ll let the band director, Mr. Julien, know that I’ve found someone. Could you meet with him after school today?”
Cody nods.
Mr. Duncan turns his attention to me. “Now about career night. Can I count on you to give a talk about the life of a police officer?”
As uncomfortable as I am about the prospect of getting up in front of several hundred teens to speak, I’d look like a jerk if I said no. Especially after Cody just volunteered to work with the string quartet.
“Of course,” I tell Mr. Duncan. “Anything for you and the students.”
He gives me another one of his winning smiles. “Thank you so much.”
I have to admit that even after all these years I still have a bit of a crush on Mr. Duncan. I’m sure I’m not alone either. There’s probably not a girl I went to high school with who doesn’t still get a little giddy thinking about him.
When he says, “We’ll talk again soon,” I take that as my cue to leave.
As
Similar Books
