Read Online There's Always Plan B by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online

want to make a habit of hanging out with her.”
    Jenny bustled out of the front office and disappeared into a rear room. Carly looked at her daughter.
    â€œShe seems nice.”
    â€œSure. And lame. We’re not going to be friends. Why does she want to pretend any of this matters?”
    â€œCan’t she just be a nice person who wants to help?”
    â€œRight. Plus it’s totally weird that you went here. It was a really long time ago, but still. What if one of the teachers remembers you? I don’t want anyone talking about that. Then I won’t make any friends for sure.”
    Carly thought about pointing out that most of the kids in the school were locals and most likely their parents had attended the school, as well, but she doubted Tiffany would find any comfort in that.
    â€œA lot of my teachers were pretty old,” she said instead. “I’m guessing many of them are retired.”
    There were a few exceptions. Her gym teacher had been in her twenties and Mr. Everwood, her math teacher, had just finished college. Carly almost mentioned that when she remembered how both she and Maribel had had huge crushes on the man. He’d been maybe twenty-five and very hunky, in an older man sort of way.
    She and Maribel had sat together in his geometry and algebra classes, giggling softly at the wonder of being so close to the object of their affection. Mr. Everwood had broken their hearts their second year when he’d invited them to his wedding.
    Maribel had been out of town that weekend, but Carly had bravely attended with a couple of other friends. She’d found her heart miraculously mended when a junior on the basketball team, also a student of Mr. Everwood’s, had danced with her twice, then asked her out for the following Saturday.
    â€œWhat’s so funny?” Tiffany asked suspiciously. “You’re smiling. It’s because you’re thinking of a new way to make me miserable, aren’t you?”
    Carly laughed. “Not even a little. I’ll tell you a secret, Tiffany. Not everything in the world is about you.”
    â€œI know. Just the bad stuff is.”
    Â 
    Thirty minutes later Tiffany had a class schedule, books, a locker and was being led away by the ever-cheerful and pleasant Jenny. Carly turned from the administration office and walked back toward the main entrance. As she reached for the door handle to head to her car, someone called her name.
    â€œCarly? Carly Washington?”
    Carly stopped, turned and blinked at the tall man walking toward her. He was familiar. Older, sure, with gray at his temples. He wore his dark hair shorter, and there were more lines than she remembered. The brightly printed shirts he’d favored had been replaced with solid-color ones, and he’d probably put on ten or fifteen pounds. Otherwise, he was exactly the same.
    â€œMr. Everwood,” she said, feeling herself blush even though she knew there was no way he could have a clue that she’d been thinking about him a few minutes before. “Wow. You’re still here.”
    He grinned as he approached. “I know. I should have gone on to bigger and better things, but I love teaching. I’ve tried not to, but I think it’s too late for me to change now.” He stared into her eyes. His were still dark brown.
    â€œBut that’s great. We need good teachers and you were that. I’m sure you still are.”
    â€œI like to think so. You wouldn’t recognize the old classroom. These days we do a lot with computers and programming. Every student has a computer station in nearly all the classes.”
    â€œThat will make Tiffany happy. She’s of that generation—the one that doesn’t remember a world without computers.”
    Carly nearly groaned. Could this conversation be more lame? Could she?
    â€œHow old is your daughter?”
    â€œFifteen.”
    â€œShe might be in my class.”
    â€œI hope