River Valley Teacher's Lounge Series by Allie Marie

Aaron Hopeless romantic.Ms. Lucy. Desperately hopeful.I wanted a fresh start with my demon behind me, across the state line where he belongs. I didn’t want this instead–for my one night stand to show up at my new place of employment the next day.When Aaron Russo, the middle school gym teacher, shows up as my mentor the day after I flee his bedroom in a panic, I have no choice but to grin and bear it... moreAaron Hopeless romantic.Ms. Lucy. Desperately hopeful.I wanted a fresh start with my demon behind me, across the state line where he belongs. I didn’t want this instead–for my one night stand to show up at my new place of employment the next day.When Aaron Russo, the middle school gym teacher, shows up as my mentor the day after I flee his bedroom in a panic, I have no choice but to grin and bear it. But despite my insistence to never give my heart to a man again, his puppy-dog demeanor and eyes that glimmer with hope make it almost too easy to fall.Although Aaron is a hopeless romantic looking to jump the gun on finding his happily ever after, he slows down. Just for me. He puts on the brakes, and does things at my turtle-like pace, while also encouraging me to find my voice that was taken from me all those years ago. But just as I allow myself to believe in love again and start to take back the control that I lost during my decade-long marriage, my demon sneaks his way back in.As I come to the crossroads of my mangled past, the words I once buried deep have to break through the rubble. Because slaying those demons once and for all means reaching Aaron’s shining light that is the hope at the end of the tunnel. less

Nathan Harding: Caged bird.Claire Benson: Unclipping her wings. I’ve never been given the chance to grow up. As a live-in nanny for my parents, my college degree may as well be used as an extra rag to clean up the messes of my four younger siblings. When I’m finally given the opportunity to spread my wings as a long-term substitute at my old middle school, the question begs: What do I want to be when I grow up if “growing up” is quickly passing me by?Enter Nathan Harding: Assistant Principal... moreNathan Harding: Caged bird.Claire Benson: Unclipping her wings. I’ve never been given the chance to grow up. As a live-in nanny for my parents, my college degree may as well be used as an extra rag to clean up the messes of my four younger siblings. When I’m finally given the opportunity to spread my wings as a long-term substitute at my old middle school, the question begs: What do I want to be when I grow up if “growing up” is quickly passing me by?Enter Nathan Harding: Assistant Principal. Despite our initial clashing, I can’t resist the pull that keeps bringing us together. There is a soft, kind side to him that he doesn’t let anyone else see. And when the noise in my own home gets to be too loud, he welcomes me into the comfort of his. I don’t want to let go. But sneaking around with a boss who has almost a decade on you has its own set of consequences.Nathan and I could have the futures we’ve never been allowed to have if we could just learn to stop reading between the lines. less

Nathan Caged bird.Claire Unclipping her wings.I’ve never been given the chance to grow up. As a live-in nanny for my parents, my college degree may as well be used as an extra rag to clean up the messes of my four younger siblings. When I’m finally given the opportunity to spread my wings as a long-term substitute at my old middle school, the question What do I want to be when I grow up if “growing up” is quickly passing me by?Enter Nathan Assistant Principal... moreNathan Caged bird.Claire Unclipping her wings.I’ve never been given the chance to grow up. As a live-in nanny for my parents, my college degree may as well be used as an extra rag to clean up the messes of my four younger siblings. When I’m finally given the opportunity to spread my wings as a long-term substitute at my old middle school, the question What do I want to be when I grow up if “growing up” is quickly passing me by?Enter Nathan Assistant Principal. Despite our initial clashing, I can’t resist the pull that keeps bringing us together. There is a soft, kind side to him that he doesn’t let anyone else see. And when the noise in my own home gets to be too loud, he welcomes me into the comfort of his. I don’t want to let go. But sneaking around with a boss who has almost a decade on you has its own set of consequences.Nathan and I could have the futures we’ve never been allowed to have if we could just learn to stop reading between the lines. less